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Domestic News
May 24, 1839
The Liberator
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
The American Anti-Slavery Society held its annual business meeting in New York from May 7-10, 1839, debating women's inclusion in membership and voting rights, passing resolutions on political action, electing officers including Arthur Tappan as president, and addressing state society relations and aid for fugitives in Canada.
Merged-components note: These components form a single coherent report on the proceedings of the American Anti-Slavery Society annual meeting, including the table of votes as an integral part. Original labels were 'story' and 'table'; relabeled to 'domestic_news' as it is a detailed account of a national event focused on U.S. anti-slavery activities.
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AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
MEETING FOR BUSINESS.
The Annual Meeting for business was held at Chatham street Chapel, on Tuesday, May 7, at four o'clock P.M.
In the absence of the President, William R. Weeks, D. D, of New Jersey, the first Vice President who was present, was called to the chair.
Stephen Stanly, of N. Y., William Bassett and George Russell, of Mass., and Robert Purvis, of Pa, were appointed Secretaries.
On motion it was
Resolved That the Secretaries be a Committee to make up the roll.'
Nathaniel Colver. of Washington Co., N. Y., moved that our roll shall be made up, according to former usage, and men, duly appointed, shall constitute the roll.
Oliver Johnson, of Boston, moved an amendment substituting the word persons for men.
After discussion on the amendment, but before the question was taken. the Society adjourned, to meet (in consequence of a pre-engagement of the chapel) in the church at the corner of Frankfort and William street.
Tuesday Evening.
The Society met, pursuant to adjournment. Gerrit Smith, of New York, a Vice President, in the chair.
Opened with prayer by Henry Grew, of Pa.
On motion of William Lloyd Garrison,
'Resolved, That no person be allowed to speak twice on this subject, until all others desiring it, shall have spoken: and no person shall speak more than ten minutes at a time without leave of the Society.'
After full debate, the amendment was adopted by a large majority,
The resolution was then put to vote, and carried.
Lewis Tappan called for the yeas and nays, and the call was seconded by many members-but before they were called, the Society adjourned, to meet at the Chatham street Chapel, at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
Wednesday Morning, May 8, 1839.
The Society met, pursuant to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the chair.
Opened with prayer by Joshua Leavitt, of N. J.
On motion of J. Leavitt,
'Resolved, That a committee be appointed, consisting of a chairman and of a member from each State represented, to report on the business to be acted on by the Society at this meeting, and to report the rules of proceeding of this meeting.'
E. G. Loring. Mass. ; A. Stewart, N. York: I. Codding, Me.; S. D. Darling, N. H.; E. D. Barber, Vt.; W. M. Chace, R. I.: Horace Cowles, Ct.; G. W. Finney, N. J. ; C.C. Burleigh, Penn, ; John Rankin, Ohio; F. W. Graves, Illinois; W. Isham, Michigan; C. W. Denison, Delaware; A. A Phelps, Mass., were appointed this committee.
The resolution under action last evening came up for debate this morning, by general consent.
A reconsideration of the vote deciding that all persons be admitted to act with this body, was carried.
On motion of Lewis Tappan, it was voted to take the yeas and nays on this resolution.
Ellis Gray Loring offered the following amendment:
Strike out all after the word Resolved, and insert,
That the roll of this meeting be made by placing thereon the names of all persons, male and female, who are delegates from any auxiliary society, or members of this society.'
Amos A. Phelps moved the following amendment to the amendment, as a substitute for that of Mr. Loring.
That the term 'person,' as used in the 4th Article of the Constitution of this society, is to be understood as including men and women, and as entitling women to sit, speak, vote, hold office, and exercise the same rights of membership as persons of the other sex.'
After debate, it was voted that the question should be taken at one o'clock. The debate continued until one o'clock, at which hour the amendment of Amos A. Phelps was rejected, and the amendment of Ellis Gray Loring was carried. The question was then taken by yeas and nays, on the resolution, as amended, and carried as follows:
'Resolved, That the roll of this meeting be made by placing thereon the names of all persons, male and female, who are delegates from any auxiliary society, or members of this society.'
MAINE.
Yeas.-C. L. Remond.-1.
Nays.—Ichabod Codding, J. Underwood, D. B. Randall, C. Cone, Ebenezer Dole, Ebenezer Dole, Jr.6.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Yeas.-C. C. Chase.-1.
Nays.-N B Warner, S D Darling, Silas Curtis, J Perkins, Wm. H Brewster.5.
VERMONT
Yeas.-James Dean, J Holcomb, C L Knapp, R T Robinson, Benj. F Haskell-5
Nays.-Dan'l. Roberts J W Hale, W C Dennison. E D Barber.-4.
RHODE ISLAND.
Yeas.-Mary E Chace, Abel Tanner, Wm. Adams, Thos. Davis, George L Clarke, Dan'l Mitchell, William Buffum, James C Crawford, Nancy L Brayton, Alphonso R James.-10.
Nays.—Wm. Tanner.—1.
