New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-10
New.York state Vigilance, Committee.

| Ran Church corner of Prince aud Marion SITS. The
meeting was called to order by Rev. Mr.. JossELYN.
There was no written report, bat the Secretary
made verbal staten, Mt OF tie doings Of The Com
mttee. During the past year they have assisted
Isl fugitive slaves, beside carrying Ga several
cases in Southern Courts, some OF which have ter
minated iavorably. One case in Prince Georges
! Co. Md is still pending. The Committee have
also taken the lniuatory steps for prosecuting tor
the freedom OF a family Of children AID grand
children. Their hope is based on the freedom OF
the grandmother who was kidnapped proof OF
which is abundant. This case will require $3.50 70
carry it through, ana bonds to The amount OF $3.50
must also be entered for each person There is
one more case concerning 40 persons, the maternal
ancestor OF whom was free Irish woman. The
Committee have had for the past year a salaried
agent, by whom these cases IN Court have been
/ prosecuted.
| The Treasures Statement was then read, from
which it appears that sl,740 have been received
during the year. and : 300 expended; there are
az present in the Treasury $3.50. The Treasurer
resd extracts from letter OF Gerrit Smith, which
gave the signal tor a set OF disgraceiu rowdles,
who had Just entered, 10 get up a tumult Many
OF these fellows came upon the floor Of the Church
20 first bat finding too many respectable people
there crept shcepishly cot and copyrighted in the
dark corners Of the gallery. Quiet was soon re-
stored, whereupon Rev Mr.. Ward, a co.oreG cler-
/ gyinan, addressed the meeting.
He commenced BY reading a resolution to the
effect that the Committee is cheeref BY the success
OF the past year aud the smiles Of Divine Pruvi.
drnce, aud will continue in spite Of any laws that
may be passed and any opposition they may en-
counter 70 help the fugitive from bondage. He re.
spOnded entirely 10 the sentiments of the resolu-
ton. There are circumstances conceivable, under
| which every pcrson present would give his hearty
! assent 10 it, There are great many men who can
| IT, hat "a
| what the bisck man mast feel. Bravery is ma
| tiOnal characteristic If the Americans Applause
| Our people never show ed themselves otherwise
than brave; but among the elements Of bravery is
| generosity. There have been occasions when the
| American people have shown their brave aud gen
| erous ceilings in a manner T. do them honor. The
| speaker referred TO the efforts OF American Mis-
slonares-to the general lberaliy ward ali secis
AID to the ready interest they express in all strug
giles for freedom elsewhere The American heart
beats with sympathy for all who suffer under op
preston. APP lause The cases of France, Ire
land and Hungary were then adduced When
reference made to those countries the Amer.
can people expressed their sentiments in a brave
aud generous manner. Bot when we consider the
case Of men who are born on our own sOI-whO
endure such crushings and expressions no PEG
pie have ever eodured-Our people show different
feeling Here | cannot agree with them. | am
a. American. llauehIer-crle1 o! q black one F!
yes, q black American the son Of a father who
fought in the Revolution cheers "a black
citizen Of New York; black American am
IL spplause l-gloriously black Laughter and
applause / am black bu, wear What black
| have on the outside! Laughter When the
case Of a black man comes before our fellow-citi
zens, they don't feel with the same sympathy they
exercise toward the oppressed of other nations
lells and disturbance IL seems that there is
some difference OF opinion here but il is one of the
pecuiiarites of American citizens that they can diff
fer, and differ kindly may differ kindly to
night There are people who make exceptions in
their sympathy make nome Let any man apply
this matter to himself and then he will reason just
like an Abolitionst. His thoughts would be like
ours-and every fiber of his feelings would be
wrought up in behalf Of the freedom he had lost.
am bound to take this for my stand pont-to feel for
all that Is done for the Slave il 1t were for me
Sir We only need to make out & case in this sort,
and we shall have no lack OF sympathy The doc
trine Of the revolution is correct doctrine-it is
sanctioned by the Bible and the Constitution Of the
United States. Yells-cries OF " tirel' and a
general attempt by the rowdes to break up the
mt citing. There was considerable alarm among
the audience; one lady tainted but on the speak
er earnestly enjoining them 70 keep quiet, parta
order restored. Some Policemen in the gal
lery elected few OF the ruhans, and the yells be-
gan again Sit still" cried Mr. Ward IF YOU
want TO see any thing interesting, look at mel
This produced a general laugh, which settled the
meeting
The speaker continued: il was not easy work
for the despsed Nszarene To prove himself true to
the people whom he died to save. But he vel
coined the task with all that 10 rugged in il, and
freely preferred unto US r salvation from sin. In
the name of the 100000 free blacks and $500 600
OF slaves in this country, we will do our duty TO
our brother man regardless Of the consequences
Mr.. Ward then spoke Of his fathers fight from
Slavery with himself, bis boy Sam, At his side,
.t.A I'd
in whose Office he studied medicine. He was
not a mean. cringing, cowardly Northerner, but q
noble son Of Virginia. Yells and hootings.l He
was no more 70 be compared TO Northern dough
face, than Daniel Webster 70 a Southerner and
the friends Of Daniel Webster think il aboat As
easy ~ fnd q Soptherner like him as for Nan
tucket eel to tow q shsd boat through Long Island
Sound Laughter, yells and applause cries Of
/" Douglas Dougasl' hisses and hootingsl
Mr.. WARD then went on 70 show that there was |
nothing in the Constitution prohibiting the Com |
mittee from assisting fugitive slaves Besides, |
they were acting with perfect legality in the
ter la the Southern Courts, on Southern soil, |
their agent 10 testing the legality Of the tebures by
which certain slaves are held and IN some instances
he has been successful. He then went into
shrewd examination Of the clause ID the Constitu.
ton referring 10 p.rsoDs held TO service. He then /
read extract from Mssons bill, providing that |
whoever shall assist q fugitive slave, shall be |
mu cted in the sun Of $500. IA voice: "GOdl"1
Somebody cries good said Mr. Ward, but lee |
him not be too fast the resolution says
nothing about the color of the skin Suppose
somebody should be fugitive from justice
himself would be then cry 'guod,'7 lYelis and
lsGshier: the rowdy who cried 'goodl is silent,
and don't thing of laughing Then. too there are
all shades Of cobr IN Slaves; suppose be should be
apprsheEded ss q runaway Saw. by mistake
ard ir might easily bappen-would he cry .eodr
lY-Hs, h.ses ard laughter. A voice. Mr..
Webster Is bIsekl1 know Mr.. Webster is q
dslkskinned man, and | N nst ashamed OF him
lreneNed laQshter and tuunlt Crie. frnm all