The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-19
THE NATIONAL ERA, WASHINGTON, d. c, MAY 10, 1858

conventions and meetings that have been at
tended by delegates from their body; the sue
cess of their Aoti-Slavery depository of publ
cations, the pamphlets, &c, that have been
written by members of. the Committee the
large quantities of books and pamphlets that
have been circulated, and the correspondence
carried on at home and abroad 1t alludes to
the success of the National Era, to the fact that
"Uncle Toms Cabin" was originally published
in Its columns; and also to the success of the
American Missionary Association, society
formed principally by the active members Of
this Society, with its hundred missionaries and
teachers, in the Western free States and in
the slave States, and in foreign countries, oil
preaching and intoxicating the principles of
emancipation, temperance, and peace The
Committee mention particularly the publica-
tion of Goodells american Slave Code pub
lshed by them, second edition of which has
already been called for, and an edition lately
issued from the press in London and allude
10 a work in preparation by the Committee, on
the expurgations and mutilations of foreign
and American publications by publishers aud
by the American Tract Society and the Amer.
lean Sunday School Union, in order to please
slaveholding communities.
A review is taken Of the progress of the
cause the past year; Of the political and Christ
ian Ant. Slavery conventions that have been
held in different parts of the country of the
spirited resolutions and addresses that have
been adopted and of the elevated tone that
has characterized these proceedings The re-
port states that Anti Slavery religious bodies
have taken higher ground, and that political
conventions have adopted sounder principles
Nominations by the Free Democracy have
been made in all the free and several Of the
slave States.
Encouraging statements are made respecting
the cause Of free missions, and of the formation
of new book and tract society of the increase
of Anti-Slavery newspapers; of the fact that,
while the secular press is becoming more and
more out-spoken on the sub ject of emancipation,
the pro-savery, religious, and secular press at
the North coincide, more than heretofore, with
the Southern papers that defend slavery as
Bible institution. 1t is said that vast amount
of Anti-Slavery matter is contained at the
present time, in many of the leading newspa-
pers of the country, and that there has been a
very great increase of readers of nti-Siavery
literature There are indications of more
reasonable spirit in several Southern newspa-
pers, greater disposition to discuss the subject
of slavery in them in its economical and moral
bearings and willingness to make admissions
favorable to the AntiSlayery side of the ques-
ton.
The able advocacy Of right principles by
Anti Slavery members of Congress, is spoken
of with high satisfaction. The speeches made
by them are mentioned as among the most
able and unanswerable delivered during the
session, and as having been widely circulated.
That the Anti-Savery members of Congress
have done no more the past session has been
owing to the fact that their constituents have
not been more active in pe.itioning Congress to
take thorough and consistent action on the
subject of slavery A hope is expressed that
the Aboltionists of the country will henceforth
agitate the country with reference to this mat
ter more than has been done of late, that the
animated discussions that took place in the
National Legislature, when the revered John
Quincy Adams had seat in the National
Councils, may be revived.
The report states that only about fifty fugi-
tive slaves have been arrested and conveyed
back to slavery under the Fugitive Slave act,
and that in addition to the heavy expenditures
by Government, the expense to claimants has
been so great that few shareholders will prob
ably hereafter venture to engage in such pur-
suits, or to incur the danger Of such enter
prises. Large portions of the community des-
pse and execrste the act, and those who at
tempt to enforce it, Since its passage, the
number of slaves who successfully escape is
said to be greatly increased Government has
been most signally defeated in its attempts to
procure the convictions Of those alleged to be
concerned in aiding the escape of persons ar
rested as fugitive slavs
Much sympathy is expressed for the free
people of color, on account of the cruel enact
ments in several of the free States as well as in
lxl. Il Al
from the country of their birth and their choice
They are exhorted to Hrmpess and patience
and trust in the promises Of God, and chang,
-, of sentiment in the community. A belief is ex
pressed that the principles of caste and perse
y cution derive much of their aid from the cocr
a Give features of the Colonization Society, tina
u looks upon abolition and the free people of col
or as nuisances and is willing that the victim,
. of prejudice be made uneasy and miserable
here, that they may consent to 90 to Liberia.
: 1t is considered matter of deep regret that
a so many of the leading religious societies and
" ecclesiastical bodies instead of aiding to circu.
late Anti. Slavery truth, and dsfellowship slave
8 holders countenance them in their unchristian
conduct; and belief is expressed that they
will continue to do so until slavery is general
ly considered a SIN, and all who are connected
with it unworthy of the Christian name.
The increased feeling manifested in Great
: Britain and Canada in favor of emancipation
in this country and throughout the world is
: mentioned as a cause of rejoicing Sympathy
for the oppressed, and faithful expostulation
with oppressors, are becoming in those who,
having freed themselves from the CONTAINING.
tons of slavery desire to see freedom univer-
sally enjoyed The phlanthropic men and
women of Great Britain and Canada, who me-
moralizcd the people Of this country on the
subject of slavery, look at home as well as
abroad, and exert themselves to effect salutary
reforms in their own countries while they ex-
hort their Christian brethren in the United
States to follow their example in giving liberty
to the enslaved Faithful are the wounds OF
friendD
The report has reference TO the slave trade
carried on with undated spirit between the
slave States OF this Union, and the not more
piratcal trade in human flesh between the
coast of Africa and Cuba and hope is ex-
pressed that ere long such disgraceful traffic
will come to an end While it is proper for
people in other countries TO demonstrate against
the bsrbarties Of the American slave trade, it
would be equally proper for citizens of this
country to demonstrate with the people of Eng
land for allowing slaves to be stolen from Afri.
ca and carried ~ Brazil or Cuba, and not re-
curing the immediate emancipation Of all
slaves introduced into Cuba since 1890, contra
ry to express treaty stifulations
II is stated that churches gathered In foreign
lands, under the ministrations of American mis-
sionaries, manifest deep feeling with regard to
the existence and federation Of slavery in this
country that some Of them have contributed
money for prize essays on the sinfulness Of the
system, and its being an obstacle to the con-
version of the world. Some Of the missionaries
themselves evincc more interest ON the subject
than heretofore
The report alIudes TO the committal Of so
many clorgymen and men in public life to nom
interference with Anti-Slayery, and expresses