MASSACHUSETTS
Yeas-Ellis Gray Loring, Elijah Bird, Wendell Phillips, Eliza Barney, Eliza Nicholson, C. T. Bagley, Stillman Lothrop, N. H. Whiting, Amos Farnsworth, Luther Boutelle, Asa Bronson, Wm. Lewis, Joseph Southwick, Harris Cowdrey, Clarissa Lawrence, Moses Wilmarth, Anne Warren Weston, Thankful Southwick, Mary C. Frye, Wm. Bassett, Michael R. Brown, Samuel Philbrick, Jacob Noyes, Rodney French, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, Dexter Dickinson, Deborah S. Henshaw, Abner Sanger, Oliver Johnson, H. C. Wright, Charles Davies, George Bradburn, Abby Kelly, J.A. Collins, John S. Hall, John T. Hilton, Henry A. Farnsworth, Ezra C. Smith, J. B. Pierce, Wm. R. Chapman, Edmund Jackson, Francis Jackson, Ezekiel Hale, Jr. John Jones, Simeon Collins, John N. Barbour G. W. F. Mellen, Hannah Buffum, Harvey Chase, Benj. P. Bassett, Wm. P. Powell, Samuel W. King, Nathan Johnson, Thomas P. Ryder, Josiah Hayward, Benjamin Hall, Samuel Reed, Daniel Henshaw, James P. Boyce, Wm. B. Oliver, Christopher Robinson, John W. Browne, P. R. Russell, Wm. Ashby, W. B. Burley, Thomas Cole, John Parkman, Otis Thompson, Sarah G. Buffum, N. B. Borden, C. P. Grosvenor, L. Woodbury.-72.
Nays—Sewall Harding, Phineas Crandall, Israel Trask, R. B. Hubbard, Geo. Russell, George Goodyear, Harper Boice, Samuel Osgood, S. H. Emery Charles T. Torrey, George H. Smith, A. A Phelps. Bucklin Fitts, O. Scott, D Butler, D. W. Alvord, Joseph Hurlbut, John E. Fuller, George Allen, James Birney, Jr. S. S. Smith, T. E. Turner, J. A. Canfield. Thos. W. Ward, Nathl. Colver.-25.
CONNECTICUT.
Yeas--Jonathan Leonard, Samuel Deming, George W. Benson, Asa Curtis, D Plumb, Horace Cowles, William Bolles, A. F. Williams, Francis Hawley Charles Fairman, Erasmus D. Hudson, Sherman M Booth, P. Loveridge, John Turney.—14.
Nays-F. A. Perkins, Julius Pratt, Randolph Lindsley, James Averill, A. G. Beman, A. C. Luca, Chas. P. Buck, Lewis Bars, George Hall, W. L. Wilson, James Quinnard-11.
NEW JERSEY.
Yeas—J Leavitt, G W Finney, Alex N Dougherty, James W Higgins, James Howe, Joseph Parish, Jr., Stephen Grimes, Swain A Condit, Aaron Pearson-9
Nays- Torbet, Wm R Weeks—2.
PENNSYLVANIA
Yeas-Alexander Sweany, George Sellers, Moses Thatcher, Saml M'Farland, Joshua L Hallowell, Henry Peterson, Thomas F Cavender, Stephen H'Gloucester, Edwin H Coates, Robert Purvis, Lewis C Gunn, Jos L. Pennock, Mahlen Linton, John G Whittier Samuel Webb, C Burleigh, Jos Healy, Daniel Neall, Jr., Thomas Haile, Sam'l Tyson, Arnold Buffum.—21
Nays—Sam'l D Hastings, Charles W Gardner, Wm. Adair, F Julius Le Moyne, Henry Grew, Andrew Harris, George M Alsop.—7.
NEW YORK.
Yeas-R P G Wright, H V Teall, Philip Firman, Nathan Berant, J C Delong, Richard P Hunt, Thomas McClintock, Samuel Thompson, William P Green, Augustus Beach, Stephen Angell, Fordyce Rice, Al. van Stewart, J H Murray, T O Buckmaster, J N Knowles, A Hawley, Charles B Ray, John Cross, J Rhodes, G Grant, J P Clarke, Henry Frost, Esther Carpenter, Isaac Post, Isaac Pierce, Samuel Welles, Benjamin Fish. A Doolittle. John Hopper, Abel F Burke, Henry W Davison, Hammon Pinney, James C Fuller, Gerrit Smith, W L Chaplin, J T Raymond Reuben Sleeper, Sarah E Pierce, John Rhodes, George Cragin, John Brown, David Ruggles, Henry A Garnet, John Robinson.-45.
