Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-10-28
PROCEEDINGS
OF TnE
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING
MICHIGAN ANTl-SLAvERY SOCIETY.

The First Anniversary OF the Nllchlgan ANTI
Slavery Society was held at Bidwell's Hall, Adrian,
Oct. 18th, 1854.
In the absence of the President, Jacob Walton,
one of the Vice Presidents, took tho Chair, and
Thomas Chandler was appointed Secretary, pro
tenn.
The following persons verc appointed by the
Chair a Nominating Committee:
Isaac G. Moi, Hickory Grove, Thomas Chandler,
Adrian, Mrs. lidGin, Plymouth, Robert B. Glasier,
Ann Arbor, r. C. Warner, Adrian.
The following wore appointed a Business Com
mittec:
G.. c. Burleigh, Conn. A.. T. Foss, n. H., c. S.
S. Griains. o, S. D. Moore, Ypsilanti, Jonathan
Walker, Wis, Ephraim Ruin, T~ccumsch, Jane
Owen, Adrian.
Finance Committce--Josephine Grifng, Ann
IIayball. Jane Owen. Jacob Walton.
Auditing Committe -Elipholet Jones, 7. C..
Warner.
An appropriate Anti-Slavory song was sung by
c. S. S. and Josephsno Grifing.
C. C. Burleigh, as chairman Of the business
committee, reported to the meeting the following
Resolutions: (see nos. l and . Of Resolutions APP
pended which were accepted, and Mr.. Burleigh
supported the sentiments contained in them, in a
lucid and able address. lie showed that the evil
Of Slavery is not that cruel masters or oversecrS
ecourge, and beat, and overwork those that are its
victims: not in what are sometimes called the
abuses of the system but in its own inherent char
actcr. The act of reducing a human being to the
condition Of a chattcl, is in itself the essence Of all
wrong, and abuse, and outrage the system which
makes man a piece of property, cnacting tina. he
cannot be anything, do anything, or acquire any
thing but that must belong to his master, is a sys-
tenn that does not admit Of abuse or aggravation ::
for it necessarily embudics within itself, every
wrong and every outrage that man can intict or
suffer and when II slave receives any treatment
not revolving to humanity, it is 'e,nuse irsuth
case the system is not allowed to exert its
legitimate control, owing to the fact that not every
stakeholder is so wanting in all that ennoblcs man
hood, as to use the authority that, by the slave
system, all Shareholders are clothed with. The
speaker showed most clearly that the duty Of aho
litionists is not merely to oppose Slavery extension
or the encroachments of the slave power, but t
take grounds Of uncompromising and unwaverin.
opposition to the system itself, wherever existing
and however sustained.
Then adjourned to 2 o'clock, P NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Nominating Committee reported the follow
ing names for officers of the Society for the cnsr
ing year, which report, on motion of S. D.. Moor
was accepted, and the officers elected unanimousl,
Presideat-CYRUS FULLER, Plymouth.
Vice Pesidsats-Josoph Merritt, Battle Cree
Maria Day, Hickory Grove, Abraham Power, Farr
ington, C. E. Mickey, Fairfield, j. II. Parke
Raciue.
Recording Secretary-El:phalc Jones, Adrian.
Corresponding Sscretary-Jacob Walton, Adria
Treasurer-Samuel Ha yball, Adrian.
Erecutire Commitee-Edwin Comstock Adria
William Ward, Adrian, Thomas Chandler, Adria
Frances S. Mott, Hickory Grove, Ann Hayba
Adrian.
On motion, James Barnaby, Of Ohio, was
pointed to act rs Assistant Secretary for the me
ing.
Mr.. A. T. Toss, ON. H. addressed the meotil
lie said he was much pleased to be at this mectil
lie had often dreamed of the West. He had loi
cd to see its lakes and lands and its people.
had heard Of the devotion of the western peo
to the Anti-Slavery cause and he loved them
it; and reioiced that 90 many of them were m
ing war upon Slavery with 10 intention of Civ
itquarter.
Mr.. Foss proceeded to speak of the influence
the church and clergy on the great question
human freedom. lie said it gave him no pleas
to speak i'll of them he would much rather pra
them. He had been one Of their number and
for the Anti-Slavcry cause would he one of th
number now. There are good men among
clergy auti-slayery men to some extent men v
,,rnv FIR tho Slave in secret and when none
abolitionists are present. though not often Def
proslayery audiences. They do not love Slay
but are trammeled by their false religious ideas
There are two classes Of relisionists that
doing harm to the Anti-Slavory cause. The
are those who advocate Slavery as right. !
class is by no means small, though it is not so !,
as formerly lie could ememhcr when three-G
Of the clergy defended Slavery as a Billie ins
ton. The number is smaller now, for tie pc
will not bear the doctrine. At present how
there are many who take this position, and they
men Of the highest standing, while FhJse VIII,
pose Slavery rs a sin, are men Of small innu
in the church He referred to Or, Spring rs m a
cate Of the rightCulneSs Of slayeholding. lie
read extracts from an anonymous pamphict, "a
stood to be written by DR.. Lord, President Of
mouth College, N. La minister Of great ia1uC
The DR.. claims that Slavery should he view,
the light of Divine Revelation that it shoul
made u question Of Judgement rather than Il
ton Of sentiment. The world the Dr.. "a
Historically wicked" and hence Slavery is II
sary to keep it from total deprayily. lie Il
slavery has aided the cause of religion IL, We
morality, that it is recognized and reSuiai
the word Of God. The abuse of Slavery Il
laws is wrong. But the stakeholder who
bis slaves, well does ell that God requires!
Is one Of the two classes in the church that n
Slavery.
Another class is composed Of those whr
nounce 81 very, yctdo not treat tia a crime.
Of the 5000 New England clergy who pro
nrainst do Nebraska ~ininniLy were OF this