The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03


countenance of the whole body of the young
men of this commonwealth now represented in
this convention" The secretary was instructed
to forward copy of these resolutions to MIR.
Thompson. William Llovd Garrison seems to
have taken part with Mr.. George Il. Davis, in
this convention. In the rext year of this
strange, eventful hstory--for must follow il
step by step--in 1889 October 23d, n meeting
was held of the Franklin county anti-slavery
society Elijah Alvord was chosen president
and George r. Davis one of the vice presidents
and in the afternoon, the president being ab.
sent, this George Il. Davis presided. lie was also
a member of the business committee, and one OF
the resolutions adopted and reported by that
committee was as follows. Ii goes rather
strong as gentlemen will observe:
"Resolued, That Abolitonsts ought to with
draw all Chris ian fellowship with Shareholders
Laughter
That is denuucation of coalitions. Still il
is denunciation confined TO matters ecclesias-
teal. The gentemsn's practice shows that he
had not then arrived at that sublime height OF
wisdom whence one may look down with con-
tempt on political coalitions, for down to yes
terday he was, though a Jealous, thorough.g GO
ing, consistent Abotionist, engaged in a very
close and confidential coalition with politicians
who hold in common with him no one OF the
sentiments quoted from his various resolutions
as will by an by show, if indeed it is worth
the while to follow the matter so far.
1t was also, on motion OF hr. Boies,
" Resolved, That we Will vote for no man for
Congress, who is not in favor Of the immediate
abolition OF slavery in the District of Columbia
of the internal slave trade, and opposed to the
admission of any new slave State"
l., 4 y A H.,
district was member of the Senate of Massa-
chusetts, and he was chairman of the special
committee of the Senate of Massachusetts which
reported those famous resolves, circulated over
all the country, and 80 often quoted as showing
the opinions of the Wings of Massachusetts
upon the subject of slavery. My colleague, as
chairman of that committee, made an able report
introducing the resolutions which were then
adopted.
The resolutions were as follows
Whereas domestic slavery exists in the Dis
trict of Columbia, under the express authority
of Congress, &c.
" ReSolped, That Congress ought to exerc Sc
its acknowledged power, in the immediate sup
preston of slavery and the slave trade in the
District Of Columbia.
"And whereas by the Constitution Of the
United States, Congress has power to regulate
commerce with foreign'natior and between the
several States of the Union, in the exercise of
which power Congress in the year 18o8 abol-
shed the foreign slave trade and whereas, a
domestic slave trade, as uujustifable in principle
as the African slave trade and scarcely less cruel
and inhuman in practice, is now carried on be-
tween the several States: Therefore,
Resolped, That the domestic slave trade
ought to be abolished by Congress, without de.
lay.
Resolped, That no new State ought to be
admitted into the Union, whose constitution
shall tolerate domestic slavery
"ReSolued, That our senators in Congress be
instructed, and our representatives requested, to
their utmost efforts to give effect to the fore
going resolves"
And the governor was directed to send the
resolutions to senator's &c.
The report with which the resolutions were
introduced was signed by Mr.. Davis, and |
therefore conclude, was written by him, for |
take it he is not in the habit of signing reports
which he does not write.
In the same year, 1910, a bill was introduced
into the senate of Massachusetts, making a
change in what is sometimes called the black
CODE the legislation regulating the rights of
negroes. That change was repeal of the pre-
whites with mulattoes ana negroes. And That
reform WAS brought about by the instrumentality
OF my colleague from the sixth district, laugh
ter, as he was chairman of the committee that
reported the bill providing for the change. That
bill became law; and | think do no more
than justice TO the eloquence and talents of my
learned and able colleague, when | say, that in
all human probability the young white men of
Massachusetts would have been denied the priv-
leges of connecting themselves with muattoes
and blacks, Gin that interesting relation which
the gentleman from the sixth district has opened
to them,) down to this day. if it had not been
for the d!sinterested exertions of my colleague
from the sixth district. Great laughter
On the 9th day of October, 1898, a meeting
of the Anti.slavery S ciety of franklin county
was held and George II. Davis was reelected
treasurer of that society. II there was corrup
ton at that time, the fund was in his keeping,
and he may therefore have had better opportu-
mites of understanding this question of corrup-
ton than most of his colleagues who have not
had the fortune to be treasurers of abolition So
cetes. Mr. George Il. Davis was reelected
treasurer of the Anti-slavery Society of Franklin
county and among the resolutions passed, are
some which contain some rather severe remarks
upon the Honorable Daniel Webster, whose pc.
sllOn lnen was not so Tar from that or THIS treas
urer Of the Aboltionists as it has been since ;
as it is now, when the treasurer thinks proper to
form a coalition with him.
Now, down to 1910, | have traced this histo-
ry. Down to $780, has no change come over
the spirit of the dream of my colleague from the
sixth district? No, sir! Judging from all pub
lie manifestations, | was lead to suppose that
the sentiments of my colleague from the sixth
district remained down to yesterday, just the
same as represented in the series of resolutions
have just read. If there be any public address,
in any public meeting in Massachusetts, avow-
ing change of sentiment, have not seen'it, or
read it, or heard Of it. If there is any commun-
ication in any newspaper, magazine, or else
where; it there be any communication to the
people Massachusetts, who elected the honor
able member, informing them that he did not en-
terrain, when he was last elected, the same sem
timents entertained previously by him-from
1885 down. have never heard rumor of
them. There may be such ; this part of the
State is somewhat distant from my home, and
do not pretend to read a. that comes out in the
newspapers. say ] never heard rumor, or
saw an indication of any change of sentiment on