Nays-Abraham Requa, Anthony Lane, G H Williams, James Hildreth, Asa Bennet, E T Ball. Edward C Pritchett, Hester Lane, James Westervelt, H W Norton, Augustus Wilcox, E S Lane, J M Sherwood, James G Birney, James Wallin, S Stanley, E A Lambert, Asa W Bushnell, William Patton, Jr., Robert Aickman, Jr., N E Johnson, G R Parburt, G Baily. John Jay, Sumner Davidson, O R Bush, R R Kellogg, George M Tracy, Wm T Coolidge, D Willson A O Wilcox, Roe Lockwood, W T Dorr, Peter Williams, S W Benedict, Augustus J Gillett, Frederick James, Fayette Shipherd, Lyman W Gilbert, A Libolt, Hezekiah H Loomis, Selden Haynes, John Cromwell, R G Murry, E E Mills, Theodore McNamee, James Mc Cune Smith, M N'Niles, Guy Davis, George Storrs, Clarke Lockwood, Amos Savage, Henry H Loomis, Beriah Green, Lewis Tappan, Duncan Dunbar, G Meriweather, John Low, Hiram Barney, H H Kellogg, E W True, C B Hatch, Darius E Jones, Christopher Rush, Lewis C Lockwood, Mrs G M Tracy, Lucy Deming, La Roy Sunderland, C Kenmore, Joshua Bishop H C Bowen, Thomas L Jennings, James G Barbour, Wm E Whiting, Thos Downing, H D Sharpe.-76.
DELAWARE
Nay-C W Denison.-1.
OHIO.
Yeas-Isaac Colby, John Rankin.-2
ILLINOIS.
Nays-F W Graves, G W Gale.-2.
RECAPITULATION.
Total of Ayes, 180.
Total of Noes, 140.
Majority 40.
Lewis Tappan and Charles T, Torrey gave notice that they should protest against the allowance of women to vote in the meeting.
Amos A. Phelps offered the following resolution, seconded by La Roy Sunderland.
Resolved, That in placing 'the names of all persons, male and female, who are delegates from any auxiliary society, or members of this,' on the roll of this or any subsequent meeting of this society, it is not to be understood that by the constitution and usage of the society, women are entitled to sit, speak, vote, hold office, and exercise the same rights of membership as persons of the other sex.'
The Society adjourned, to meet in this place at half past three o'clock this afternoon.
Wednesday Afternoon.
The Society met according to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the chair.
Meeting opened with prayer by Moses Thacher, of Pa.
Orange Scott moved the following resolution :
Resolved, That the editors of the different anti-slavery papers throughout the country be requested to publish the resolution on making up the roll, with the yeas and nays and places of residence.' Adopted.
On report of the Business Committee, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to audit the Treasurer's accounts.'
Wendell Phillips, C. L. Knapp, and J. C. Fuller, were appointed.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to examine and report on the letters addressed to this meeting.'
William L. Garrison, Eliza Barney, and C. L. Remond, were appointed.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to examine and report on the expenses of the Society.
Francis Jackson, George W. Benson, and R. G. Williams, were appointed.
Resolved,' That a committee be appointed to report on the character of the publications of the society, and whether any and what measures ought to be taken to extend their circulation and increase their usefulness.'
J. G. Whittier, Abby Kelly and John Frost were appointed.
'Resolved, That a committee of one from each State, on Finance, be appointed to consider and propose some mode of providing funds to sustain the anti-slavery cause.'
The committee are, Samuel Webb, Pa.: A. Farnsworth, Mass.; C. W. Denison, Del.; W. L. Chaplin, N. Y.; J. W. Mason. Me.: J.Perkins. N. Hamp.; T. Davis, R. I.; A. C.'Luca, Conn.; J. Holcomb, Vt.; Isaac Colby, Ohio; W. Isham, Mich.; G. W. Gale, III.; M. Buffum, N. J.
Ordered, That all resolutions, to be offered to the meeting be presented through the Business Committee and if they decline, in any case, reporting a resolution submitted to them, that the mover of it have leave to offer the same after the disposal of the business reported by the committee.
'Resolved. That a committee be appointed, consisting of one from each State represented, to nominate suitable persons for officers of this society for the ensuing year.'
D. B. Randall, Maine; C. C. Chase, N. H.; B.F. Haskell, Vt.; S. Philbrick, Mass.; W. Adams, R. I.; F. A. Perkins. Conn : R. G. Williams, N. Y.; W. R. Weeks, N. J.; L. C. Gunn. Penn.; C W. Denison, Del.; J. Rankin, Ohio; F. W. Graves, Ill.; and W. Isham, Mich.; were appointed.
'Resolved, That the committee of nominations be directed to report the names of nine persons to serve as a committee of arrangements for the National Anti-Slavery Convention. appointed to be held at Albany, on the 30th day of July next.'
'Ordered, That no member be allowed by the Chair, without special leave of the meeting, to speak more than ten minutes, nor oftener than once upon each motion, until every other member, who wishes to address the meeting, has spoken.
Resolved, That when we adjourn, we adjourn to meet at this place to-morrow morning, at half-past eight o'clock.'
The resolution offered by Amos A. Phelps then came up.
On motion of Alvan Stewart, the previous question was taken and carried.
The main question was then put, and the resolution of Mr. Phelps was lost.
The Recording Secretary presented the report of the Executive Committee.
After explanation respecting former practice,
On motion of William L. Garrison, voted that the annual report be now taken up, and so much of it read as relates to political action.
