The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-30


| triumph. What lesson to politicians 1t
was in consequence of this stubborn adherence
to principle through his whole life, that politi
clans and time-serving men stigmatized him as
an imprdctica6le. They respected his undevi
ating integrity and exalted character, while
they were vexed because he was so "infexible.'
He never succeeds in his political efforts, said
| they, because he will not give way. The con-
sequence was, that the post of honor with Jo-
seph Surge was private station.
In lS4l, he again visited the United States.
His object was expressed by him in the follow
ing words: The objects which preferred the
chief claim to my attention were the universal
abolition of Sldrery and the promotion of per
manent International peace" While here, he
travelled extensively, visited many friends OF
peace, temperance, and the Anti-Savery cause
and he had interviews with influential men l2
public life. Before leaving the country, he
published an address Z" To the Friends of I'm
mediate Emancipation in the United States.
lie said am not one of those who despair
of a healthful renovation of public sentiment,
which will purify the church as well as the State
from this slavery abominatiOn.' lie ex-
pressed hope that a second Worlds Conven,
ton would be held in London he reminded
Abohnonists that the fall of American Slavery
must be the death blow to the horrd slave trade,
to the foreign branch Of which alone he said,
more than one thousand victims are daily sac
riiced and, in conclusion, expressed hope
that if the iorebodings of JeilersOn-that he
trembled for his country when he remembered
that God was just-should be realized, each
Abolitionist might feel that no exertions on his
part had been wanting to avert the Divine dis
pleasure, and preserve the land from those
calamitles which, In all ages, have rebuked the
crimes of nations.
The second general Anti-Slavery Convention
held in London, June, l843, and the Peace
Convention that Immediately followed, were
largely indebted to Mr. Surge for their in
cipiency and prosperous proceedings and ter
minatoH. During the session of these bodies,
for two successive weeks, Mr.. Surge took a
furnished house in London, and Hospitality en-
tertained, daily, large numbers of members OF
the Convention, while in various other ways he
generously contributed to the promotion OF the
great objects for which these assemblies OF
philanthropists, from England, France, Ameri-
ca, &c, had been held. More than any other
man was he the life and soul of these gatherings,
although..at the time the financial concerns of
his large business required his unremitted over
sight and vigilance. The venerable Clarkson,
being unable to attend the Anti-Slavery Con-
vention, on account of increasing infirmities
incident to his advanced age, committed to the
hands Of Mr.. Surge, his address to that body,
by whom 1t was impressively read.
Until his removal by death, Mr. Surge never
swervcd from his devotcdne5s to the Anti Sla-
very cause. He gloried, SO far as a Christian
may glory in any benevolent enterprise, in be-
ing an outspoken Abolitionist, in the doctrine
of immediateism, and he took particular pleas
ure in identifying himself, through evil and
through good report, with ultra Abolitionists,
and with the cOlOred man, bond and free. 1t
was truly said of him by the Missionary, Viii
liam Knibb, His name is engraven on almost
every Negroes heart" In a portrait Of Mr..
Surge, taken in lS43 by an eminent artist. one
hand rests upon the shoulder of black child
while the other seems to be an appeal he is
making, saying, on behalf of the slaves, of
whom the child is a representative, Am
not man and brother?"
In 1916, having buried his devoted sister,
who had for so many years been at the head Of
his household, and his counsellor and coadju-
tor, he entered again into the marriage rea
ton, with Hannah, daughter of Mr. Barnard
Dickinson, Of COalbrooke Dale, who Survives
him, and by whom he leaves one son and four
daughters.
When the Provisional Government was es-
tablished in France, in 1913, says Mr.. Golden,
he visited Paris as the guest of Arago, then
Minister of the Colonies; and so forcibly did he
plead the cause of the slaves, that the Minister
successfully exerted his influence to obtain a
decree putting an end to the system. The fol-
lowing year, saws the London Times, when all
Europe was convused with revolutions, lac at
tended at Brussels the first of that remarkable
series Of Peace Congresses which continued to
be held until 1852, and at all of which he was
present, and had a principal share III the
guidance of their proceedings.
During the war between Denmark and the
Duchies, in 1913, he went first to the head
quarters of the Schleswig Holsteiners, and then
to the capital of Denmark, to endeavor to per
suade the belligerents to refer their dispute to
arbitration.
The Times after abiding to Mr. Surge 5
visit to Paris, and his interviews with Lamar
tine and Arago on the subjects of peace and
slavery, aud the success of that mission, says
one Of the beSt-known incidents of his public
life was his visit to the Emperor Nicholas of
Russia, in 1851 when, in the depth of winter,
he formed a deputatiOn from the Society of
Friends, composed of Robert Charleton, Henry
Pease, NJ. p, and himself, TO present an ad-
dress of remonstrance against the war; solely
on religious grounds. The deputation was
courteously received; the Emperor made a
verbal explanation Of the cause of the war; he
expressed his desire to avoid it; avowed his
| esteem for England and Queen Victoria; and
afterwards transmitted to the Society of Friends
a written reply to their address.
In 1856, he went to Paris as one Of the dep
utation commissioned to present memorial to
the Emperor and the plenipotentiarie6 Of the
other foreign Powers, in favor OF inserting in the
treaties of peace a clause binding the contract
ing parties to settle any future international
dispute by arbitration. In the same We 1r, he
undertook a journey to Finland, and laboriously
investigated the miseries inflicted on the wretch
ed inhabitants of the coast by the war which
was then just brought to a close, while he ad-
ministered with princely generosity to their ne
cessities.
When the water cure establishments had got
into successful operation, Mr.. Surge felt de-
sire to impart the benefits of them to the poorer
| classes, and therefore fitted up one of them,
committing IT to the charge Of a worthy physi-
clan and his assistants, so that persons in very
moderate circumstances could avail themselves
of the advantages of this system of cure, at
charges barely sufficient to detray the expenses
| At another time, in conjunction with his brother
| Charles, he organized an establishment for the
reformation of juvenile offenders, and, Oh being
| satisfied of their desire to conduct WELL aided
them III procuring employment. On many oc
! caslons has he helped poor youths and adults
in whose future good conduct he had conf
dence, to emigrate to this country, where they
could commence anew without suspicion OF
hindrance conhding them to the oversight Of
some one who was fully and confdentaly ap
prised Of their past career. Meritorious per
sons of various kinds have experienced aid
from Mr.. Surge, in coming to this country with
a view to better their condition; indeed, his
hberality, kindness, and solicitude, in these re-
gasdS, We're extraordinary.
Within few years, Mr.. Surge, in company