The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-08
to cooperate politically for practicable and
constitutional opposition to slavery.
With great respect yours, truly,
CHARLES ALLEN.
Lewis Tdppan, Esq. New York
FOR the National Era.
NATIONAL CONVENTION

NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Mr.. Editor: Permit me. through the medi-
um of the Era to offer a few remarks to those
interested, upon the call for a National Conven-
ton to he held in the city of Pittsburgh in Au-
gust next signed on behalf of the $50 called)
National Free Soil Committee by Samuel
Lewis, Chairman.
This Committee have assumed important
powers in this call which were not intrusted
to them by the Convention whose agents they
are, inasmuch as they undertake to merge u
Convention of the Friends of Freedom y into
" Free Democratic and Free Soil Con-
yention and what is of more Importance and
more Objectionable, they thus virtually assume
to commit in advance the approaching Nation
al Convention to the principles of the Free
Democracy and to the platform of the Free
Sellers adopted at Buffalo in ls4S
My present purpose is to establish the posi-
ton, that this attempt to change the name of
the Convention, and to establish for it "a Free
Soil creed, is unauthorized and unwarranted
by the body which appointed them
About twelve months ago, Convention of
Anti Slayery men assembled at Rayenna, in
Ohio, in obedience to call addressed to "fhe
Friends Of Freedom 1t was a spirited and
intelligent meeting composed of some of the
best men on the Reserve. Their object was to
begin movement by which the disorganized
and scattered fragments Of the opponents of
human slavery in the United States of ererg
name should again he united. and be enabled
to exert "a more efficient influence in arresting
the baleiul influence of the Stare Potrer The
call was to the Friends of Freedom that all
the different species of Anti-Slavery voters
DapnaratS Snila I 4
and Liberty Party mcknight meet on com
mon ground, lay aside their old feuds and pre-
JUDGES and again form one united and harmo-
NOUS phalanx, to do battle with oppression
This Convention decided to call National Con-
vention Of the Friends of Freedom at the
city Of Cleveland, last Fall The call was is
sued to /" Friends of Freedom" and a large
talented, and jealous Convention assembled
composed of delegates and representatives from
nine States. Please notice. sir, that this Con
vention was of Friends of Freedom" Free
Soil and Free Democracy, as such were not
known or acknowledged by that body BY no
single act or resolution of that Convention were
either OF those parties approved or recognised,
either by name or creed
Although tins Convention was called partly
| for the purpose and intended to make nomina-
ton for President and Vice President vet, after
| discussing the subject they concluded to call
| another Convention III the ensuing Spring or
| Summer for that purpose, when it was hoped n
much larger representation of States would
assemble, and the nomination be thus more
authoritative and satisfactory.
Now, sir tins Conventional Convention of
the Friends of Freedom thus originated and
constituted - appointed the Committee whose
call is now in your columns, and upon which |
am now commenting, for the sole purpose of
selecting the time and place at which the Con-
vention was to assemble which they had deter
mined to call | affirm, sir, without fear of
contradiction, that the resolution constituting
that Committee, and defining its duties, con-
tains no other trust than the fixing the time and
place for the meeting of the coming Conven
ton.
BY the partiality of the Cleveland Conyen-
ton, was elected their presiding of6cer-and
hence my attention was specially devoted to
the business there transacted, and | know
whereof affirm. The resolution itself is to be
found in your paper of that date.
This is simple history of the paternity Of
the Convention to be held in Pittsburgh, and
of the duties assigned to one of their Commit
tees by the Meeting at Cleveland Judge, then
sir, of my surprise and modification when |
read the call now in your paper, signed Sam
uel Lewis Chairman on behalf Of National
Free SOIL Committed and addressed to I" Free
Democrats and the Friends of Tie Principles
Of the Buffalo Contention Of ls+S," and declar
ing that they are to constitute that body.
wondered by what species of legerdeman
Friends of Freedom" could be converted into
Gree Democrats" and one Of their agents into
an instrument for the use Of Free Soil
> Many persons, myself included who attend
ed the Cleveland Convention, were not eithe,
Free Democrats OF Free Sellers, and under
such II call as is now issued would not have at
tended it, much less taken any prominent par
in its proceedings for one cannot consent
to be transferred, by II few strokes of this Com.
mittee's pcn to associations which never APP
proved or 10 be assigned and compelled to
adopt Il political creed which my judgment
J and experience condemn Therefore for my
self individually and $50 far as | may with
propriety) on beholf of the Cleveland Conven-
ton of the Friends Of Freedom, protest against
this assumption of the National Committee,
whereby tho name and character of the ap-
preaching National Convention is 80 materially
| changed
have made this brief expose with much re-
luctance; but self-respeot the solicitation Of
| lfIt'HuS WIZ piiC'u III tic S'IIc UTtuich-
mcnt by this call, and duty which owed to
the Convention whose order and character were
in part intrusted to my care, seemed to de-
mand it,
| hope this error of the calling Committee
will not prevent the friends of impartial hui
man freedom, over the whoie country, from be-
ing represented in the Convention in August
next ! hope If will be great gathering, in
the best sense of that term-great in numbers,
talents, zeal firmness, and love and adhesive
ness to every great and good principle. ! hope
the Convention will be harmonious, uniting all
the present fragments of the Anti-Savcry body
and That no man will attempt to make it er-
ciuaueiy Free Democratic or Free Soil, or give
it any Of the sectarian aspects which mark the
many species of ADti-Slavery. Let the Con
vention adopt it, own name and creed and
nominate such men as standard-bearers as we
can all honor and sustain
Respectfully yours
f. julius Tx MoYNE
Washington, Pa, July /, 1852.