Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-10-10
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
VIRGINIA SOCIETY.

THE CONSIIII IlON or liE
VIRGINIA SOCIETY.
For promoting the abolition of slavery, snd the re-
hrl ni free nrgrneS or Others unawiully held IN /
bondage, and other Humane purposes.
From lul belief that "the LOrds mercy IS over |
all his works" that he created mankind oi every
nation, language and color, equally free, and that
slavery in all forms IN an its degrees an out
ragenus violation and odjous degradation oi human
nature: That is Inconsistent with the preeep's
The gospel OF dong 10 Others rs we would they
\ should do unto us and that II is not only mora
but political evil which tends, wherever prevails
4 To depmye the morals OF the people, weaken the
bands al Sncrty, discourage trades aud manufactures
! aud rather promotes arbitrary power than secures
| the lusI rights aud liberties of mankind Believing
slsh that tie societies already established IN other
parts of the world, Tor promoting the abolition Of
slavery and the slave trade, have been oi real adj
vantage IN maulitStDg the unrgh,eons policy 81 me
one, and the IN qully ot the oIher--WE THE SUB
SCRlBERS, IN humble hope of contributing our
might To the cause Of humanity, and the promotion
ol righteousness ~ the earth, have associated our
selves, under the title OF "IrHE ViRGiSn SooIt-
rY for promoting the abolition OF slavery, and the
relief OF free negroes, ar Others un,awlully held m
bondage and other humane purposes.
For etl,clng these purposes, The following con-
sttutinn is adopted:
Article L. The officers II the society shall consist
OF President Vlre President, Secretsryi Treasury,
ulne acting committee men, and two corresponding
members IN the hints OF each district court, all OF
whom except the acting committee, shall be annual
ly chosen by ballot.
} The President or, in his absence the Wee Pres
ideni shall preside IN all meetings, and subscribe all
the public acts of the society, who, moreover, shall
have the power To call special meeting OF The soc,-
ETY., wi eneyer he shall Judge necessary, or when.
ever SIX members OF the acting committee shall con.
c cur IN requiring ii.
s. The Secretary shall keep fair records Of the
proceedings orthc society, and shall cause be pub
Shed nom time Ia time, such proceedings or reso
e uon', as the society may order, or the President
with The acting committee may dIeti.
y !. The Treasurer shall receive all donations, NOR
eyS or securities belonging 10 the society, ard shat
{, pay all oders Sgo,d by the President or Wee Pres
~ dent which orders shall be his vouchers lor eNpen
;, dlurcs. Tie shall, before he enters on his Office
" give bond lor the faithful discharge oIhs duty, lo
: two hundred pounds, or such larger sunl as the Pres
e ldrnt and acting committee shall from time 10 time
p think right.
e s. 1.-THE President and Vice President, Secretary
= aud Treasurer, be absent al any Of The meetings III,
q society may elect Others TO act pro empore, or shout,
y. any o the officers above named resign or be dlSpa
- ccd, the society shall till the vacancy IN the mod,
) prescribed by the first article,
s. g. The Acting Committee shall transact any bu
l. port the same 10 each hallyearly meeting. The,
e shall have right, with the concurrence OF the Pres
"a ident and Wee President, TO draw upon the Ticasu
rer Tor such sums OF money as shall carry on the bu
y sIness Of their appointment They shall act also as
10 an electng committee, and her appreciation in wri
d ting shall be an admission To such persons as sha
IN sign the constitution OF the society; five OF whom sha
m be quorum. Aler their first election, NJ eael
u succeeding yearly meeting three others shall I've {
- ecte0 To succeed them.
:, l. In all cases where persons legally entitled t
:" freedom shall be held in bondage, il shall be lhs bi
y slnesso the corresponding members, appointed !
d. the different districts, more particularly TO inquire N
T. 10, aud give notice to the acting committee OF all sue
2 cases and to procure authenticated copies from re-
n cords or such other writings or testimonies the
, may think necessaryor proper for lnvcstgat lon q
>. the right and relief OF their sufferers.
- 8. Every person, previous 10 his admission as
i member, 81 all subscribe the constitution OF he Eoce
u ", and contribute not less than one dollar admit
s lance and half dollar nj each succeeding hal
e year., mt citing towards deraylng contingent expen
ses: II Ia negecls 10 pay the same more than tive
a years tie shall upon due notice beng gwen hlm oI
! hi, delinquency cease To be member; But iorelgr
ers. or PERSONS residing IN this State, may be T.
: Iecled corresponding members, without beng sub
:, ject to any payment, and shall be admitted 10 Tie
o meetings Of the society, during their residence il
;, this State.
4, g. Two thirds Of the members present at a hal
a yearly meeting shall have The power Ia expel any
= person whom they may deem unworthy Of remain
', ing a membetand NO PERSON SHALL DE- hEHBEE
WHO HOLDS A SLAVE, or rs concerned ~ the unfght
eous traffic OF buying or selling that unhappy race
q Of human beings
10 Twelve members, with the President or Vice
q President, con>tluionsIy assembled, shall be
u quorum Of the society for tranSactng business.
l. ii. The society shall meet on The second day
called Monday, in the months called October an,
: April at such place places as may be from time L
e time agreed Oh!
. II. NJ law Or regulations oi the society shall con
iradlct any part OF the constitution, nor shall an
i aera lion m the Constitution b. made without briul
:, proposed at previous meeting. Az questions shat
he decided by maorily lvoes, aud in case Of al
equal division, he presiding officer to have the cas-
Y ng vote.
:. The present officers OF the society;
ROBERT pLEASANTS, President.
e JOHN FlNNEY. Wee President.
y JAMES SMlr I'll, Secretary.
:, JAMES LADD, Treasurer,
Acting Commute.
/. JoHE CREW
!. Thomas PLEAsAsTs
JANIS HAAS,
GEORGE JoHEs
0 Henry tEArHERsToKE,
4 Mic YAH CR3w,
JONI HoNETCUT,
J., kICHARD GRAVES,
:. 0REssETT DAVIS,
[" 'When the constitution was originally published,
+ II will be seen that the "aboiihon Of siauery'
was the leading object Of the society," and those
very words constituted part Of lis name. No
fanatic OF the present day could desire stronger
= language than tie preamble contains. Ii comes
up TO the principle lately asserted by the most ul
ira AbolGonsts IN our own country, and by The
: Worlds Convention" IN London who had resol.
we'd that Chr'stiGns ought mol 10 hold church Iei-
, lowship ruth siarehoidsrs and their advocates.