The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02
NNATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE
FRIENDS OF FREEDOM.

This Convention met in Cleveland, ut Kelley
| Hail. on the cath ultimo. Il was called TO or
der by Dr. w. H. Brisbane ON whose motion
Samuel Lewis took the Chair temporarily, and
B. F. Hoffman was appointed Secretary.
Messrs. Errett of Pennsylvania, Julian of Indi-
ana, Clay of Kentucky Davidson of Illinois,
Davis of Maine Benham of Michigan, Wal
ston of Vermont and Arlington of New York,
were appointed committee to nominate per-
manent officers for the Convention. A COM
mittee on resolutions was appointed, as follows :;
Giddings and Spaldng of Ohio, Errett and
Clark of Pennsylvania, Julian and Harding of
Indiana Eastman and Lumley of Illinois, Ca
tell of Iowa. Stansberry and WalstSh Of Yer
mont Davis Of Maine, Skinner of Connecticut,
| Arlington of New York, Booth of Wisconsin.
The committee on nominations reported the
following permanent officers;
PreSident-Dr f. Julius Lemoyne of Penn
sylvania,
Vice Woodbury. Davis of Maine
Lewis Tsppan of New York, Dr. w. II. Bris.
bane of Ohio, and s. NJ Booth of Wisconsin
Secretdries-B f. Hoffman and II. F. BRAY.
ton Of Ohio, and DIR. Nj. Kelsey Of Illinois
Cassius NJ Clay, being called upon, address
ed the Convention. He said the question 0
Slavery was not a question between North ant
South, but between the aristocracy of Capital
and Labor He denounced the Fugitive Slav
Law, and insisted that it should be repealed
disayowing any intention, however, to counse
violent resistance The Despotism of SLAYER,
was worse than that of the Russias The fol
lowing paragraphs from a report of his re
marks in the True Democrat define his position
in relation to parties
"a few remarks in regard to state of parties
| have acted rs many of you know, with the
Wing party | advocated the election of Hen.
ry Clay, and subsequently, the election of Gen
eral Taylor, cOnfiding in the promises which
they made me. If there can be any blame at
tached TO me in the matter, it is in acting SO
long with party that has proved recreant h
every principle of Liberty and Republioanism
The time has come when | must separate my
self from that party
"a word as to policy. We should be inno-
cent rs doves and wise as serpents. We must
! look for strength from the ranks of the Demo
cratic working men of the country 1t should
be the policy of the Government to make every
man landholder. This will be our best
standing army--a standing army should con-
sst in a distribution Of property The Wing
party embrace the landed property holders of
this country they are and always have been,
the conservatives of the country; and il is they
who will, in the final struggle join the slave in
terests Of the South
Mr. Davis addressed the Convention in a few
remarks, in which he took occasion to acknowl-
edge the services of Cassius NJ. Clay.
The True Democrat thus notices the speeches
of Mr.. Lewis and Senator Chase
"Mr. Lewis reviewed the history Of the two
great Pro-Slayery parties He demonstrated
| that whatever may have been, at different times
and in certain localities, the Anti-Slayery pro-
fessions of the Northern section Of either, both
have invariably trampled on those professions
by their action. He proved, likewise, that those
two parties, though as fiercely at loggerheads
~ ever, have, 10 all practical intents and pur-
poses. ceased to differ from each other in either
their PRINCIPLES or their measures and that
their apparent antagonism is sheer struggle
for Office and It's emoluments With no refer
ence TO the name of that distinguished gentle
man, and with the most courteous recognition
of the purity Of his motives, and the valuable
aid which the exertion Of his great powers has
rendered 10 the interests of freedom, Mr.. Lewis
discussed, with marked plainness, "the wisdom"
and the grounds Of Senator Chase's recent
change of position We think he proved the
one 10 be not Every far-secing" and the other
10 be well-nigh baseless. Mr.. Lewis stated, very
briefly. the position of Mr. Vinton and Of Gov
ernor Wood--showing that the election Of either
must inevitably enure 10 the benefit Of slavery
He also stated, Likewise very briefly the princi-
pies and measures Of the Free Soil Democracy,
explaining the occasion and the cause 0f his
having consented to stand, in the present State
canvass, as the representative of those measures
and principles. His peroration was something
which, in our judgment, the Free-Soilers who
heard it will not willingly let die and which
the Hnnkers who heard IL will remember after
they are dead, If they do not heed IL before. An
old Wing, who had never before deemed il
worth his while 10 hear Mr.. Lewis, told Ms il
was the best, because the most effective, speech
he ever listened 10.
"The name of Chase was called In different
parts Of the hall Senator Chase assembled the
platform and in a few remarks expressed in his
usual terse diction, ay0wed his adherence 10 every
An.i-Slayery principle which he had ever adyo-
Gated lie assured the audience that his adyo-
cacy Of every such principle and with all the
ability with which God had endowed him, would
cease only with the cessation Of life. And
though he somewhat difiercd--temporarily, he
trusted-from those with whom he had 50 long
acted, and for whom he expressed the continu-
ance Of his high and undated respect he beg
god that none, for any light reason, would be
lieye him capable Of faItering in his support OF
cause 10 which the best years Of his life had
han devotad Want az time ne said III there