The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-13
For the National Era.

For the National Era
RESOLUTIONS
Adopted by the american and Foreign Anii-
Slapery Society, at ITS annual meeting IN NeU
York, May 1lh, 1852
Resolved, That American Slavery develops
cumulative evidence of its snfulness its hostil-
ity to the peace, union, and prosperity of the
country its disastrous influence upon the reli-
gion, social order, literature and renown of the
nation and therefore all who uphold or ap-
prove it, uphold or approve system inimical
to the welfare of man, and hateful in the sight
of God
2. That the continuance of Slavery at this
day, in this Republic, with the number Of slaves
augmented from half a million to three mil
lions-when our fathers in obtaining their own
freedom solemnly declared to the world that
" all men are created equal that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with certain inaiien-
able rights; that among these are life liberty
and the pursuit of happiness" and added, with
the solemnity of an oath, Z" for the support of
this DECLARATION, with a firm reliance on the
protection Of Divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our lives our fortunes and
our SACRED HONOR lis a reproach to the
memory of the Revolutionary patriots, mock
cry of Democratic Republicanism, and an in
suit to the Ruler of Nations
3. That nearly allied to Slavery, in mean
ness and turpitude, is the spirit of CASTE, under
the influence of which our colored fellow-citi-
zens are debarred an equality with other citi
zens before the law, and the opportunity of
rising in the community according to their tai
ents, industry, and moral character; a spirit
the more reprehensible, as we invite to these
shores, and admit to all the occupations of soci-
ETY., immigrants of every complexion, condition,
and religion, from the old world, many of whom
possess less Anglo-Saxon blood than do our pro-
scribed fellOw-countrymen
T. That whereas the Fugitive Siaue Act is, in
the opinion of Chief Justice HoRNBLowER, and
other eminent jurists, unconstitutional, and &C
cording to the first opinion of DANIEL WEB
sTER, enacted in opposition to. the "plain i'm
port of that instrument and whereas it not
only authorizes seizure without process, trial
without jury, consignment to Southern pris-
on-houses upon er parte testimony without OPP
portunity of defence but Furnishes humanity as
a crime, and can be enforced only by outraging
all the charities of life and the great principles
of the common law-it is Bill of Abomina-
tons" and its authors, advocates and enforcers,
deserve the severest condemnation, while the
Act itself should be everywhere disobeyed and
execrated
g. That while we would throw no obstacle
in the way of our colored citizens emigrating
to Sierra Leone, Liberia, California the West
Indies Canada, or any other portion Of the
globe, as their enterprise, business, OF inclina-
| ton, may lead them, in common with other cit
liens; and while we will aid them in the &C.
complishment of their own wishes, We will ever
discountenance and oppose all schemes, wheth-
er devised by State or National Governments
or Colonization societies of coerciUe repatriation
and all efforts to place the people of color in
such positions that, as choice OF evils they will
consent to leave the land Of their birth and
their chosen residence.
6. That We deeply sympathize with our col
ored brethren throughout the whole land, bond
and free, in the peculiar circumstances Of trial
in which they are placed by the cupidity, ty
ranny, and contempt of large portions of the
people of this country, and that we solemny
pledge to them our best efforts to vindicate
their rights, to redress their wrongs while We
exhort them to place implicit confidence in the
promises of Him who has declared that he ID
no respecter of persons, that he is the God OF
the oppressed and that he will break the rod
OF the OppressOr.
| T. That while we honor those Legislators
and Ministers who have been true to freedom,
we believe that the political and ecclesiastical
partisans who have proved recreant to the
cause of liberty and humanity have forfeited
oil Just claim to the confidence OF the people,
and that no reasonable expectation can be in
dulged in the prevalence and success of repub-
lican or Christian institutions until our citizens
carry out the principles of the Declaration of
Independence, and the precepts of the sermon
on the Mount
g. That we call upon the women of this
country for their persuasive influence in the
great work of emancipatng their sex from the
degradation and miseries of slavery, and for
their effective aid in the cause Of universal lib
erty, reminding them that it was ELIZABETH
HEYRICK who demonstrated to Wilberforce tho
duty and safety of immediate emancipation
and that, in the recent work Of HARRIET
BEEcHER STowE, we have q pOrtrature OF
American slavery that il read by tens Of thou
sands, causing very many OF them to weep and
pray and resolve that they will strive, while
| life shall last for its overthrow and annihila-
| ton.
9. That the example of the humane and dis
| interested advocates of Freedom among the ed
it0rial and literary corps is just rebuke to
| the subseryient individuals and societies who
have meanly expurgated their own works, or
the works of others, of all sentiments denuncia-
tory of slavery, lest they should be denounced
by shareholders and their apologsts
TO- That the thanks of this meeting be given
to the friends of the oppressed in Canada, for
acting the part of Good Samaritans toward the
unhappy subjects of oppression who have fled
to them for refuge, and to the friends OF impair
tial liberty in England Canada, the West In
des, and elsewhere, who have strengthened the
hands of American abolitionists and that we
entreat them, while they deservedly rebuke
their own countrymen who on taking up their
abode with us prove recreant to the Anti-Sa-
very cause, TO be equally faithful TO Americans
among them who affect to be the friends and
advocates of Emancipation, while silent or OPP
posed to the cause at home.
| IL. That for the sake of the slave, for the
prosperity Of the country, and for the good OF
the church Of Christ we earnestly desire the
union Of all abolitionists and their harmonious
action in behalf of their colored brethren be-
lieving that the highest obligations rest upon
the people Of these States TO remove Slavery by
moral and political action, and being deter
mined, in the fear of God, and in sympathy
with every friend Of humanity who will CO.
operate with us, 30 far as the means shall be
furnished, to enlist the pulpit and the press in
the cause Of the suffering and the dumb, to aim
~ purifcatiOn of the churches from all par
ucipancn IN the guilt Of slavery, to encourage
the labor OF froemen rather than that Of slaves
by giving preference To their productions,
sparlng no exertions to bring the whole nation
70 speedy repentance-our trust for victory be-
ing IN GOD, through whom TRUTH, JUSTICE,
REASON and HUMANITY, must and will glori-
onsly triumph
CINCINNATI, May I, 1852.
10 the Editor Of the National Era:
DEAR SIR: Will vou rive notica that the