Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-22
PENNSYLVANIA ABOLITION SOCIETY.

Passmoro Williamson having been doomed by
Judge Kane to an indefinite imprisonment, prob
ably for life, for having presumed to act as Secrc-
tary and Agent of tho Pennsylvania Society for
Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, the Relief
Of Free Negroes Unlawfully held in Bondage, and
for Improving the Condition of the African Race"
the history of that Society becomes matter of
public interest. Its origin goes back not only to
period not only prior to the Federal Constitution,
(Which, according to Judge Kanes Interpretation
Of it, makes active membership of this Society
sedtious if not reasonable but previous also to
the Declaration of Independonce-a document of
which tho doctrines generally set down by
urists of the Kane school obsolete fourishes of
rhetoric.
On the 18th of April, 1775-fve days before the
battle of Lcxington-a few individuals met at the
Sun Tavern in Philadelphia, and formed them
selves into a Society, under Constitution of
which the following is the preamble:
Whereas, There are in this and tho ncighboring
States number Of negroes and others kept in q
state of Slavery who, we apprehend, from different
causes and circumstances, are justly entitled to
their freedom by the laws and Constitution under
which we livc could their particular cases be can
didly and openly debated and evidence to the best
advantage for them produced; but as in their stu
alton, they being tied by the strong cords of OPP
preston, rendered incapable of asserting their
freedom, and many through this inability remain
unjustly in bondage during life, it therefore has
appeared necessary that some aid should bo cx-
tended to such poor, unhappy sufferers, wherever
they may be discovered, either in this city its
neighborhood; and as loosening tho bonds Of
wickedness and setting tho oppressed free is evil
IDENTIFY duty incumbent on all the professors of
Christianity, but more especially at q time ohGn
justice, liberty and tie lawS Of the land are the gen.
erat topics among most ranks and stations Of
men.
Therefore, being desirous MS much as in us lies
TO- 1oI,t f,ro
as are kept thus uniustly in thraldom we have
agreed to inspect and take charge of all tho par
ticular cases which may hereafter come to our
knowledge; and that our good intentions may
operate more successfully, and be of general
utility to such as stand in need of our assistance
have judged it eypedent to form ourselves into n
regular society by the namc OF the Society for
the Relief of Free Negroes unlawfully held in
Bondage"
A President, Treasurer, Secretary and stand
ing Committee of Inspection, were appointed, and
the Society commenced its operations in good
earnest But the political connections of those
timos of which Philadelphia became in somo
sense the focus, soon interrupted its meetings
which were not resumed till after tho treaty of
peace.
At first the Society had been composed entirely
of Quakers In 1887 it was reorganizcd, and tho
name given at the commencement of this article
adopted. A large number of now members were
admitted and tho venerable Franklin, then
President of tho State, accepted the Office of Pres
idcnt of the Society, with DIR. Rush and Tench
Cox, (afterwards distinguished Democratic pol
itician) as Secretaries and in 1889 an act of in
corporation was obtained from the Legislature of
the State.
One of the first objects to which the Society had
10 apply itself was the defeat of n bill introduced
into the. Pennsylvania Legislature philadelphia
having at that time become the seat of the National
Government) enabling officers Of the United States
to hold slaves in Pennsylvania. No wonder Judge
Kane hates the Society, but for which he and his
brother Federal officials might have enjoyed SO
charming privileged Societies with similar OBJ
jects in view having been formed in other States,
upon the proposition of the New York Society in
l704, meeting was held at Philadelphia OF Dele
gates from all the Abolition Societies in the United
States, including several in Maryland and Virginia,
to deliberate the means Of obtaining their COM
mon object-which National Convention continued
to meet annually for tho next twelve years. To
the first Convention DR.. Rush was delegate from
the Pennsylvania Society, and was the Chairman
of Committee to draft an Address issued by that
body to tho people of the United States. From
that document the first of the kind, distinguished
as we'll by vigor and simplicity by its emphatic
condemnation of the system of Slavery, we give
the following extract:
"Many reasons concur in persuading us to abol'
ish domestic Slavery in our country.
'Itis inconsistent with tho safety Of the liberties
of the United States.
Freedom and Slavery cannot long exist to-
gether. An unlimited power over the time, labor
and posterity of our fcllowcreatures necessarily
units men for dscharging the public and private
duties of citizens of n Republic.
at is inconsistent with sound policy in exposing
tho States which permit il to all those evils which
insurrcction and the most resentful war have m
troduced into one of the richest islands in the West
Indies.
at is unfriendly to the present excrtions Of the
inhabitants of Europe in favor OF liberty. What
people will advocate Freedom with zeal proper
toned to its blessings while they view the purest
Republic in tho world tolcrating in lis bosom o
body of slaves?
"In vain has the tyranny Of kings been rejected,
while we permit in our country domestic despot
ism which involves in its nature most of the
vices and miseres that we have endeayored t.
avoid.
"it is degrading 10 our rank as men in the scale
of being Let us use our reason and social aifec
tions for the purposes for which they were given