The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02
CINCINNATI, Apra IS, 1850.

To ihe Editor Of the National Era:
The Anti-Slavery Convention adjourned on the
afternoon of Saturday, the goth, after session of
more than three days. The resolutions, address,
es, and sketches ofthe debates, taken down at the
time by Competent reporter, Vim be issued from
the press as soon as possible, from which you can
make such selections as you think proper. The
resolutions were adopted with great unsnimity, in
few cases only with any dissenting voices That
declaring it the duty of anti-slavery men at this
time to dissolve all connection with ecclesiastical
bodies, or political parties, connected in any way
with saveholding was discussed with great spirit,
but at length was adopted unanimously. A few,
who could not bring themselves up to the Wedge,
refrained from voting at all The Con&htion
being religious in its design, all applause was
prohibited and there were no open displays of
enthusiasm, but it was evident enough that high
and determined spirit of devotion to the cause
which had brought it together pervaded the
assembly. Some Of the speeches were replete
with powerful argument and glowing eloquence,
worthy of the occasion, and just such as were
needed in this day of wavering and compromise
As | predicted months since, the whole tendency
of the proceedings was progressive not conserva-
tive.n The object in view was TO take some steps
forward; to adopt measures more decisive and
effective than any hitherto pursued to free the
American church from the reproach Of unfolding
slavery. 1t is true, the resolutions adopted are
denounced by many as ultra,n as "tending to
rend the church." as "not sustained by public
sentment,s dks., but IL shozid DO rss.s~bsrsd
that Abolitionists have never sought "a conform
their doctrines to public opinion. Lie Chris,
and his Apostles, and true reformers Of every age
| they have endeavored to form public opinion--to
bring up to the requirements Of the perfect Law
OF God-not to fail in with the current, wherever
it may tend. They are in advance of the age IL ia
true, but unless there were some such persons
in the cause of human rights, there would be an
utter stsgnation of all effort for the overthrow of
oppression. The dozen years Immediately proceed
ing the commencement Of the present anti-savery
enterprise were undisturbed by any agitation of
this subject the press and pulpit were silent, and
we all know what hopeless calm existed. The
colonization project had not power to ruffle the
surface, and the sin Of slaveholdingn was not
talked Of II is just such calm that the Slave
Power desires to proceed in quietly but surely, as
il has done since the organization Of our Govern
ment, to perfect its schemes for strengthening its
dominion. With all its excuses-or what some
sincere anti-slavery men regard as such - the
present AGITATION is full Of hope. And never
was there time when the necessity of making
manly and uncompromsing stand against the az
gressions of the Slave Power, and Of enlightening
and invigorating the antislavery sentiment of the
country, was more imperious than just at present.
The terrible steamboat disaster sixty FIVE miles
below our city, on Monday night last, Is the topic
of general remark. The Belle Of the West which
left our wharf on the afternoon previous, for st.
Louis, when near Warsaw caught FIRE in the hold,
and, though the boat was run to the shore, before
all could make their escape between sixty and one
hundred passengers were lost, mostly women and
children. There were nearly one hundred emf
grants from Pennsylvania on board with their
furniture for Illinois. Many of them lost their
lives, and some were seen burning to death. The
officers Of the Visiter," which arrived two hours
after the fire broke out, describe the sight which
greeted them as most heart-rending. There were
about three hundred passengers on the boat The
clerks endeavored TO make correct list Of those
saved and lost but at the latest accounts had not
succeeded. From passengers who have returned to
this city, we learn that the number Of the lost
cannot be much less than one hundred. This is
one of the most distressing accidents that has
occurred on the Western waters for many years
On the Ohio river, such calamities are COMPARE
lively rare Yours =.