The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-01
VOL. TX.
RADICAL ABOLITION CONVENTION.
Bosroy, Mass. Ocloher. Dc 1e5.

AConventlon OF Radical Political A boltionists
has Just terminated its sessions at the fremont
Temple, in this city. Among those who attend
ed, from different parts of the free States. were
tne following persons: Gerrit Smith, Beriah
Green, William GOodell, Lewis Tappan. Fred.
enck Douglass, A. Il. Burdick, Einathan Da
Wis, George Trask, c. Cushing. John Pierpont
l. +. blanchard, Edward p. ROGERS.
series OF propositions and a set of resolu-
'io"S, Uouchlng the slntuneSs illeralitv. and mn
cohstitutlonahty of American Slavery. were in
troduced, read, and fully discussed Many of
these principles have been discussed previo1sIv
in the Era, by Mr.. Goodell.
The Convention was held three dave o,d
three sessions were held each dav. Each oc
them was opened with prayer. George W.
Clark, the celebrated vocalist. enlivened a.
meetings with Liberty songs.
Several of the Garrisonian Anti Slaverv ror,,
attended, but none of them undertook TO discus
the great questions proposed for consideration
except Henry G. Wright. He was answered
by Mr.. Gerrit Smith, and with such potent mr.
| guments that no one came to the help OF Mr.
Wright. Invitations had been repeatedly made
| to the leaders Of the Garrison or Disunion mar
ty, to come forward and maintain the doctrine;
of their school. 1t was the first time. il Is b.
heved, that they have evinced n disinclinaliou
to meet i'll open debate any body Of Anti.Sla
very men who differed from them i'm their ne.
culiar views, and who challenged a public dis
cuSsion. Their backwardness, therefore, seem.
ed extraordinary and ominouS.
The attendance during the daytime was no,
numerous, but highly respectable. The Hall
was crowded during the evening with ladies and
and gentlemen. Several distinguished persons
from abroad, who were visiting the city. were
present, to listen TO the debates and TO the
speeches made at the evening sessions.
| a learned Professor III one of the New Enc.
land Colleges said, after listening to a speech
| by Beriah Green, on the confusion made re
speeding personality and property, that few
men, if any, in New England, could make such
a powerful and convincing argument. The
| speeches of Messrs. Goodell, Smith, Douglass.
and Pryne were also listened to with great al
| tention, and received much applause.
The good people Of Boston and Massachu.
setts have now had an opportunity to know that
there is q body of Christian Abolitionists in the
land who, instead Of pronouncing the Consti-
tuition ProSavery document, and advocating
dissolution of the Union, aim to abolish Sla.
very through the instrumentalitv of the Const
| tuition. They have now learned the true mean
ing OF Radical AbotioniSm. The effect will be
salutary. The Radical Abolitonsts do not pro
| pose to sever the free from the slave States and
| thus leave the slaves in hopeless BONDAGE. or
| bect them to the necessity OF ACHIEVING their
emancipation by bloody instruction Neither
are they willing to be separated from tho rooJ
| men and true in the present slave States. Who
are manfully contending for the rights of man.
| in order to enjoy the society of the Pro Slavery
men at the North, who, in Church and State
| sustain the accused system of Southern bond
| age. On the contrary, with the BIBLE and the
| CONSTITUTION, they propose, relying on the
| God of the oppressed, to save the Union, one
and indivisible; while they aim at the good Of
| their country, their whole country. God speed
| the right
The Convention resolved on forming a Ma.
tional Society, to he located in the city of New
York, to sustain and carry forward the priuci.
pies avowed Accordingly, a Committee was
| appointed to report Constitution and board
of officers. The report of this Committee was
| adopted, as follows:
CONSTITUTION.
ART. I. This Society shall be called the
| American Abolition Society.
| ART. III. It's objects shall be to secure the
immediate and unconditional abolition of Amer
lean Slavery.
ART. III. Its leading sentiments are these.
| |. Slaveholding is sinful, Illegal and uucou-
| constitutional. 1t has no right to be in the
| Church in the State. 1t is excluded from
the former as a sin, and prohibited by the lat
ter as a crime. 1t is not sanctioned by the
| Bible or the Constitution, but is condemned by
| both.
2. 1t is the duty of the Federal Governments
in all its departments, to suppress saveholding
throughout the United States.
3. 1t is the duty Of the several State Govern
ments to sustain the Federal Government in
this measure; to protect their citizens, and al
who touch their soil, from seizures by kidnaI-
pers or shareholders, under the Fugitive Slave
| Bill, or otherwise; TO make all attempts at The
| execution of that unconstitutional and atrociJu7
| act penal offence; and to extend the right Of
suffrage and eligibility to office to all their cit
zens, irrespective of race or complexion.
| q. 1t is the duty Of the citizens at the bal
| lotbox, to provide State and National Admin
strations that will make these measures para.
mount objects of their activity; to secure n ia
dietary that will execute justice; to vote for
such candidates for Office, and for such only as
are tried friends Of the enslaved, and publicly
known to be earnestly engaged in prOmotinr
these measures.
5. 1t is the duty of Christians to hold no
Church relations that involve religious fellow.
| ship ecclesiastical connection with slaveholt
| ers. 1t is also their duty to sustain no Missio
| AIRY Society having completely with slavcholi
ing, nor any Tract Society, or other religion,
publishing society, that does not expose ami
rebukc the heinous sin of slaveholding, in com
mon with other sins.
ART. " The action Of this Society will be-
directed to the furtherance of its objects The
propagation of its principles, the advocacy and
| proposed public measures, in all suitable way;
particularly by personal example, and by the
publication and circulation of cheap tracts, the
| employment of lecturers, and assisting to sus.
| tain n periodical adapted to these purposes.
ART V. Any person approving these objects
principles, and measures, and pledged 10 then
support, by effort and example, may become q
member of this Society, by asserting to IL,
Constitution and contributing to its funds.
ART. VI. The officers of this Society shall be-
n President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, AMI
Treasurer, who, together with ten others, shall
constitute an Executive Committee, five OF
whom shall constitute quorum for the trans
action of business,
ART. VII. The annual meeting Of the S0ci'
ETY., for election of officers and tho transacuor
Of other appropriate business, shall be held at
such time and place as the Executive Commit
tee shall direct.
ART. VIII. No amendment shall be made 10
this Constitution, without the concurrence oil
two-thirds Of the members present at regular
annual meeting, nor unless the proposed amcnH-
ment has been submitted to previous meeting
or to the Executive COMMITTEE, in season % d.
published by them las it shall be their duty 10
do, if so submitted) at the regular Official mo-
LITIGATION of the meeting.
ART. TX. The Executive Committee shall Dr.
authorized TO fill vacancies in the Board %.
Officers.
oFFICERs.
President-IIon. Gerrit Smith.
Vice Presidents-Iewis Tappan, Ehhu DE-
rift, James Il. Walker, and ii. b. BurdIrh.