Select portions were read accordingly, by J. Leavitt.
On motion of William Lloyd Garrison,
Resolved, That the portion of the report which treats of political action, be referred to a committee of one from each state represented.
The following are the committee :
Messrs. Garrison of Massachusetts, Adams of Rhode Island, Barber of Vermont, Darling of New Hampshire, Perkins of Connecticut, Dole, Jr., of Maine, M' Clintock of New York, Leavitt of New Jersey, Earle of Pennsylvania, Denison of Delaware, Rankin of Ohio, Graves of Illinois, Isham of Michigan.
Certain resolutions on political action, reported by the Business Committee, were referred to the same Committee.
On application from Mr. Barnes, for leave to record his vote, Ellis Gray Loring moved that all whose names, were on the roll at the time the yeas and nays were called, and who did not vote at that time, be allowed to record their votes.
On motion of J. C. Fuller, seconded by W. L Garrison, the subject was laid on the table.
Adjourned, to meet at this place at half-past eight o'clock to-morrow morning.
Thursday Morning, May 9, 1839.
The society met pursuant to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the Chair
Prayer was then offered by James Howe, of N. J.
The Committee of Business reported the following resolution for consideration, which was accepted.
Resolved, That the Executive Committee of this society shall not interfere, directly or indirectly, by sending or employing agents or otherwise, in the conduct of the cause, in any state within which a state society exists, without the assent of such society.
Gerrit Smith moved to amend it so as to read, That the Executive Committee shall not send or employ any agents within any state within which a state society exists, without the assent of such society. The amendment was adopted.
The discussion was continued by A. A. Phelps, L. R. Sunderland, Jos. Hurlbut, E. C. Pritchett, Dr. Osgood, Dan'l Neal, Jr., T. P. Rider, Jno. Rankin, W. L. Chaplin, J. R. Wilson, and E. G. Loring.
W. L. Chaplin moved the following substitute, which was lost.
CHAPLIN'S RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved. That the slaveholding power of the South is countenanced and mainly upheld by the false views on the subject of 'human rights,' cherished and carried out in legislation at the North-that a leading object of the anti-slavery enterprise is to correct these erroneous views, and to obtain a repeal of all legislative acts which, in their operation, are peculiarly oppressive and injurious to the colored people ; and that these objects can alone be attained by the systematic instruction and thorough conviction on the subject of their duties, as men and christians, of all classes of society.
'Resolved, That those arrangements which will most perfectly impose responsibility upon the individual officers and members of the National, State, county and local societies, and secure their constant and earnest endeavors in behalf of the object to be subserved by our organization, will be the safest and most likely to attain the result at which we aim.
Resolved, That the plan of independent State action agreed upon last year, if prosecuted with resolution and good faith by all parties concerned, is believed to be at once the most simple, efficient and satisfactory ; and that it ought to be adopted, as the basis of future operations in the anti-slavery cause.
John Rankin, of Ohio, moved the indefinite postponement of the subject which was debated by Messrs. Rankin, Bradburn, French, Gunn, Barber, and others.
Resolved, That, when we adjourn it be to meet at half-past three o'clock this afternoon, at the church corner of Frankfort and William streets.'
Gerrit Smith moved that the original resolution and all the motions connected therewith, be laid on the table, that he might offer a substitute. Carried.
Mr. Smith then offered the following:
Resolved, That the Executive Committee of this society be earnestly invited, for the sake of securing the advantages of harmonious action, not to send into or employ any agent within any State, within which
a State society exists without the assent of such society.'
C C. Burleigh moved to substitute the word instructed for the words earnestly invited.—Lost. The debate was continued by G. Smith. Thomas Earle, W. Phillips
The subject was suspended to receive the report of the committee on nominations, which was accepted and after amendment was adopted, as follows:
LIST OF OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1839-40
President. Arthur Tappan.
Vice-Presidents.
James Appleton, Maine, Geo. Kent, N. H. Rowland T. Robinson, Vt. Francis Jackson, Mass. Peleg Clark. R. I. John T. Norton, Ct. Gerrit Smith, N. Y. Samuel Aaron, N. J. Abraham L. Pennock. Pa. Leicester King, Ohio. John Needles. Maryland, Ziba Ferris, Del. James Morrow, Ind. David Nelson, Ill. Robert Stuart, Mich. Arthur Thome, Kentucky, Samuel F. Phoenix, Wis. Ter. Peter Van Vliet, Iowa Ter.
Corresponding Secretaries
James G. Birney, Theodore D. Weld, Henry B. Stanton.
Recording Secretary.—Joshua Leavitt.
Treasurer.-John Rankin.
Managers.
Maine. Samuel M. Pond. Galvin Newton. Moses Hill, E. Southwick, George Shepard, David Thurston Daniel B. Randall. Samuel Hutchins. Nathan Winslow Samuel Fessenden.
New Hampshire, David Root. N. P. Rogers, Daniel Hoit. Timothy K. Blaisdell, Jared Perkins, Calvin Cutler, Edmund J. Worth.
