New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-09
THE FALL OF SLAVERY.
RECOLLECTIONS OF AN ABOLITIONIST.
BY OLIVER JOHNSON.
THE FIRST ANTL-sLAvERY SOCIETY.

looked to the organization of antislavery societies
at the earliest possible day, as necessary means
Of advancing the cause. He knew something of the
work which the Abolltionists Of England were
doing by this means and Ionged TO see their example
followed in America. The subject was constantly
in his mind aud ne did not fail TO urge IL upon the
attention of Others The great benevolent societies.
formed under the suspicies of the different religious
denominations as means of extending
Christianity, were then just getting under
way, and beginning to awaken the enthusl
asm of the churches. Bible. tract, missionary
and temperance associations were common, and the
revvals of the period had awakened the hope in
multitudes of Christian bosOms that the millennium
was coming on apace. DR.. Lyman Beecher. then at
the head Of the evangelical clergy of New-Engiand,
if not of America. full of this theme, and bis
eloquent words stirred the churches the blast OF
a trumpet stirs the hearts of embatted host.
Mr.. Gsrrison's heart responded warmly to these APP
peals but ne saw, as the leaders of the Church did
not that these dreams of the millennium could
never be realized until slavery should be
put out of the way. They, in their blind
ness, we're afraid that any excitement on
the subject of slavery would quench the influences
of the Holy Spirit. stop revvals of religion, and
parayze the energies of the churches whileto ms
clearer vision II was manifest that slavery was the
m2htiest of all hindrauces to the growth of
Christianity, and that the guilty completely
Of the Pulpit and the Church with the system
would inevitably counteract their efforts for the
spread Of the Gospel. He onged, therefore, TO see
anti-slavery societies organized by the score, and
the whole country astir with anti-slavery excite
pent. But the tide ran heavily against HIM, and il
was not till near the end Of 1881 that any step to-
ward organization was taken. On the 18th of No
vember fifteen persons assembled in the Office OF
Mr. Samuel T.. Sewall, III State ST., to consider the
subject. or course these fifteen gentlemen were
known to be mly interested III the cause, and 1t
was agreed in advance that we would form society
if the Apostolic number OF twelve should be found
ready for the movement.
OF tins little company MIR. Garrison was. OF
course. the central figure. He unfoded his pur-
poses and plans without reserve, telling us what
the Abolltionlsts Of Great Britain had done since
under the inspiration of Elizabeth Heyrlck,
they had put their movement on the
ground of immediate, In distinction from
gradual, emancipation He wanted societies
formed in America upon the same principle, and
could not be satisfied with any scheme OF gradua-
ton. The Rev. Samuel j. May was one of the gen
tlemen present. and in his " RecOlections OF the
Ant-Slavery Conflict" (p. 81 he states that only
nine of the number were believers In Immediate
emancipation. Upon this point my recollection
differs from his. ! believe every man present adj
united the duty and safety of setting the slaves
free at once; but six Of the number doubted the
wisdom of incorporating that principle into the
constitution of the society believing that 1t would
excite popular prejudice, and thus tend to defeat
the object in view. They thought it would be bet
ter to leave this question OF Immediaton open for
time until public opinion could be enlightened, and
60 admit to membership raduatists as well as i'm
medIatists Mr. Garrison looked upon this proposal
as an unworthy compromise, and resisted it with
great energy and not little warmth of feeling.
The vote upon the question showed that nine were
in favor of organizing upon his plan while SIX were
opposed.
Another meeting was held at the same place on
the 10th Of December. Ten gentlemen were pres
emit and. after considerable discussion, Messrs
David Lee Child. Samuel +. Sewall. William Lloyd
Garrison. Ellis Gray LOrinG and Oliver johnson
were appointed a committee to draft a constitution
for an Ant-Savery Society. 10 be reported January
l, 1882. At the next meeting there was an addl-
tional attendance of Alonzo Lewis known as the
"Iynn Bard ", William j. Smelling IA man OF some
literary note), Dr. Abner Phelps the Rev. Elijah
Blanchard editor of an anti-Aasonic religious
paper, and DIR. Gamalet Bradford. The bodv of the
constitution reported by the committee WAS
adopted. but the preamble referred for revision
To another committee to be reported to adjourned
meeting to be held January @, in the schoO-room
under the African Baptist Church, in Bslknap-st.
OF that adjourned meeting my recollecuons are
very vivid. fierce Northeast storm, combining
snow rain and hail in about equal proportions. was
raging and tho streets were full OF snsh. They
wete dark too for the City OF Boston IN those days
was very economical Of light on Niger Hill"
IL almost seemed as if nature was frownlng upon
the new effort to abolish slavery. But the spirit of
the little company superior 10 all external cir
cumstances They knew that their cause was just.
and that Cod and truth on their side and
therefore nothing could discourage them. On that
dismal night, and IN the face Of public opinion
fercer far than the tempest of wind and hail that
beat upon the windows Of that niggar school
house." were laid the foundations of an organized
movement against American slavery that at last
became too mighty TO be resisted, and that drew
into its wake the craftsmanship as well as the
piety and philanthropy of the country.
David Lee Child. Editor of The Massachusetts
Journal presided. The Committee on the preamble
to the Constitution made its report. This preamble,
Ms drawn by WIN. j. smelling in the following
words:
We the undersigned, hold that every person, of full
age and sane mud has right 10 Immediate freedom
from personal bondage OF whatsoever knd, unless I'm,
posed by % the law for the commission oil
some crime. We nold that man cannot, consistently
principles OF justice. be the property OF man We h0id
tuat retains lis 'eOW-man IN bondage Is gulty
of grieyous wrong. We hold that mere difference OF
complexion Is reason wny any man should ne de-
pryd of any OF his natural nights, subjected 70 any
oltIcal dsa nilty. While al ance these opinions
az the principles which intend To act We declare
that we will operate the sting relations OF So
ciey by peaceful and lawful means, and that
We viii give oOuntenauce to violence or lnsurrec-
ton.
Behold in this the faDaticsm, the incendiarism.
and the infdehty of the antl-savery movement,
which the churches OF America seconded and re-
sisted, and against which American statesmanship
arrayed itself in iercest contempt and hostility!