Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-02-22
POLITICAL ANTI-SLAVERY CONVEN-
TION.
PErERBoRo', Madison Co. Jan. 81. 1912.


Before leaving New York, l promised, if any
thing of general interest should fall under my OBJ
servatlon, that you should hear from me. While
have been on visit to this place, Convention of
Political Abolitionists has been held here to nom.
nate candidates for Governor and Lieut.. Governor
which have attended as a spectator: and, know
ing the deep interest felt by your readers in every
movement affecting in the remotest degree the po-
litlcs OF the Empire State, | have thought they
would like some information of its proceedings.
1t was certainly, in point of talents and numbers
highly respectable body. Nineteen Counties were
represented, and the number of Delegates could not
have been less than 400. The audience composed
of males and females, filled the Presbyterian Church
almost to sutfocaton, and many said to have
left who could not obtain entrance. The two
Temperance Houses in the village, and nearly ev-
cry private house within circle of five miles, have
been filled with guests. The Abolition atmosphere
was ail-pervadlng that it could have been avoid
ed only by flight.
Two pictures executed by E. w. Goodwin, of
Albany, were suspended the pulpit, during
the session of the Convention. On one of them
was inscribed, Prayer of the Slave to the People
of the United States Under these words was
kneellng slave, lifting on high his chained hands,
the blood dripping from his SCARED body, casting
his eyes implorlngly towards the Capitol of the
United States, and exclaiming, Talk for me
Write for me-Print for me-Paint for me-Pray
TOT ME 0LS lOr ME. On the Otner was Inscribed
Prayer of the Slave TO the Omniscient God IN
der this kneeng Slave, over whom driver
was lourlshlng his whip, while the former, casting
his eyes upward, exclaimed, Incline my fellow
men to feel for me and do for me- These pictures
which Shareholder would have pronounced incen-
diary, kinded no small degree of enthusiasm in the
assembly
l.. T. NOBLE ofyour city presided over the Con-
ventlon. The names of the other officers do not
recollect GERRTr SMITH, Esq. first nominal
ted as candidate for Governor, but, for of
private nature, he positively refused to accept the
nomination. ALvAN STEWART, Esq. of Utica, was
then nominated for Governor, and CHARLES O..
SHEPARD, of Wyoming, for Lieut.. Governor. You
will smile when tell you that some of them talked
seriously of electing these candidates.
The Address of the Convention to the People of
the State written by Alvan Stewart, ESQ.,
The most inveterate slave holder would have
laughed the author w.t. if he had not been con-
WINGED by his reasoning. The resolutions ul-
ira In principle, and bold and spirited in their lam
guage.
Your readers will be astonished to learn that an
ADDRESS to the SHARES Of the United States was pre-
scented to the Convention by Gerrit Smith, Esq.
and adopted. 1t recommended them, among other
things, to runaway the first favorable opportunity,
and take all along their route in the free as we'll
the slave States, far absolutely essential to
their escape, the horse, the boat, the food, the
ciothih9, WHICH they may require, ana 10 ieei no
more conjunction for the appropriation than does
drowning man for possessing himself of the plank
that floats In his way 1t recommended their friends
at the South to furnish them with pocket compasses
and loco toco matches to aid them in finding their
way to Canada! What will the South say to this
OF interference with her Institutions! And what
will she say the following resolution, which was
adopted by reclamation!
"Resolved, that solemnly and deliberately
proclaim to the nation that no power on earth can
compel to take up against the slaves, should
they use violence in asserting their right to free
DOM
Yours with much esteem, RN.