The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-10
THE EmANc1pAr1os CONVENT ION.

la5J-
The Rev. E. P. Elliot, of Inltiana, sas tenn.
porarily called to the chair, and the Rev. c. W.
Denison was appointed Secretary. Mr.. Burritt
read extracts from q wide CORES S6ndence which
be has held with different individuals, in all
parts of the country, respecting the Convention.
Err. B. said that he had passed .hrouga most OF
the free and many of the ssve Stntes, and
found, to his establishment, tl,at a generous
feeling favorable to emancipation wss preva.
lspt everywhere. This feeling Gid not embrace
any one political party o. religious creed. BE
found it to be almost universal Men of the
tree great political parties were alive to the in
terests of emancipation. For himself, he utter
IL detested the name of "Mason and Dfxon's
lne." That line must be erassd from the face
Of the country, and thus leave 10th sections OF
TIE Union to meet upon tone bfstherly basis
q common interest. The, call esked the coop.
eration of the people of the South. He was
glad to see this FEATURE Eve, if it was not
Necessary to the carrying out ef their present
work, it at least had a teJdencJ to allay the i'll
feeling at present appareat amt ng the two diff
ferent sections of the Union.
Gerrit Smith said that it was not question
whether man could co ,scienio usly sign the
oall-that act was perso, al to himself. and not
{. subject for discussion lere. The call was in
pnded for the people of the North who were
willing to remunerate their brethren of the South
for the loss they would s,,stain Il manumitting
their slaves The holdel of tl'e slave had a
porsl right to their contributions in compen
satiOn for such loss, for t1ey hid in effect ap
proved his right to hold Jhe sla. 'es. If by any
act of theirs, they had Induced heir neighbors
to do evil, it was their duty to share the loss
Sustained by quitting that evil.
After much discussion, stand ng committees
we're appointed.
On the morning of the seconl day, the fol
Owing preamble and RESOLUTION were reported
- the Convention:
:" Whereas, in consideH4tion rf those moral,
political, and commercial relationships by
which lin times past) the free gtates have di-
rectly or indirectly contributed 70 the sanction
and sustenance of Slavery, and of the magni-
tude of the difficulties involved its extinction,
and also the Unreasonable ADJ sntages which
would accrue to every see.io9 fir I'm its removal /;
therefore,
Z" Resolced, That, in tht opini On of this Con-
vention, it is highly desireble Ii At that the peo-
pie Of the North should mite in a generous
and brothOrly spirit WITH the people of the
South, and share literally with them in the
expense of putting an end to so great polti-
cal and moral evil as American Slavery"
Heightened discussion followed, AID other
resolutions were offered Mr.. Burritt and Mr..
Smith spoke at length
Inthe evening, Mr.. Denison addressed the Con-
veption. He detailed his personal knowledge OF
emancipation in the West Indies. He said it was
amistaken notion thatthe blacks in those islands
we're worse off than during the days of Slavery.
The STAKEHOLDER there was of the opinion that
all parties were benefited, and would not con.
sent to return to the Slavery system again.
There was never an instance when the negro
was offered fair wages, that he would lot work
Thriving towns had grown up; more improved
state of morals prevailed; there is greater
amount of labor performed, more sugar manu-
featured; churches, schools, AMI colleges, are
established ard peace and happiness prevails.
Inelr cnurcnes are UuIsC EIPUL q. 1,.oav >
uer that would be astonishing o many. Ma
hpgany finish, splendid organs,.a fifteen hun
dred dollar clergyman, and OTHER appliances
ike white folks. Mr.. d. was Of the opinion
that compensated emancipation was perfectly
practicable, and productive of il calculable ben.
eft to all parties interested.
Gerrit Smith delivered an eloquent address
upon the objects of the Convt ntion, favoring
the plan of compensation.
During the third and last day of the Conven.
ton, the discussions were of PRACTICAL nature.
The price to be paid for the sls es to be freed
was fixed at $3.50; but some Il ought this too
high figure, and a reduction as made This
was, of course, matter of 81 eculation; the
Convention could not fix 5he tei ms of COM
promise with the South, the Stuth being alb
sent. 1t seems to be generally agreed that the
proceeds of the public lands as.d the surplus
revenue of the country should lie employed to
renunerate the shareholders for. the emancipa-
ton of their slaves.
Mr.. Smith was of the opinion that, when one
State began to give up the institution, it would
besthe end of Slavery; one after another would
fag into the measure, and TIE whole thing
would be blotted out of existence at once. Kan.
saG would never hold slave in hat event, and
all the Southwest would yield fl ,m the force of
pecuniary advantage. He thou hit the uniform
plan the better, stipulating the srice by State
enactment, and the North pay Tat price, leav-
ing the balance to be mace up by the slavehold-
ing States. And, said hs, in response to the
ad2snced doctrine of compromising the slave,
this matter should be left entirely to the gene
rosity of those Immediately interested.
Mr.. Smith, we see, did pot overlook one i'm.
portant fact to which we have heretofore allu-
ded in the Era, viz the indis position of the
South to treat with the Compen:ationists.
Mr.. Smith said, if the South cid not act in a
friendly manner in regard to t1e proceedings
of.ithis Convention, he was at q lss to know
what further action to take. IA faid that this
measure had been published far and wide-the
Solth was fully posted upon tho Contemplated
preceedings-bu he had yet to learn the name
Of ; sirgle newspaper among them that favored
the. movement. They were cold and sullen,
sppicious and unfriendly, on the subject. He
ha;l hoped that this Convention would be well
saSplied with men from the South; but the
Sdeth had not evinced desire to act with
them, and he feared that ae coGld look for no
friendly action on their behalf He said that
s9me people of the South declsred themselves
s., welded to the institution, that they do not
W sh to abandon it upon any consideration or
nt ,nnensafinn-