The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-31

! The society then provides for it, name, etc.
| The second ar$icle Of the Constitution y
| "The objects Of this society will be to en-
deayor, by all means sanctioned by law, hu'
manity, and religion, to effect the abolition Of
slavery ia the United States; to improve the
character and condition of the free people OF
color; to reform and correct public opinion in
relation to their rights, and obtain for them equal
civil and political rights and privileges with the
whites"
This society was followed, in 1888, by the
establishment Of the American Anti-sIavery So
ciety. Its object was declared to be-
1.-THE entire abolition of slavery in the United
States. While it admits that each State, in
which slavery exists, has, by the Constitution
Of the United States, the exclusive right to leg
islate in regard to its abolition in that State, it
shall aim 10 convince all our fellow-citizenA, by
arguments addressed to their understandings
and consciences, that slavehoding is a heinous
crime in the sight of God and that the duty,
safety, and best interest of all concerned require
its Immediate abandonment, pithoa srpdtriation.
The society toiH also endearor, il, constitutional
,oay, 10 influence Congress to pui an end 10 me
domestic Serpitude, and IN abolish SLAVERY in all
those portions of our common country sohtch came
under It's control, especially in the District Of
Columbia and lke,oise 10 prerem the extension
Of tito any Stale thai may hereafter be admitted
to The Union"
1t was further declared
"This society shall aim to elevate the charac.
ter and condition of the people Of color, by en-
couraging their intellectual moral, and religious
Improvement, and by removing public prejudice
that thus they may show, according to their
,nr.1 nd inf Il ~kb
the whites Of civil and religious privileges but
the society will never, in any way, cOuntenance
the oppressed in yindicating their rights by re-
sorting to physical force"
These leading and prominent societies con-
stantly denied any constitutional control over
slavery in the States to exist in any authority
exterior to them.
In their address of 1885, they say
"We hold that Congress has no more right to
abolish slavery in the Southern States than in
the French West India Islands. OF course, we
desire no national legislation on the subject
We hold that slavery can only be lawfully aboL-
ished by The legislatures of the several States in
aohich IL prevails, and that the exercise of any
other than moral influence, to induce such abo-
itioD, is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. We believe that
Congress has the same right to abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia, that the State gov
ernments have within their respective jurisdic-
tions; aud that it is their duty 10 eGace so foul
a blot from The national escutcheon We believe
that American citizens have the right to express
and publish their opinions Of the Constitution
and laws, and institutions of any and every
State and nation and zoe mean neper TO surr~n-
der The liberty Of speech, Of the press, or IF CON
science"
The Anti-slavery Society of Massachusetts,
in an address signed by VIVA. L. Garrison and
twenty-three Others, puts forth the same dis
claimer:
ave are accused Of interfering in the domes-
tic concerns Of the Southern States. Wewould
ask those who charge this to explain precisely
what they mean by interference. IT. by inter-
ference, be meant any attempt to legislate for
the Southern States, or 10 compel them, by
force or intimidation, to emancpate their slaves,
we at once deny any such pretension. We are
utterly opposed to any force on the subject but
that Of conscience and reason, which are mighty,
through God, in the pulling down of strong
holds. We fully acknowledge that no change il,
the slare lacs of the Southern N'a,es can be made
unless By the Southern legislatures. Neither
Congress nor The legislatures of the free States
haze authority 10 change The condition of single
State IN he STARE STATES. But, if by interference
be intended the right Of freely discussing this
subject etc.
We have been particular in recording this,
because we remember when candidate before
the people of the United States, answered to
the same effect as the Garrisons, Moys, Tappans,
Phlipses, etc, it was supposed that the South
could ask for nothing more
The effect of these societies was, in short
time, visible. Their method Of proceeding was,
ito organize anti-slavery societies, if possible,
in every city, town, and village in the lind to
send forth agents, to lift up the voice of remon.
STRANGE, warning, entreaty, and rebuke to cir
culate, unsparngy and extensively, anti-slavery
tracts and periodicals; to enlist the pulpit and
press in the cause of the suffering and dumb !;
to aim at the publication of the churches from
all participation in slavery, and to encourage the
labor Of freemen, rather than that of slaves, by
giving preference to their productions
Within two and half years. these societies
had between four and five hundred auxaries,
fifteen hundred minister's and some of their
conventions were attended by thousand dele
gates. The mails were filled with incendiary
matter, and the peace of Boston, Philadelphia,
New York, and other cities, was seriously dis
turbed.
TO BE Continued