New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-18
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
SPEAKER PENNINGTON AND SLAVERY.


" n. Esisor n Ts< ~ " TStbsne
SIR: Twenty years ago, the friends Of che negro
held Convention In London, known the Worlds
Convention. Its svowed purpose was to pro note the
universal abolition Of Slavery and the slavetrade. The
venerable Thomas Clarkson, of worldwide celebrity
as the champion Of Freedom and the enemy Of the
save-trade, was President of that Convention.
Among other measures adopted, they addressed q
circular letter to the Governors of all the Southern
States Of the American Union, setting forth the evils Of
Slavery and the ssyetIade; the common brotherhood
Of the race the common provisions for their redemp
ton through the Lord Jesus Christi their convictions
that The emily way put an end to the slave-rade
TO abolish Slavery and they appealed to the several
Governors of the Southern States "to employ all that
" influence and power with which Divine Providence
" bad intrusted them to secure immediate liberty to
"the slave 1t referred to the recent abolition Of
Slavery in the West Indies and its happy RESULTS i'm
plored the Divine blessing on their appeal and ex-
pressed the hope that all rulers and subjects, In all
countries might receive and act upon the principles OF
the Gospel. and the day be fastened when violence
might be no heard throughout the habtable earth
Signed, Thomas Clsrkscn, President.
Bv reout ST of those who had them in charge, for
warded these circulars under my frank member of
Pennington of New-Jersey, among Others Most OF
these dgnitaries affected be raring mad several of
them wrote and published in the newspapers violent,
abusive grandioquent letters addressed to me In an
swer to my frank Three of them, think, made it
matter of grave communication to their respective Leg
islatures in their Annual Messages Governors Bagey
and Polk declared that the circular was incendary,
and calculated to ince slaves to insurrection. As
tEo nj afa cir
Southern Governor was to be received by negro and
slave
To this circular Governor Pennington returned the
following very civil and sensible answer:
"NEwARK, N. j., July 80, 1910.
SIR: | acknowledge with great pleasure the re-
ceip of your concentration In behalf OF the Conven-
ton held in London on the 18th ult the subject OF
the abolition of Slavery and the slavede. Impressed
as with the importance and the trdth OF the pra-
cIes and views therein expressed 1t is my earnest de-
that this country may, at the earliest day In her
power consistent with security and the peace OF tue
Union ein hand in hand with the humane the other
side Of the water % washing out the stain upon her
rational charactee
The means u be used, as proposed by your Con-
ventioD are of "mora religious, and pacihc charac-
ter" and it is by these alone satisfied that
this great object be obtained. NewJersey, by an
act passed the 2h of February 1910 has defined her
policy BY that act every child born of slave with
IN the State since the 4h Of July, 1904 which shall
thereafter be bora is declared to be free but to remain
in the character Of an apprentice in the service of the
master, if male, until IS years Of age, and Il female
until the age of 81 years Under the operation OF this
law Slavery has become almost extinct with us, and
am happy TO say that, 30 far IS my observation OK
tends the condition of servitude is OF the most mih-
gated and indulgent form.
g Thanking you for your kindness in communicating
the proceedings of the Convention,
remain your very obedieut servant,
WILLIAM PENNlNGTON
Governor Of New jersey"
Polk Bagley, Mcdonald and Wickif, four OF those
who treated Thomas Clarkson's circular with such
elivarc contempt have gone with him, to their fins
account Notwithstanding reward of $500 was Of
fered for my head IN Savannah for my insolence in
sending this circular to their Governor, have lived to
see the only man who gave that very harmless letter
civil answer and who seemed to sympathne with its
general sentiments presiding the deliberations of
the American House of Representatives. L hope TO
live to see the then Governor of EewYork who had,
about the same time 80 thoroughly used up the chv-
airy of some four or five Virginia Governors in con-
roversy pertaining to the same "irrepressibe con-
Aiet," presiding the destnies of the Republic.
Uoy.ov A. " Feb, IL, 1860. s. NJ GATES.