Vermont. H. F. Leavitt, E. D. Barber, Lawrence Brainard, Daniel Roberts, Jr. J. W. Hale, David M Camp, C. L. Knapp, O. S. Murray, Merrit Bates.
Massachusetts. Wm. L. Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Edmund Quincy, Amasa Walker, Amos Farnsworth, Phineas Crandall. Nathan Johnson, Samuel Osgood Samuel J. May, Ellis Gray Loring, A. A. Phelps, Orange Scott, William Bassett, C. P. Grosvenor.
Rhode Island. James Eames. William Adams, Henry Cushing, John G. Clark, William Buffum.
Connecticut Alexander C. Luca, Horace Cowles, U. Tuttle, D. P. James, Geo. W. Benson, Leicester A. Sawyer, George Read.
New York. Beriah Green, Wm. L. Chaplin, R. P. G. Wright, O. N. Bush, Reuben Sleeper, N. E. Johnson, Alvan Stewart, Henry Brewster, Samuel Wells, Elon Galusha, C. W. Denison, James C. Fuller, S. W. Benedict.
New Jersey. John Grimes, James Cook, James White, J. W. Higgins, A. N. Dougherty, James Parkhurst. N. P. Thomas. C Pelloubet.
Pennsylvania. J G Whittier, Thomas Earle, Peter Wright, F J Le Moyne, J P Gazzam, Nathan Stem, Wm. Jessup, James Forten, Leonard Fletcher, Robert Purvis, Wm. A Adair, Lindley Coates, Daniel Neal jr, Chas. W Gardner, Samuel Webb.
Ohio. Robert Stewart, James C Ludlow, John M Sterling, Benjamin Stanton, Wm. Donaldson, James Gilleland, Wm. W. Bancroft, Asa Mahan, George Carey, George Whipple, John Rankin.
Indiana. Timothy Spaulding, Samuel Donald, sen. Herbert Williams, Luke Munsell, John Sailer, Wm. Twining.
Illinois. James M Buchanan, Asa Turner, James H Dickey, Owen Lovejoy, Benjn. Lundy, Wm. Stewart. Geo. W Gale. Edward Beecher.
Delaware. Samuel Boozly, Hume Jenkins, Henry Gibbons, Sam'l M Gayley.
Michigan. J P Cleaveland, Wm. Kirkland, Marcus Harrison, Arthur L Porter, Charles Hastings.
Wisconsin Territory. D S Holliston, Nathan G Storrs.
Iowa Territory. Isaac Field,, Asa Turner, jr. Lewis Tapping.
The Society then adjourned, to meet at half past two o'clock instead of half past three.
Thursday Afternoon.
The Society met according to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the chair. Prayer was made by John Rankin of Ohio
Lewis C. Gunn, by consent, introduced the following amendment.
That the Executive Committee of this society ought to send no agent into, nor employ any agent in a State where there is a State society, without the assent of such society: provided that, if a request be sent, by a county or town society for an agent to labor among them, he may be sent, with instructions to confine his labors to such particular society or societies.
The debate was continued by A St. Clair, C C Burleigh, T P Ryder, J G Birney. G Smith, Beriah Green, L C Gunn. O Scott. and J Leavitt.
Lewis C Gunn withdrew his amendment, which was renewed by Charles T Torrey,
The question was taken on Mr. Torrey's amendment, and lost.
Mr. Leavitt moved to amend, by striking out the words, ' The Executive Committee are invited not to send, and insert the words, the Society will not send. Lost.
The resolution offered by Gerrit Smith, was adopted as follows:
Resolved, That the Executive Committee are earnestly invited for the sake of securing the advantages of harmonious action, not to send into or employ any agents in a State, within which a State Society exists without the assent of such Society.
Mr. Garrison, from the Committee to whom was referred so much of the annual report as relates to political action. made their report as follows :
ON THE ANNUAL REPORT.
Resolved, That the Executive Committee be requested to omit that part of their report, contained between the 17th line on the 59th page, to the 17th line on the 60th page, as containing language liable to misconstruction: and that they be authorized to omit or verbally amend any other portion which they may see fit, and then to publish the said report as the sentiments of the Executive Committee.
ON POLITICAL ACTION.
1. 'Resolved, That it is the duty of the American people, and especially of abolitionists, to endeavor to elect such men only to legislative and other official stations as will advocate the repeal of every legal enactment by which the aid of the public authority is lent to the support of slavery.
2. Resolved, That the temporary and repeated failures to attain the objects sought by abolitionists in petitioning and in voting at the polls for opponents of slavery, constitute no valid grounds for abandoning those measures; but we have full confidence that a steady perseverance in them will secure an ultimate triumph.
3. Resolved. That in the original formation of this society, it was not contemplated, nor is it now desired to exclude from its membership any persons, on account of their being prevented by conscientious scruples from participating in all the measures which the mass of the society, either originally or subsequently, may have contemplated as proper for the advancement of the Anti-Slavery cause.
The first resolution reported was taken up.
