Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-29
THE PENNSYLVANIA ANNIVERSARY
AND FAIR

full report of the proceedings of tho Anniversary
of the Pennsylvania Anti.Slavery Society. The
editor CT the Standard says.
'Tho meeting was, MS we expected it would he.
exceedingly interesting and satisfactory, from its
beginning. on Tuesday morning, TO its final
close on Thursday at one o'clock, j. NJ. Tic
true.hearted Abolitionists Of Chester, Bucks, Mont
gomery and other portions of Eastern Ponnsylva.
MIA we're strongly represented, while from New
Jersey and Delaware came a few faithful and dcvo-
ted friends CT the cause, whose presence on such
occasions is always cheering to their associates.
The larger portion, Of the audience, however, was
at all times composed of residents of Philadelphia,
among whom, on several occasions, we noticed
some eminent citizens who are rarely present at
such gatherings, and whose attendance was proba-
bly,, in part at least, the effect of the Kane out
rage. 1t was the first time in many years that the
Society had held its anniversary in Philadclphia'
and the change in the public feeling since the day
when such meetings in the city we're the signal for
mobocratic demonstrations was a subject Of FIRE.
euent remark and general congratulation. An
evidence of this change was seen in tho patient at
tention if not positive sympathy awarded to radi-
cal and revolutionary sentiments. Doctrines which
not many years ago, were Indignantly repealed as
tu6 very HcUe u IdllbNIciSili Ntlc y otcllCu ~
with the seriousness which indicates u heartfelt
c~jnyic,ion of thtir essential truth. The NEST ra.i al
utterauces were those which elected the heartiest
applause. Tho general fairness, too Of the reports
of the proceedings in the daily papers was another
evidence Of the striking change in public opinion
which has been wrought within u very recent pc
riod. 1t was manifest, indeed, that the nnti-slavc.
nv sentiment Of Philadelphia had been much
strengthened and intensified by recent events, and
the general conviction that such was the fact ezer-
ted q happy influence upon the meeting.
THE speaking on the occasion, if somewhat less
exciting and impassioned than that which is some
times heard in anti.slavery meetings, was excellent
both in matter and manner. as our report will
nbundantly show. II in this respect there were
anything to be regretted, it was that our Pennsyl-
-vania friends themselves took so small Il share in
the debates. Il was natural however, and by no
means discr, ditable to them, that they should wish
to afford the friends Of the cause and others in at.
tendance the fullest opportunity to listen to the
impressive eloquencc Of Garrison, the irresistible
logic of Burleigh and the Nnthan-like rebukes Of
Foss. These champions Of the cause-in them
selves a host-gaye earnest battle to to pro-slIve
ry spirit of the times and proclaimed the gospel
of anti-slavery with power from ON high.
The harmony of the meeting was, perhaps, its
most delightful feature. There were differences
of opiui, IN on minor points, but one spirit of de-
votion to the ciuse, and one purpose to struggle III
behalf, come what might to property, reputation or
life. In this respect there was much to remind us
of the early days in the history of the anti.slayery
enterprise, when all the friends Of the cause were
of one heart and one mind, the pressure of mobo-
-. -. - ..l:.. ,i,A, ,l1;y;,,, 30 Co,tor;,,
and party distinctions.
OF the Anti-Slaycry Fair, which folio Ted the
meeting, we can only say that, in spite of the ex-
tremely unpropitious state of tho weather. it was
highly successful in u pecuniary point of view
while, rs Il reunion Of the friends of the cause in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and
itself n conspic Gus and administrative argumentin
favor of freedom, it wls certainly all that could
have been reasonably anticipated, A suggestion
look ny to the interm;ssion Of this fundamentally
for one year, by way Of experiment, was earnestly
cauvas.ed by those most deeply interested in the
matter, but We believe there was ut last a pretty
general occurrence in the opinion, strongly cx.
pressed by some from the first, that such an oxpe-
riment at the present timo would be unwise, and
that it would he far better to enter promptly and
with renewed zeal into the preparations for another
Fair, with 1t fixed determination to mako il, if pos.
sible, more attractive, beautiful and profitable than
any of its predecessors.
We have room only for the following abstract
from the Annual Report presented on behalf Of
the Executive Committee 10y J. Miller Mckim.
"Mr. J.. Miller McKim then submitted, on be.
half of the Executive Committee, the Eighteenth
Annual Report, of which the following is an ab-
stract:
The Report cponed by stating that the Society
had been nineteen years in existence that in
that time it had expended Sl50,000; had circulated
millions of anti-slavery newspapers, tracts and
other publications, and had held not fewer than
$500 public meetings. The object of the Society
was the abolition Of slavery" H. it dnnc
anything toward c~fecting that object? This
question, it was the business Of the Report to
answer.
1t was conceded tina. slavery lad not been nbo!-
ished in any State or Territory that with .he ex-
ception of the District Of Columbia, the State
Slave Trade had not been arrested that the pro-
slavery feeling at tho South was apparently more
extensive and more virulont now than ever before;
that in all the great national issues that had ever
been raised on the slave question, the South had
carried their point. This was acknowledged with
great candor, as a concession due to the South
But nevertheless, there was another side to the pic
ture, and this was presented. Victories are some
times fruitful in disaster 10 the conquorors. There
are some triumphs that are worse than defeats
This was the view the Report took of the triumphs
of the Slave Power in the Mexican war controver-
sy in that upon the Fugitive Slave law, ard also
upon that of the Nebraska bill. The Mexican
war was n slaveholding war, but il had given to
the North the State of California, u State whose
annual gold crop of Sl00. 600 was among its
least advantages, and IA State occupying "A position