Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-11-02
Annual Meeting Of the Pennsylvania Anti
Slavery Society.

DRAR FRIEND Johnson: arrived in Norris
town in time to attend two or three large ant
spirited meetings in the Court House, on tn,
subject of the Fugitive Slave Law. A grca
many slaves have found home here, and the
excitement in their behalf is most intense
Our meetings were a WARNING TO KID
NAPPERS. A slave would be much safer hero
than his master.
The Anniversary of the State Anti Slavery
Bociety was held at West Chester, and closed
yesterday. 1t convened in the spacious Horti-
cultural Hall, which most of the time, was
crowded to its utmost capacity, the oisles being
filed with seats, and many having to stand
even then. The Hall is owned by the County
Agricultural and Horticultural Society, and was
hung with elegant Fcstoons, Wrcaths and other
embloms Of the Society to whose use it is con-
secratcd. A beautiful fountain Of water bub-
blcs up in the centre, and falls into a large cw-
er eight or ten feet in diameter.
Tho meeting experienced sad disappoint-
mcnt in the absence of Mr.. Garrison who
was detained at home by the sickness ard death
Of near relation. Edmund Quincy and VIM.
/. Bowditch were present, and by their sterling
addresses and arguments, did much to make us
forget the loss We were doomed to experience.
The annual report was read by James Miller
hcKim, corresponding Secretary, and was one
of the best documents of the kind ever present
ed to any dcliberativo body whatever. 1t occu-
pied full hour and half in the reading, and
yet vas listned to with deep attention to its
close. 1t cannot have too wide circulation,
no matter into what section of the country it
finds its way. If it erred in any thing, it was in
too much encomium Of David Wilmot, and
perhaps some other members of Congress-
This was suggested, and hope some modiica-
tions will be made in this particular, before it
goes out TO the world
II is propably not too much to say that this
Society has not advanced SO rapidly in former
years, as some others. 1t is composed to a We
ry large extent of the very best members of tho
Society of Friends, and though at its formn-
ion. it occupied bold position, for that day,
it has been slow to go up much higher. "Ex-
celsor" evidently was never its motto. The
doctrine Of separation, or as some say of Come
outerism, never found much favor in it. Few
II any of its members have ever left the Church,
though it is most evident that when Daniel
Webster and Henry Clay have SO eulogizcd the
Quakers, they have not misjudged them, at
least 80 far as relates to tho controlling influences
and the ruling members.
1t is well known that the most influential
members of the body have lent all their inAu-
ence to the election and support of General
Taylor, and such other warriors and men-steal-
crs as have been chosen to the Presidency OF
the United States while its organs and pub
lie journals have not been wanting in spirit of
base subserviency to the degeneracy and cor
ruptcn that characterizes the times.
Such being the case, some of us at the meet
ing argued tha. fidelity to the slave and the
Right, demanded entire separation from all such
bodies, after suitable rebuke and expostulation.
We contend that slavery exists, because it is re-
spectacle, religious, honorable, patriotic, and
that to make it otherwise, we must forsake and
nbhor all religions and everything else that
give it countenance.
On the other side, it was held that members
must stay in the body to have influence, the
right of speaking, and other opportunities
have heard of Methodists and others who
were converted to Quakcrism, but do not re-
member that Quakers ever cxhorted these new
converts to remain in their old church relations,
for the sake of being tie better able to declare
the new faith they had embraced l believe
the Society holds fully to coming out of all
Faiths and orders INTO their own; but Come
outerism PROM them, seems entirely another
doctrine. 1 was SO unfortunate as not to be
convinced by anything that was advanced on
the other side. There are most excellent men
and women, young and old among the Friends,
but it seems to me moro than half their power
to overthrow slavery, is lost by their Church
connexion.
The new Fugitive Slave Law received its full
share of attention. On that there seemed but
one sentiment, and that was REsIsTANcE.-
There was however some difference as to the
mede by which it is to be resisted. The Presi-