Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-01-28
AETI-SLAvERY BUGLE
EARLY ANTI-sLvERY HISTORY.

Mr.. John Jay delivered the fifth Anti.Slavery
lecture of the New York course. We copy from
the Anti-Slavcry Standard he following extract
from the manuscript speech:
The first meeting for the purpose Of forming the
Society for promoting the Manumission of Slaves,
and protecting such Of them as have been or may
be liberated was held at the house of John Sim
mons, Inn-keeper, which stood at the corner OF
Wall and Nassau streets, where the Express oihce
now stands Among the persons present were
Robert Browne Samuel Frankyn, John Murray,
Jr, Judge Robert Troup, Mclancthon Smith, Willct
Seaman, William Reed, James Cogswell, William
Shotwsll. aud Ezekiel Robbins; and Committee
was appointed W report set Of rules Tor the gov
ernment OF tho Society.
On the 4th of February, Judge Troup, on behalf
Of the Committee, made report which, alter
debate and amendment, was agreed to.
The principles of the Society were stated in these
words which, it will be Observed arc clear and dis
tinct in their recognition Of the natural and equal
right of the slaves to civil and religious liberty:
1.-The Benevolent Creator and Father of Men
"haying given to all an equal right TO life, liberty
"and property, no Sovereign power ON earth can
"iustly deprive them Of either, but in conformity to
"impartial Government and laws to which they
"have expressly or tacitly consented.
1t is our duty, therefore, both as free Citizens
"and Christians, not only to regard with compass
" sion the injustice done to those among us who arc
"held as slaves, but to cndeavor by all lawful ways
=" and means to enable them to share equally with
"a that civil and religious liberty with which an
"indulgent Providence has blessed these States,
O." and to which these brethren are by nature as
S"mueh entitled as ourselves
1t was provided that the Society should meet
quarterly and that the officers should consist OF
President Vcc-President, Secretary and Treasurer,
and q Standing Committee OF six members, VINO
were ordered to meet weekly, and to report to the
Society in writing every quarter.
Following the Constitution arc the names Of 2S2
members many of them in autographs. The first
of 6hesn is that Of John JAY who was elected Pres
ident Of the Society, and continued to hold the
Office until his appointment as Chief Justice IN
l789 induced him to resign it; when Alexander
Hamilton, whose autograph is also among the sgn-
ers was elected in his place.
Upon the views of my grandfather on this inter
estng question of Slavery you will scarcely expect
me 10 enlarge. They have been already frequently
published and are widely known; and were they
net, the thought that eleven years OF my boyhood
were spent under his roof, and my fresh rccolloc-
tons of his venerable presence and gentle counscis
might well be regarded as uniting me for speaking
of him in that spirit of impartial criticism which
BELTS the subject | turn, therefore, to his emf
nent successor in the Presidency of the Society,
Alexander Hamilton,
The position occupied by Hamilton in American
history, and especially the part he bore in framing
our national Constitution and securing the union Of
the States-the vigor of his understanding and the
entire absence in his character of aught that could
be construed as fanaticism--add interest to his
adoption of the views, and his promotion of the
objects Of the Abolitionsts of New York
Guizot has remarked that there is not in our po
litical system scarcely an element of order and du
rability for which we not in n degree indebted
to the genius of Hamilton. With his name arr
associated efforts for the restoration of the public
credit, the creation Of currency, the preservation
of public faith with foreign countries, and genera
Tranquility at home; and Webster. in an eloquen
burst familiar to you all, declared, He smote tn
crock of the national resources, and abundan
''streams Of revenue gushed forth he touched tn
''dead corpse OF the public credit, and it spranj
"upon its feet"
Hamilton was present at the first meeting Of tn
Society, when its Constitution was adopted and hi
name occurs frequently in their subsequent pre-
cecdings. We find him. on the Sth February, 1876
one Of a Committee to procure an Act of the Leg
islature to prevent the expectation of any slav
from the State, and his name is, after, foun
attached to n memorial to the State Legislature
commencing in these words; Your Memoriast
being deeply affected by the situation of those who
although free by the iaies IF God, held in Sla,
cry by the laws of the State"-a proposition tina
recognizes distinctly THE HIGHER LAW that embrace
the whole substance of the Ant-Savery controvers
and one by which, if the whole people wer
"deeply affected" Slavery would die. On the 20t
Of November, 1888, Hamilton was elected n CouT
sellor Of the Society, with James Duane, JudG
Benson and Robert Troup and, passing over ncarl
twenty years, during which he was frequently al
pointed on Committees and for time held tn
,Ai1ce u president, IN 1918 the report OF tho NJ
Work ManumissiOa Society to the Abolition Coz
,venton at Philadelphia showed Hamilton still
counsellor of the Association, having as his advt
Gates Peter Jay Munroe and Peter Augustus ia.
daniel ID. Tompkins who subsequently, rs Cove
NOR Of the State, had the honor of recommondn
70 the Legislature Of New York the final abotio
OF Slavery, and whose consistent regard for ii
principles of our Revolution, in all their catholi
lity, without limitation to color creed or condition
,still lives in his descendant who, in our battle f
freedom, leads the independent Democracy of h
native State.
These memorials Of Hamilton give him ran
tnaong the true patriots and philanhropists of Il
age, Of which New York may well be prou
Mere worldly honors sink into insgnifcance wht
placed side BY side with the unfading glory Of di
Interested benevolence; and great as may be Il
weii-deserved fame Of Hamilton the Soldier al
Hamilton the Statesman, equally enduring will
tine honor that we now render, and that the love
Of freedom and opponents Of Slavery will CIV
Esndsr. TO Alexander Hamilton the Abotionist.
.syAmSpg the eminent public men with who
BIapjton was associated in the work of Abolit
were Japes Duane, q Member of Congress in III
srJsaeso of abe District Court, and the first May
Hf New Work after its recovery from the BIRTHS
Major sAjoxepder MeDougnl. who commanded
tbs battle Of White Plains, and who was engag