New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-03
THE ANTI.SLAVERY ANNIVERSARY
AT PHILADELPHIA.


Philadelphia to form the American Anti-Slav-
cry Society. The Convention was not only
small in numbers, but with rare exceptions its
members were unknown beyond their own
neghborhoods. The most conspicuous we're the
Rev. Berah Green, then recently Professor Of
Sacred Literature in Western Reserve College;
Lewis Tappan, an enterprsing merchant OF this
city; John G. Whittier, the Quaker poet; VIM.
LLOYD Garrison, then as now the editor Of The
Boston LiJerator; DR.. A. i. Cox, q skilltul
physician of this city; Samuel j. May and
Amos A. Phelps, clergymen of Massachusetts;
William Goodell, then editor of The Genius Of
Temperance; Elzur Wright jr., since known as
the translator of La Fontaine; the Rev. 5. 3
Jocelyn of this city, and DIR. +. A. Aztec and
j. Miller McKim of Philadelphia The Con-
vention numbered 62 persons, from 10 States
Prof. Green ofiiciated as President, and MesSrs
Tappan and Whittier as Secretaries. A Deca-
ration of Principles and Purposes, from the
emphatic and eloquent pen Of Mr.. Garrison,
was adopted, and "The American Anli-Savery
Society,"" based on the doctrine OF immediate
emancipation without expatriation organized
The officers Of the Society were then chosen.
It's President was Arthur Tappan, the senior
partner of one of our Oldest mercantile
firms, and widely known for his muniicent
contributions to the religious and benevolent
institutions Of the country. Among its other
officers were Samuel Fesscnden, the head Of the
Maine bar, and the father Of the present able
Senator in Congress from that State, the Rev.
DR.. Lord, President OF Dartmouth College
Professors Fitch and Ives OF Yale College, Ben
jamin Lundy, one Of tie earliest Anti-Siayery
pioneers, Joshua Leayitt, the editor, success
lively, Of The N. y. Evangelist, The Emane'pa-
tor and The Independent, Professor Shepard OF
Bangor Theological Seminary, Theodore ID.
Weld, and Ellis Gray Loring, David Lee Child,
and Samuel T.. sewall, members Of the Boston
bar. Looking confidently into the Future, the
Declaration OF the Convention, signed by all its
members proclaimed "Our trust Tor victory IS
solely in God. We may be personally defeated,
but our principles never. Truth, Justice. Rea-
son, Humanity, must and will goriousy tn
umph." In sketch of the proceedings Of the
Convention. a leading delegate, through an
Anti-Slavery periodical, said: 1.-The members
of the Convention and their Associates viii
never cease from their labos till their cause r.
triumphant. The God of Truth and Justice is
with them, and they will finally prevail"
No rejecting man can doubt tina, the historian
of the conflict between Freedom and Slavery
which has convulsed this nation for the Last
thirty years, will assign a very important part
in the great movement 10 tho society whose or
ganizaton we have briefly skctched. From the
start, il entered upon its seemingly almost
hopeless work with an energy and u will that
nothing could discourage or dismay. In the
language Of Mr.. Garrison, " it noud be heard"
It's first battle was for freedom of speech and
the press. And, in the face of riots aud Lynch
ings, and murders even, and while its meetings
were broken up by mobs, and its presses thrown
into rivers, and its orators and editors shut up
in prisons or shot down at their posts, it fought
out this fight during five or six years with a
persistency and a courage which have few para-
lels in the annals Of progress and reform. The
heroism of this small body Of prescribed men
and women wrung plaudits from theirOpponents.
The late William Leggett wrote of them TWEEN
ty-eight years ago." II would seem as if God
had wnnowed the population of the country to
select choice few whom nothing can drive from
the exercise of their right 10 discuss the question
of Slavery" Commenting upon the anti-Aboli-
ton riots that disgraccd this city in 1884, during
which the house of Lewis Tappan was sacked and
his furniture reduced to ashes, Mr.. Charles King
then editor of The Ner- York American, said,
Fire cannot burn their convictions out of these
men" Nor did it, Unseduced by blandish-
ments and undeterred by violence, the Aboli-
ionists kept straight on, urging their obnoxious
doctrines upon public attention, not always in
the mildcst terms, nor with the sweetest tenn
per- but with stern facts and sturdy arguments,
until they compelled the nation TO stand still
and listen.
Mngling with this contest for free speech and
free printing, though initiated at a little later
period in the conflict was the memorable strug-
gle for the right Of petition In 1875 and 1876,
the Anti-Slayery societies began to petition Con
gress for the abolition Of Slavery in the District
Of Columbia and the inhibition of the Interstate
Slave-tradc, and kindred measures. Though
few at the outset, the number of petitioners
swellcd during the next two or three years till
it reached in one Congress threc-fourths of
million. II would belle obvious facts TO call all
these petitioners Abolitonsts." In the dc.
Tense of the right of petition, Us also that of the
freedom Of speech and the press, it became EVIL
don't IN consideratn mon that not aluun uas Tho