On motion of Joshua Leavitt, seconded by H C Wright, the question was divided. The first clause was taken up and discussed. and after explanation by members of the Committee, and discussion by several members, the whole resolution was then laid on the table.
Ellis Gray Loring then moved that the report of the Executive Committee be referred back to that Committee, with liberty to cause such portions of it to be printed, as the expression of their own sentiments, as they may choose.
This was discussed by Messrs. Lee, Garrison, R G Williams, C C Burleigh.
R G Williams moved to amend, by striking out the words, as the expression of their sentiments. Lost.
C C Burleigh moved as a substitute-That the report be referred back to the Executive Committee, with instructions to prepare for publication a simple historical account of their doings, and the income, expenditures and funds of the Society-Which was debated by J Leavitt, E D Barber, C T Torrey, H C Wright, E G Loring, Gerrit Smith, H Grew, Dr. Rice, A Buffum.
Gerrit Smith moved an alteration.
The previous question was then called and carried.
The question then recurred on Mr. Loring's motion. which was carried. A division being called for, there appeared for the motion 98, and against it 55. It is as follows :
Resolved. That the report of the Executive Committee be referred back to that Committee, with liberty to cause such portions of it to be printed, as the expression of their own sentiments, as they may choose.
Wendell Phillips moved that this resolution be published immediately preceding the report, as well as among the proceedings of the Society.
Ellis Gray Loring moved that the rules be suspended for the purpose of receiving this motion without its passing through the Business Committee, pending which,
The Society adjourned to meet in this place at half past seven o'clock this evening.
Thursday Evening.
The society met pursuant to adjournment. The president of the society in the chair. Opened with prayer by Phineas Crandall.
Ellis Gray Loring withdrew his motion for a suspension of the rules.
The Business Committee reported several resolutions, which were accepted and laid on the table.
The vote passed this day respecting the annual report, was reconsidered.
On motion of Henry B Stanton, it was amended by striking out the words that committee, and inserting the words, the Executive Committee.
On motion of N B Borden, the words, of the last year, were inserted after the word Committee, in the first line, and the word present before the words Executive Committee' in the second line.
Joshua Leavitt moved to strike out all after the word Committee in the second line, and insert the words, for revisal and publication.
Mr. Ryder called for the Previous Question, which was lost.
The amendment was then put and carried.
Charles C Burleigh moved to amend by adding the words, as the expression of their opinions.
The Previous Question was called for, but withdrawn.
After the discussion by C C Burleigh, C W Gardner, and others,
C T Torrey moved that the resolution lie on the table. Lost.
The debate was continued by J Leavitt. P R Russell, Amasa Walker, D Neall, Jr., and Henry Grew, and the question was taken on Mr. Burleigh's amendment and carried.
The main question was then taken, and the resolution adopted, as follows.
'Resolved, That the Report of the Executive Committee of last year be referred to the present Executive Committee for revisal and publication, as the expression of their opinions.
The Business Committee reported further resolutions, which were accepted and laid on the table.
The meeting was then adjourned to meet in this place at half past eight o'clock to-morrow morning.
Friday Morning, May 10, 1839.
The society met pursuant to adjournment. Rowland T Robinson, one of the Vice Presidents, in the chair.
Mr. Garrison, from the committee on correspondence, reported, and the report was adopted, as follows:
The Committee to whom were referred the letters addressed to the meeting, from abolitionists in various parts of the country, report that these letters be referred to the Executive Committee, with instructions to publish such of them in the Emancipator as they shall think proper.'
Samuel Webb, from the Committee on finance, reported three resolutions as follows:
1. Resolved, That _____ be a committee to visit the philanthropists of Great Britain, and receive from them contributions to aid the Anti-Slavery cause in this country, and that the funds when received, (after deducting the expense of collection,) be paid into the treasury of this Society.
2. Resolved, That the sum of thirty-two thousand five hundred dollars be raised for the use of this society, by an equitable contribution among the several States.
3. Resolved, That it be recommended to such auxiliary societies as are disposed to take the charge of the abolition cause within their respective fields, to make arrangements with the Executive Committee of this society, guaranteeing to our treasury such stated payments as may be adjudged reasonable, and then assuming within their own limits the entire direction of lecturers and agents in forming local societies, collecting funds, circulating memorials, and establishing libraries; and that this society will not send its agents to labor for these objects with the bounds of such auxiliaries as carry out this plan, except in concurrence with the Executive Committee of such auxiliaries.
The report was accepted, and the first resolution was taken up, and debated by J. C. Fuller, C. C. Burleigh, W. L. Chaplin, Abby Kelly, H. C. Wright, Isaac Pierce, D. Neall, Jr., G. W. Finney.
E. D. Barber moved that the resolution be laid on the table. Carried.
Francis Jackson, one of the Vice Presidents, took the chair.
The second resolution was taken up, and debated by J. Holcomb, A. Stewart, J. Rankin, E. D. Barber, H. B. Stanton, S. Webb, W. Phillips, and J. G. Birney, and, then, on motion of J. G Birney, was laid on the table.
