The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-05
7 II Z z N D.
The Anti-Slavery Society of
Pennsylvania.
The Winding Up OF II fairs.
Il t = H "a - t Lab OrS.
The Abolition Sensations Of
Philadelphia.
The Winding Up OF II fairs.
L t . P ast Lab Ors.
The Great Fugitive Slave Cases,
and How they were Disposed of.

To-day closes the existence, as an organiza
ton, of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society,
and In commemoration of the various reforms
which have been accomplished by it during the
past thirty-two years, two meetings will be held,
one in the afternoon and the other in the eve
ming, at the Assembly Buildings. The'exercises
at the latter will be of particularly interesting
character, as at 1t several who were present at
its organization under the presidency of Daniel
Neill, ESQ.,, and who to this day have been ener-
getic and faithful workmen in its behalf, will
deliver addresses.
The Prominence Attained
by this society in national affairs warrants at
our hands, the reproduction of many of the
hard-fought battles through which it has passed
for the cause of humanity, and we therefore
publish the following compilation, paying espe-
cal attention to the fugitive slave cases in which
the society manifested SO deep an interest.
The Anti-slnvery Movements.
Prior to the year 1888, and dating back to the
formation of the Government there had been
in existence an association known as the Aboli-
ton Society. Its avowed object was the eleva-
ton of the colored people, and the protection
of persons Illegally detained in bondage. In
this organization there were many who believed
in going step further, and accordingly in 1898
convention was held in this city,
the American Anti-Slavery Society was organ
ized, and its first demand was
the immediate emancipation of the
slave. Auxiliary societies were formed, and in
January, 1887, meeting was held in Harrisburg.
which resolved itself into the PENNSYLVANIA
Anti-Slavery Society During the same year the
State Convention, authorized by an act of the
Legislature, assembled in this city, and after a
long and exciting debate, which consumed
several days. the Constitution of the State was
amended by inserting
The Word s'whitev
in the clause relative to the qualification of
voters. The proceedings of this body with
reference to this question were closely watched
by the society," and the proposed amendment
was manfully opposed by Thaddeus Stevens,
who was a delegate.
The society up to 1888 had been meeting
around in spots, and by the combined exertions
of the members stock company was formed,
and Pennsylvania Hall was erected at the corner
of Sixth and Haines streets, the site of the
present Odd Fellows Hall, at a cost of $40 OOO
It was completed in the early part of May and
was dedicated on the 10th, with interesting
ceremonies. The programme included poem
by Whittier On the same day crowd of
those opposed to the organization collected
around the building, and, after groaning the
society, defaced the structure with stones
On the afternoon of the 18th of May large
meeting of about 800, including whites and
blacks, was held 1t was the intention of the
members to have held another meeting on that
night, but fearing that violence would be done
them, it was not convened. Early in the even
ing, large crowds began collecting in the
vicinity, and towards 10 o'clock the excitement
ran high. Incendiary speeches were made, and
stones again thrown. Just before 10 o'clock an
attack was made on the structure The doors
were broken in and the windows demolished.
In few minutes
Flames Were Seen Rushing
from the lower stories and shortly thereafter the
entire building was in flames. Although those
who were engaged in this dastardly business
were but few in numbers, no attempt was made
by the immense crowd to Illustrate their wicked
designs, no doubt thinking that to object was
worth their lives. BY midnight the smouldering
ruins were all that was left of PENNSYLVANIA
Hall.
On the next day another excited mob col
lected, and proceeded to the
shelter for COIOred Orphans,
on Thirteenth street, above Callowhill, to which
they applied the torch, and it, like Pennsylvania
Hall, was burned to the ground. Several fire
companies attempted to go into service, but
they were driven off by the mob. During the
summers of 1889, 40, and Al there were occa-
sional disturbances occasioned by attacks made
on the colored people, and in 1842 there was a
general riot in the vicinity of Eighth and South
streets. The negroes were attacked, and iu addi-
ton to personal violence inflicted the mob
burned down the African Presbyterian Church
on St. Mary street, and Smiths Hall, on Lom-
bard street. This latter building was erected by
Mr.. Stephen Smith for the accommodation of his
black brethren. Meetings were held here
nightly, and the feeling ran SO high that Judge
Conrad declared 1t nuisance Affairs now ran
on smoothly until 1849, when another riot was
INDUCED in, the negroes again suffering by
the demolition of what was then known as the
California House."
Despite all these drawbacks, the Anti-Slayery
Society continued in its work for the emancipa-
tiOn of the slave, and flooded the country with
printed documents with reference to the subject.
They also published the
''PennsyIyunia Freeman
a weekly journal, since merged into the Anti.
Slavery Standard, which was edited at times by
Whittier, Lowell, Burleigh, aud others.
The Fugitive slave Gases.
Prior to the passage of the Fugitive Slave
law in 1850 the courts were but little troubled
with fugitive slave cases, and the Anti-Slayery
Society, though not content by any means, were
actively engaged in their work of the eInanci-
patton of the slaves. The passage of that law
on the 18th OF September, 1850, and its dis
I'll luN ln.t t....s