Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-07-02
THE LONDON EMANCIPATION COM
MITTEE.

On Saturday last, MAY 2Sth, an influential meet
ing OF friends of the antslavery cause was held at
the residence of Mr.. F. W. Chesson, 10, Harpure
street, Bloomsbury for the purpose of considering
the propricty of forming Anti Slavery Commit
tee. George Thompson, Esq, formerly NJ p. 70,
the Tower Hamlets was unanimously called upol
to preside. f'i s' s-tt.- ~
Mr.Chesson opened the proceedings by stating tn
reasons why the meeting was called together. III
said that several friends of the anti slavery caus
with himself had long felt the need of some proper
ly constituted body in London which should dffuse
Information on the slavery question, more es pecal
" in its American aspects. No existing organiza.
ton in this part of the country supplied that want
and in proof of that statement he need only refer
to the anti-slavery meeting held at the London
Tavern that day, at which onl, very slight refer
encc was mado to the subject of slavery in the
United States. There were important questions;
such as the agitation id fator of the Personal
Liberty Bill, and the noble otand taken by Dr.
Cheever against the prc-slavery churches of Amer
lea, which it was especially desirable should be
brought before the English public at the present
time. (lIear, hear.) He did not suggest that
they should constitute themselves into society !:
they were not in position 10 undertake such re-
sponsibility. nor did they wish to come in collision
with any existing association. lie thought that
they might advantageously form themselves into a
committee and if they did no moro than to hold
public meeting on the lst Of August in every
gear, with a view to commemorate West India
emancipation, and to place fairly before the public
the American slavery question, they would not la,
Dor in vain. (Hear.)
The Chairman said he had little to add to the
very clear statemen which Mr.. Chesson had made
of the reasons which led to the holding of that
meeting. He (Mr. T.) had for many years seen
and felt the necessity for the existence Of an indie
pendent committee in London. for the especial
purpose of cooperating with the friends of aboli-
tion in the United States Of America. He did not
wish to stand in an attitude of hostility OF antago
nism towards any organization of an anti-sa very
character which might be at present prosecuting
its own peculiar objects but he did mos. earnestly
desire to be associated with committe, no matter
how few its number OF how humble its position
who, like himself, deeply sympathized with the
unfaltering and uncompromisng aboltionists of
America, and desired as they had ability, to CO.
operate with them in their humane and noble eff.
orts. ltwas fact, however discreditable it nigh,
be to the great city Of London; that delegate
from the American Anti-SIavery Society, willis
secure of cordial and hospitable reception in
Warrington, Leeds, Liverpool, Edinburgh. alas
cow, Dublin, and Cork, as well as in other PARTS
the United kingdOtn-and might calculate will
confidence upon efficient cooperation Id the prose
sution of an anti-slavery mission there-could fue
nobody, however small, iu the metropolis of tn,
British Empire, to extend such welcome. or tt
proffer such assistance. From that day forth. be
trusted, that reproach would longer be deserved
and would no more be incurred. He (Mr. Thomp
sony by no means undervalued the i'm mportanco of a
society directing Its attention to the working of
emancipation in the colonies, to the question OF
immigration, and to the manner in which foreign
nations observed existing treaties on the subject Of
the slave trade. Such society might effect much
good, by well-timed deputations to the Prime Min
lister or the Colonial Secretary, with memorials
pointing out existing evils, and suggesting reme
dies which the British Government might adopt
and apply Such society, too, might originate
motions and debates in tho two houses of Parlia-