The Auditing Committee reported, and their report was accepted, as follows :
New York. May 9th. 1839.
The Treasurer's accounts and vouchers have been submitted to our inspection and examination, and we find a balance due the treasurer, of two hundred and seven dollars and eighty cents.
Signed Wendell Phillips James C. Fuller, Auditors.' Chauncy L. Knapp,
The third resolution reported by the Finance Committee, was taken up and laid on the table.
The Business Committee reported the following resolution, which was accepted and laid on the table.
1 'Resolved, That the sense of this society be taken on the following proposition—Can the Anti-Slavery cause be best conducted without any of the machinery of the American Anti-Slavery Society—solely by independent State action ?'
The resolutions reported by Mr. Garrison on political action were then taken up. Mr. French moved to lay them on the table for the purpose of introducing a resolution, that the society will adjourn, sine die, at four o'clock this afternoon. Lost.
On motion of Oliver Johnson, seconded by William L. Garrison, the last resolution was taken up first.
A motion of James G. Birney to lay it on the table, was lost.
James G. Birney offered a substitute, which was cut off by the Previous Question.
The Previous Question was called by Oliver Johnson, and ordered, and the resolution, without the amendment, was passed.
The first resolution was then taken up, and the previous question called by Wendell Phillips, and ordered. The resolution was then put and carried.
James G. Birney offered the following resolution, which had been submitted to the Business Committee and by them refused to be presented.
Resolved. That to maintain that the elective franchise ought not to be used by abolitionists to advance the cause of emancipation is inconsistent with the duty of abolitionists under the constitution.
It was moved to lay it on the table.
Mr. Birney withdrew his resolution for the present.
The Business Committee presented the following resolution which was accepted and laid on the table.
Resolved, As the sense of this society, that the annual reports of the Executive Committee be regarded solely as their own reports, and not as the reports of the American Society.
The following resolution was reported by the Business Committee.
Resolved, That this society still holds, as it has from the beginning, that the employment of the political franchises, as established by the constitution and laws of the country, so as to promote the abolition of slavery, is of high obligation—a duty, which, as abolitionists, we owe to our enslaved fellow countrymen groaning under legal oppression.'
On motion of J. Leavitt, the report was accepted, and the resolution debated by J. Leavitt. H. B. Stanton, C. C. Burleigh, G. Bradburn, J. G. Birney.
C. C. Burleigh offered as an amendment,
That the abolitionist who regards it as his duty to use the elective franchise, and yet uses it against, or neglects to use it for the promotion of the cause of emancipation, is false to his own principles and clearly fails to do his duty.'
Mr. Birney offered as an amendment the resolution he had before withdrawn.
The Committee on Nomination reported a list of names for the Committee of Arrangements of the National Convention, which was laid on the table.
The debate was continued by A. Walker, N. Colver, A. St. Clair, G W. Benson, E. W. Chester, J. Frost, A. A. Phelps. W. Buffum.
The previous question was then called, and sustained, cutting off all the amendments.
The yeas and nays were called for, on the main question, and on a division, there appeared sixty-three in favor of the yeas and nays, and eighty in the negative. The chair decided that the call for the yeas and nays was sustained. An appeal was taken and withdrawn.
The question was then taken on the original motion, and carried as follows:
Maine.
Yea—I. Codding, E. Dole, Jr., C. L. Remond, 3.
Nay—Thomas T. Stone, 1.
New Hampshire.
Yea—Silas Curtis, Benjamin Cornings, 2.
Vermont.
Yea—J. W. Hale, J. Holcomb, B. F. Haskell, 3.
Nay-R. T. Robinson, 1.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Yea-Phineas Crandall. A. St. Clair, Dexter Dickinson, C. T. Torrey. G. A. Smith. A. A. Phelps. O. Scott Geo. Allen, J. A. Campfield, Josiah Brackett, C. P. Grosvenor, N. Colver, N. B. Borden, 13.
Nay-Elijah Bird, Wendell Phillips, Eliza Barney, Eliza Nicholson. Stillman Lothrop. N H Whiting, L Boutelle, William Lewis, Joseph Southwick, Mary C Frye, W Bassett, M R Brown, Jacob Noyes, Rodney French, B P Bassett, W P Powell, Nathan Johnson, Israel Hayward, Benj Hall, P R Russell, W Ashby, W A Burley, Thos Cole, Mary A W Johnson, W L Garrison, Abner Sawyer, Oliver Johnson, H C Wright, Geo Bradburn, Abby Kelly, J A Collins, John S Hall, J T Hilton, H A Farnsworth, W R Chapman, Francis Jackson, Ezekiel Hale, Jr, John Jones, G W F Mellen, Sarah G Buffum, T P Ryder, C D Davis, Amos Farnsworth, J. S. Hall, H. M. Cowdry, Anne W. Weston, Thankful Southwick, 47.
Rhode Island.
Yea-Hiram Brooks, Wm. Tanner, 2.
Nay—Mary E Chase, Abel Tanner, William Adams, William Buffum, Nancy L Brayton, Thomas Davis, 6.
