Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-17
FOrthe Daily State Sentinel.


Slavery and fke Internal Stare Trade in the
United States Of North america; being Replies TO
Questions Transmitted By the Committee Of the
British and Foreign Anti Slavery Society for the
Abolition Of Siauery and the Stare Trade through
cut the World-Presenfed 10 the General Anti
Slauerg Convention, held in London, June, 1910,
by the Executive COMMITTEE of the american Anti
Slavery Society.
The answers to the questions constitute the
main portion of the book but near the close
the committee give the following summary of
Abolition or Black Republican movements to
that date:
We come now to glance at the Abolition move
ments.
Perhaps there could not be a more striking
evidence of the torpfying effects Of slavery upon
the public conscience, than the fact that no
thoroughly serious and systematic effort in the
form of an organization, was made to overthrow
it until the commencement of the year 1852. In
the following year the American Anti slavery
society was organized at Philadelphia. The first
anniversary of this society held in New York in
May. 1884, greatly aroused popular Indignation
The daily, commercial, and political papers,
backed by religious periodicals, continued thence
forward the most persevering attacks upon the
principles and measures of the society. These
efforts to excite the mob effected their desired
object. About two months after the Anti-slayery
anniversary, an Abolition meeting was held in
New York. The city papers redoubled the fury
Of their attack, and beckoned on the mob to
crush this treason in the egg" The mob ac-
cordingly assembled, and proceeding to the place
of meeting, dispersed the assembly.
The doctrines and measures of the Anti
slavery society were assailed increasingly with
every form of attack How far it gave cause
for such unprecedented persecution, may be
judged from the following statement of the meas
ures which it has pursued from the date of its
organization up to the present time.
1. The American Anti-slavery Society and its
auxiaries have employed agents and established
presses in the free States, to advocate the duty
and safety of immediate emancipation Through
these organs they have constantly urged the sin
fulness of slavery and the consequent duty OF
Immediately abandoning il.
2 They have contended earnestly against all
plans of gradual abolition as wrong in theory,
inefficient in practice, and fatally quoting to the
SHAREHOLDERS conscience. Against the Colonial
ton Society especially, as embodying gradualsm
in its most odious form, they have always pro
tested.
3. They have illustrated the safety and policy
Of immediate emancipation by a multitude of
well authenticated facts. Keeping their eye
upon the experiment in the British West Indies,
after suitable time had elapsed, delegates were
dispatched thither by the American Anti-slavery
Society, to examine infinitely into the operation
of the new system The report of their delegates
was published and has been extensively circulated
in the United States
A. They have appealed to Shareholders in the
language of affectionate entreaty, and faithful
warning, and rebuke. urging them to do their
duty, demonstrating, both from reason and his
tory, that the path of duty was to the the path
of safety.
s. They have labored to bring the testimony of
the bible to bear with its full force agains. the
abomination of slavery-and the more so they
have witnessed the numerous attempts to dstort
il into vindication of oppression.
6. They have sought to bring the power of
religion i'm the free States to bear against slavery,
by urging ecclesiastical bodies to condemn it,
and by persuadng churches to exclude slave
holders from their communion. and slaveholjing
ministers from their pulpits. These objects have
to some extent been effected; though still the
predominant influence of the church in the North
is against the benevolent efforts of the Abolition
lists. We are, however, greatly encouraged by
the steady revolution which is going on in this
respect; every year witnesses the accession or
decided approach of Presbyteries, CONSIDERATIONS,
Conferences, and other religious bodies to our
principles.
Z. The Society has maintained an unwavering
testimony against prejudice. whether exercised
toward the slave of the South, the free colored
man of the North. 1t has denounced it as un
christian, unmanly. absurd and cruel; as prin-
cipal means Of riveting the letters of the slave,
and preventing the improvement of the free
5. A cherished object with the Society has
been the education and moral improvement of
the nominally free people of color residing in the
free States. Spurned from respectable society,
declared from schools, excluded from honorable
business pursuits, and virtually shut out of the
sanctuary. no one has cared for their souls. |
Heart-sick at these horrible prejudices and i'm
pious revings, the Abolitionists have labored to
elevate this outcast people. They have estab
lished day, and night, and Sabbath-schools for
their benefit; they have formed temperance,
moral reform, and other societies among them;
they have visited them at their houses, and freely
associated with them at the table, in the street or
in the church, to obtain opportunities of benefit
ing them, as well as to administer practical re
buke to the prejudices of their white brethren. !
They have also encouraged them to form habits |
of industry, by furnishing or procuring for them
employments. They have, in numer |
Gus instances, induced them to leave the cities |
where they have hitherto been in the habit of
and become cultivators of the soil.
In these efforts to instruct the free colored
people, Abolitionists have been actuated both by
a desire to benefit them personally, and to re-
move a standing argument against the emancipa |
ton of the ensaved, viz, the degraded condition
of the free
8. Besides the National Society, State Socie-
ties have been formed in every free State in the
Union, auxiliary to the former; and these have
branch societies in counties and towns. Each of
the State Societies. like the Parent Society, holds
public anniversary; each branch society also
holds its annual meeting. Besides these meet
ings, there frequent occasional conventions,
either National, State or county, which serve
greatly to keep the public attention awake, and
to disseminate the principles of the Society.
Several of the State organizations support
anti slavery papers. Massachusetts, has two,
New York two. Pennsylvania two, Maine one,
Vermont one, New Hampshire one, Connecticut
one, Ohio one, Illinois one and Michigan one-in
all thirteen periodicals devoted exclusively TO the
anti-slavery cause. Most of the State Societies
likewise employ lecturers within their own
bounds, and sustain repositories of anti-slavery
books.
10. Within the last three or four years the
Anti-slayery Society has effected much in the
field of political action. The objects they have
sought to accomplish by this kind of action are
the abolition of slavery in the District of Column
bla. and in the Territories under the jurisdiction
of Congress-; the extinction of the internal slave
trade; the rejection of the slaveholding Terrific
ries demanding admission as slave States into
the Union; and the recognition of the independ-
ence of Hayti. Over these subjects Congress
has constitutional control, aud therefore they are
legitimate objects of effort politically the part
of Abolitionists. Besides the above named OBJ
ects. the Abolitionists have sought the repeal Of
certain laws in several of the nominally free
States, which are oppressive to the colored citi-
zen and to the fugitive from slavery who may
take refuge in these States, or pass through them
on their way to Canada These ends have been
sought by means of petitions addressed to the
National and State Legislatures respectively.
Many of the latter have been induced TO pass
laws, securing the objects sought by the petition
ers. With this mode of action the Aboltionsts
have connected the questioning of candidates for
State and National offices, respecting their views
upon the various subjects embraced in the petit
ions. Hitherto the Abolitonists have abstained
rom forming a separate political party, though
he necessity of this measure, the only prac-
ical and efficient one, is now strongly advocated
by some of the most prominent Abolitionists.
The friends of the slave throughout the country
are now discussing this question. What the re
suit win be is not yet fully developed.
IL. We think we may add, without mourning
the charge of selfpraise, that the Aboitionists.
in the prosecution of their objects, have evincel
no ordinary zeal and self-sacrifce This has been