The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-14
CIRCULAR.
To EACH FRrESD OF LIBERTY IN THE UNTrr

] his communication. Please read IL, with the an
nexed forms of Petitions and then act efficiently in
the premises.
The time has arrived when the people of the
United States are called in the providence of God
to decide for themselves and their latest posterty
whether human bondage, with all its terrific evils,
shall be suffered TO extend itself from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, blghting the prosperity Of immense
portions Of our country, and booming millions Of
the human race to ignorance, degradation, and
wretchedness In this decision are also involved
the political power and independence Of the Free
States, and the character and glory of our common
country
The objects which at this moment are most prOmi-
nent in public estimation, connected with the sub
ject of Slavery, are the cruel and arbitrary
in which alleged fugitves from slavery are seized
and carried away-the abolition of the slave trade
and Slavery, in the District of Columbia-and the
prohibition of Slavery in the new Territories. And
It Is believed that the friends of Freedom cannot do
a better service, at the present juncture, TO the
sacred cause, than by petitoning the National Lee
gislature from all parts of the country respecting
these great objects The reflex influence Of such
petitions win be obvious to every rejecting mind.
1t will lead to conversation, public discussion,
newspaper essays, public meetings, applications to
the Almighty, and sympathy for the enslaved
For several years past there has been a relaxa-
ton among the friends of the slave, in this depart
ment of effort 1t is believed that now is the time,
when there are so many pledged friends of the
cause in Congress, to resume pettioning with aug
mented effort. We invoke the aid, therefore, of
every friend of the slave, Of every anti-slavery
citizen, of every true hearted American, in this
8 -
efforts be made to awaken our citizens to the mo-
mentous Importance of the present crisis, and to
unite them in one loud and urgent demand on their
Representatives to grant the prayers of our petit
tons.
Does the reader ask, what can do We an
-sWer -
l. Call together few intelligent and active
friends Of the cause, and read to them this Circu
lar, and the annexed forms of Petitions.
2. Adopt prompt and systematic measures to
have each legal voter called upon for his signature
8. Separate these forms of Petitions, and attach
each to sheet ofpaper properly ruled
4. Get those who can be depended upon to circu-
late the Petitions, and procure the signature Of
every citizen to each of them.
8. Have the Petitions collected and transmitted
as soon as possible, with q letter signed by few
prominent constituents, to the Member Of Congress
from your District or State. The paper should be
folded for filing, with an endorsement stating
that it is the Petition of - Citizens and Electors
Of -, with the date.
6. Get the Circulars and Petitions inserted in al
the newspapers and magazines in your County.
Request the Editors to advocate the prayer of the
Petitions during the whole session of Congress-
Z. Get suitable persons to write for the newspa-
pers, and correspond with the friends Of the
throughout your County and State
s. Petition your Legislature, and try to influence
the members to right action at the present crisis.
8. Please mail a copy of each of the newspapers
in your County that publishes the Circular and
Petitions, either Of them, to Lewis Tappan Cor.
Sec, New York Unless sent from the printing
Office the postage must be prepaid.
Doubtless other matters will suggest themselves
to you
01-lf for any cause, you cannot pay immediate
personal attention to the subject, we beg you to put
the Circular, &C. into the hands of some well-prin-
cipled and efficient person who will attend to the
matter without delay in thorough and business
like manner.
The Slave power is now making a desperate and
final effort to prevent the admission of Californis,
with the prohibition of Slavery and any such pro-
hibtion by Congress in respect to New Mexico, and
thus to secure its permanent ascendency on the
North American continent. It's success viii be the
triumph Of evil involving the bjection of Northern
interests to the arstocracy of the South, and
mighty empire to the various curses attendant up
on human bondage. To attain success, resort is
had to threats Of observation-disclosures evidently in
tended for intimidation, since if carried into execu-
- Al l.
and the liberation of the slaves. Should the effort
now fail, Slavery will never hereafter acquire suf-
fcent strength to pass its present limits, and the
world will in time be delivered from one of the
direst scOurges that has ever afflicted humanity.
WILLlAMJAY, CHRISTOPHER RUSH,
ARTHUR TAPPAN, GEORGE WHIPPLE,
:. S JOCELYN, WILLIAM LILLE,
LEWIS TAPPAN, J. WARNER,
WILLIAM E. WHITING, CHARLES b. RAY,
LUTHER LEE, THOS. RITTER, MD
ALEXANDER MACDONALD
.Ne,0 York, February, 1850
0Q-Editors throughout the country are earnestly
requested to insert the foregoing, and the annexed
forms of Petitions:
To Secure 10 alleged FugitiUes the Right Of Trial
By Jury
To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
The undersigned, citizens and electors of the State
Of residing in in the County Of
respectfully request that provision be
made by law, that whenever person shall be ar
rested as fugitive slave in any State other than
that in which he is alleged to be held 10 service
he shall not be delivered to the claimant or his
agent except on the finding Of Jury that he is the
slave Of the claimant.
PETITION
For the Repeal Of all Lars, enacted or adopted By
Congress, for the support Of Slavery ia the Dis
trict Of Columbia
To THE CONGRESS or THE UNITED STATES