Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-05-07
GEN. HARRISON AND THE "ABOLlTION
SOCIETY" IN RICHMOND =

plt readers will remember mutilaed extract from
letter Of Ged. llanson which has been frequently
quoted. stating ti,lt he WAS member OF an "Abo,
Ilon Society" IN Rohmoad, Wien lac was lS years of
age. Every man. OF common sense knew, that, al
though Called an Abolition Socet, by GET. Hair son,
II could not have beea such Aboli ION Sue.ety
those which now exist in the slayehoine Sta,s
But yet II has been assduousy represented that il
was precisely such Society. Tue truth is, an A
eo'1on party, as The term is now used never existed
IN tins county pror the celebrated Missouri Re-
stretton That WAS the beginning OF he fire that has
since blazed dereely, throwing its ufld light over
the whole continent. 1t was kndled, as Mr. Jefrer-
son declared, by tue "Federa Leaders, in lSlo
tor the purpose OF breaking down the race Of South
EN- Presidents and Martin Van Burcn was among
the foremost Of tie ineendarcs But the Society,
OF which Gen. HARRISON was memaef IN Richmond.
the metropolis of the then largest saveholo,ag State
IN the Union. and his own family amlng the larpss'
shareholders IN the State necessarily very drf
ierenl institution Is object not TO interfere
with the rights oil the South. or suddenly to up,oot
an institution which had grown up with gro III :;
but, as Tarllon w Peasants, Esq. venerable CHI
zen OF Goochland, "ho, ii seems, was a member Of
the same Society, says designed ITO aid in abol-
sh,ng the slave trade, and 10 assist negroes who
were illegally held in bondage. to obtain their rio hts
through the Courts ofJns,ice." We copy Mr.. Pleas
antss statement from the Richmond Wing. which
paper takes the responsibility of adlxing Mr.. P.'s
signature TO his communication. contrary az it will
be seen, to that genlleman's wishes. Surely ms
document will silence the sianderefs
"ln the year l799' | was n member Of a Society
al
bcu peasants Of Curcs, WIS President Of the So
ceiy. The object Of this association was. in con-
junction with the parent Society in Pmla lelpha,
10 aid in aboIishiHg the slave trade and to assist
negroes WHO illegally held IN bondage to OBJ
tam their rights through The Courts Of Justice. |
was once a delegate (fnm the Soclety IN Richmond,
10 a Convention in Philadelphia, md there were del
rgaies from the different Societies of Pennsy vana,
New York, New jersey AID Delaware. DR.. Ben
lunn Rush. James Todd, " illiam Rawlr, DIR.
Wlstar Thomas p. Cope, and others, were from
Pennsy Iyania; Mr.. Boyd from New York Rich
ard llHt,hotu, fiom New Jersey Cesar \. Rodney,
fom Delaware aud many others. whose names
do not receeci. A very lengthy discussion took
place upon the slave tfade-n which William Ranlr,
DIS. Rush and WlSar particularly dstlng shed
Themselves. DIR. Rush made Que The most ele-
gaft speeches heard. TINS was the pine pal
sui aC before The Convention. II the Abolition OF
slavery IN the United States alluded TO all, do
MOI recoect II. Thomas i. Cope aud Timothy
IdNlOn were the Setic'dli's 10 we tobFehiuh, anu
| have no doubt, either OF them, II living, would
furnish copy Of The Constitution, # written 10 by
Yourself. | have 10 recollection that General llar-
/ rson was a member Of the Richmond "llumane
/ Sociely;" but have no doubt tins the very
/ Society of winch he was member, about which so
much has laterly bee. said IN The public journals
/ | should have stated that Gov. james Wood was
1 Wee President OF the Richmond Society
49, GU can make what use YOU please OF i'tls, tx
cept that do not wish my name TO be made public,
as | wish 10 live and die in obscuiity.
Yours,
TARLTON w. PLEASANTS.
"P 81 was twenty-five Years Old in 1893 and
/ General H. musl have been twenty five he had
consequently cote TO the West, and must have been
il me.srl G. his Soeiety six seven yeas before,
as ii is said he was only eighteen years old at HE
] 11ne LIE herAmr A memher. IIne SlclclY exisieI