The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-09
CONVENTION OF THE FRIENDS OF
FREEDOM.

CONVENTION OF THE FRIENDS OF
FREEDOM.
We gave some account of the proceedings of
the Convention at Cleveland, on the first day
On the second day, resolution fixing upon the
time and place Of holding Convention for the
nomination of Presidential and Vice Presiden-
tial candidates having been introduced, the fol-
lowing modification or substitute offered by
Mr.. Lewis Tappan, was adopted:
"Resolred, That a committee of one from
each State in the Union be appointed, to fix
upon the time and place of said Convention
The President appointed the following gentle
men as said committee:
Samuel Lewis of Ohio; Samuel Aaron, of
! Pennsylvania Lewis Tappan, of New York :;
Edmund Perkins of Connecticut Charles AL
len, of Massachusetts,; f. A. Stansbury, of YER
mont; Amos Tuck, of New Hampshire Samuel
Fessenden, of Maine - Harris. of Rhode
Island George w. Julian of Indiana; T. East
man, of Illinois; J. r. Williams, of Michigan;
S. M. Booth, of Wisconsin; VIM. j. Clarke, of
Iowa J. G. Fee of Kentucky Dr. j. E. Snod-
grass of Maryland; s. Mayes Bell of Virginia
- Goodelow, of North Carolina; Jacob Bige-
low, OF. District of Columbia.
The Committee on Resolutions reported the
following, which were rdopted: .
Whereas we have assembled in Convention
as freemen, to adopt measures for the protection
and preservation of freedom it is due to our
selves, to the occasion, and to the people Of the
nation, that we declare our views on certain
questions of national policy.
&" Resolved, That law is without righttul
| ,,Cfsa av,1 Entr
| eminent without stability, unless Righteousness
be its end. as without these no man can enjoy
his inalenable rights and as society secure
| them
| Resolved, That it is the duty of Congress to
divorce the National Government from all con-
nection with and responsibility for slavery and
the slave trade, wherever they exist under its
| jurisdiction.
/" Resolved, That an act of Congress contrave-
ming the law of God imposes no moral obliga-
ton, and an act of Congress passed without
constitutional anthoyity imposes no civil obliga-
ton upon the citizens of the several States
4 92scls-3 IT,. .he l.hl;e lends Of right be
( iongto the people, and shorb3 'paitbar-ke sol5
for revenue, nor in any way allowed to specula-
tors but should only be granted, without
charge, in limited quantities, to actual settlers
Resolved, That we are in favor of the cleo
| ton Of national officers by the people, when
| practicable.
Resolved That the history of nations dem
onstrates that navy and standing army are
incompatible with republican institutions. We
therefore will exert our influence for a disband-
ment of the army, for a reduction of the navy
and an abandonment of the entire system of
| Notifications.
Resolved, That river and harbOr improve
| L. Ii l. Al. i
venience of commerce with foreign nations or
among the several States are objects of national
concern, and that it is the duty of Congress- in
the exercise of its constitutional powers to pro-
vide therefor.
"Resolued, That to the demand of the slave
power for more slave States and more slave ter
ritory, our determined answer is, no more slave
States, no slave territory
Resolved, That the Fugitive Slave Act
enacted by the last Congress, is in derogation of
the genius of our free institutions an unwarant-
able encroachment upon the sovereignty of the
States, a violation of the principles of natural
and revealed religion, an assumption of legisla-
| tive power without constitutional authority, and
a monstrous exhibition of tyranny injustice,
cruelty and oppression
Resolved, That our party is the party of the
Constitution and of the Union, of Freedom and
of Progress; that it is opposed in principles and
aims to sectionalism, secession, and disunion,
and knows no North, no South no East no
West; but embraces with equal patriotic love
the country, the whole country, one and in
divisibe.
Resolved, That the friends of freedom look
with entire confidence to the future, in the I'M
doubling faith that their principles will be CRATE
fully recognised by the people, and embodied in
the constitutional laws of the land
I" Resolved, That we recommend to our friends
in the several States to organize, as soon as
possible by holding State Conventions, appoint
ing State Committees, and generally efecting
such organization as will efectually promote
the cause of right and humanity"
After the adoption of the resolutions Mr..
Lewis, being called on, addressed the Conven-
ton in speech valedictory, of thrilling elo-
quence and effect.
He was followed by the President DIR. LIE
Moyne, of Pennsylvania, in speech charac-
terzed by his usual power of argument and DEM
onstration He pointed out the great land
marks of Liberty and exhorted the Convention
| to stick by them, and each TO return to his
| home resolved to battle in the cause while life
lasts.
On motion, adjourned sine die.
"At the heel of the session" says the True
Democrat and when "large numbers of the
Convention had left for their homes" the fol-
lowing resolution was introduced, discussed, and
finally rejected"
Resolved, That we support the Constitution
of the United States, because it was ordained
to establish Justice, and secure the blessings of
| liberty and because it will, when properly en-
| forced make Righteousness the end Of our Gov
eminent; and we affirm that, under the Consti
tuition of the United States the slaves of this
country are part of I'VE, the People, and
are American citizens in virtue Of their birth,
and entitled to all the rights of American citi-
zens in the United States Courts, and the pro-
lection extended to American citizens by the
General Government at home or abroad"
Referred to the next National Convention.
On the first day of the session, Mr.. Chase
defended his course and announced his policy
in short speech of which we find the follow
ing abstract in one of the Cleveland papers
have never before made my own actions
the theme of my remarks.
have always exercised my best Judgment
upon all questions, and acted out my convic-
tons, regardless of consequences. Many years
ago, when there were no ant-slayery men, ],
young man, Just entering upon my profession
| in Cincinnati was the first in this State to take
ground publicly in defence of the hunted fugi-
tive, and maintain that Congress had no power
to legislate for the extraditon Of slaves, and
thus invade the sovereignty Of the States And
the consciousness of having done my duty was
the best fee | ever received In passing from
the courtroom heard the remark" there is
a promising young man who has ruined him
self
recollect that when J. G. Birney was hunted
/ down In Cincinnati | stood alone in the door