Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-21
EARLY AhoIItionisn,.

In an interes ting sketch Of anli-slaYery opiu-
ions before the year 1900, read before the Gin
cinuati literary club by William F. Poole, late
librarian Of the Boston Atheneum and now OF
the Cincinnati public library, are some facts not
generally known, relating to the early preva-
lence Of anti-slavery opinions in the southern
states. Ii is a matter of familiar history that a
few eminent men, like Washington and Jetfer-
son, thought slavery a wrong and disgrace and
hoped for is gradual extinction. In their day
resistance to the oppressive pretensions Of the
mother country had directed attention 10 the
Fundamental principles, on which human rights
and free institutions are based, and thoughtful
men could not help seeing the radical inconsist-
ency between the theories pronounced in the
declaration Of independence and the practice
of holding fellow men of a darker complexion
in bondage. Self interest had not at that time
so obscured the moral perceptions and blunted
the conscience as at later time. Probably very
few men then would have yentured to defend
slavery on moral grounds, or on any other eX-
cept that il was an existing institution, which,
however unjust and impolitic, could not be got
rid Of at once without serious disturbance Of
social and industrial interests, and most people
probably thought that its abolition at no very
distant day was certain.
But il is not so well known that opposition to
slavery was very general and earnest, and very
warmly expressed during the latter part of the
last century, not only in the northern states but
in Virginia and Maryland, and that ant-slayery
societies were organized in considerable num-
bers in all these states, except in that one,
where, Judging from later experience, we should
have most confidently expected to find them,
Massachusetts. Mr.. jefferson in 1885 wrote to
DR.. Richard Price Of London, author Of a trea.
tise on liberty, in which very advanced opinions
on the slavery question were expressed:
"Southward of the Chesapeake your boo,
viii ind bot few readers concurring with it in
sentiment Oh the subject Of slavery. From the
mouth 70 the head Of the Chesapeake the bulk
OF the people viii approve It's theory. North
ward Of be Chesapeake you may find, here aud
ihete, an opponent to our doctrine, as you find,
mere and there, rObDer and murderer Eman.
clpauOn is put IN such train that In few
years there will he no slaves nOrtbward of Ma
iylano. In Maryland do not see such dis.
poslloh 10 begin the redress Of this euormity as
~ virginia. These 1.-THE inhabitants of Virgin.
Co., u",o sueHel 10 the principles Of liberty, as il
~
look with anxiety to turn the fate of t6ts
question" Wv i"'' VI 'llls
within the next ten years great progress was
made N unu'slayery sentiment The orgapiy..
non Of the state antislayery societies Is thus
mentioned by MIR, Poole:
The first aut-slayery society, outside Of the
society Of Quakers who had earue.,iv r,s VI .nS
on The subject for many years, va G,.s,.o
April u, l77j, az tue Sun tavern, ON Seron6
street. in Philadelphia. 1t took the MODE,
name Of society for Tue relief Of free neyroc.
aud Others uulawlully held in bondage mo
society met tour times 10 1875, aud gu accom-,
Of the war ~ meeting occurred again I'M Feb
fuaiy, 1854. | was 80 fortunate 10 hud among
some pamphlets, presented 10 our pubic library
shorl time since. an original copy Of ihe rule.
aud regulations VI this society, printed tbt
same year. winch have here Regular meet
logs we're bed tll March, 1881, when the con
suLntion was revised aud made 10 include The
abolition Of slavery as well as the relief Of
free negroes,' and DR.. Benjamn Franklin was