CONNECTICUT.
Yea-A G Beman, A C Luca, E D Hudson, Sherman N Booth, 4.
Nay--Jonathan Leonard, Geo W Benson, 2.
New York.
Yea-R P G Wright, E W Chester, A Requa, Luther Lee. Anthony Lane, Jas T Hildreth, Robert Aickman, E C Pritchett, Hester Lane, Alvan Stewart, Alex Crummell, James G Birney, James Wallin, G R Parburt, Stephen Stanley, E A Lambert, William Patton, Jr, John Frost, Samuel Wells, Adrastus Doolittle, A O Wilcox, Roe Lockwood, W S Dorr, S W Benedict, Lyman W Gilbert, James Cannings Fuller, Henry H Loomis, W L Chaplin, Beriah Green, Duncan Dunbar, J T Raymond, J P Turney, Hiram Barney, H H Kellogg, La Roy Sunderland, Theodore S Wright, Henry H Garnet, D E Jones, J Buckner, John Cross, Geo Cragin, 41.
Nay-Nathan Blount, R P Hunt, W P Green. Augustus Beach, Fordyce Rice, Edward P Clarke, Benj Fish, John Hopper, Abel B Burke, Henry W Davison, 10.
New Jersey.
Yea-Joshua Leavitt, S W Buffum, A M Torbet, S A Condit, A Bradley, 5.
Nay-Joseph Parrish, Jr, 1.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Yea-Charles W Gardiner, Henry Grew, George M Alsop, John G Whittier, Samuel Webb, Joseph Healy, 6.
Nay-W Adair, Joshua L Hallowell, Henry Peterson, Thomas S Cavendar, Lewis C Gunn, Mahlon Linton, C C Burleigh, Daniel Neall, Jr, Samuel Tyson, 9.
DELAWARE.
Yea—Charles W Denison, 1.
OHIO.
Yea—Isaac Colby, John Rankin, 2.
ILLINOIS.
Yea—G W Gale, 1.
MICHIGAN.
Yea—Warren Isham, 1.
RECAPITULATION
[The above decision is not to be regarded in the light of a test question. Mr. Burleigh's amendment was preferred by many, because its phraseology was too plain to be misconstrued; but the previous question being called for, that amendment was cut off, and hence the closeness of the vote upon the original resolution, which was drawn up, we believe, by John G. Whittier.]-Ed. Lib.
Mr. Birney presented a Protest, of 123 members of the meeting, against the vote adopted by the Society, respecting the admission of women to vote.
On motion, the Protest was ordered to be entered on the records, and published with the proceedings of the meeting. The Protest is as follows:
'The Protest has not been received by us, but shall appear in our columns next week.]
Alvan Stewart moved the appointment of a committee of three to reply to the Protest.
G. W. Benson moved to lay it on the table. Carried.
Rodney French moved to adjourn sine die. Withdrawn.
C. L. Knapp moved to adjourn till 4 o'clock, P. M. Withdrawn.
J. C. Fuller was called to the chair.
The resolutions respecting Hiram Wilson, and the fugitives from slavery, were taken up, amended and passed.
Whereas, the elevation of the free people of color is among the avowed objects of our organization : and whereas, the fact that thousands of our enslaved fellow-countrymen have been compelled to take refuge from republican oppression, in the Canadian possessions of the British crown, does not release us from obligation to labor for their intellectual and moral welfare; and whereas, it is our duty to aid them in obtaining the blessings of christian education, in their only refuge from the power of the oppressor; and whereas, the efforts of our noble brother, Hiram Wilson, and his benevolent coadjutors, for this end, ought to be sustained, and their sphere of labor extended till it embraces all these 'poor outcasts.' And whereas, it is unjust to those, and on other accounts unwise to throw upon brother Wilson the whole labor and responsibility of sustaining these schools, and collecting and disbursing the necessary funds; and whereas, there is no organized association which can legitimately take charge of these operations, except our own, and those affiliated with it ; therefore
'Resolved, That we regard the object in which Hiram Wilson is engaged, viz: to promote the intellectual and moral elevation of the colored people in Canada, as having strong claims to the patronage of Christians and philanthropists.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of the Convention of western New York, holden at Pen Yan, to go forward in the adoption of the necessary measures to attain the end of their appointment.
The resolutions respecting amendments of the Constitution were taken up, amended and passed.
Resolved, That the same persons who were appointed at the last anniversary to consider and report at the next annual meeting, upon the expediency of amending the Constitution of this Society, viz: Ellis Gray Loring, Amos A. Phelps, David L. Child, J. T. Norton and William L. Chaplin, be re-appointed a committee for the above purpose, and that the subjects under their consideration the present year, be continued under reference to them.
Resolved, That the chairman of said committee give notice as soon as may be, to the Executive Committee, of the results of their deliberations, that the members of this Society may be early informed through the Emancipator of the amendments, if any, which may be submitted for their action, at the next annual meeting.
The resolution, first offered by Wendell Phillips, requiring the resolutions on the annual report to be fixed to the report, as well as published among the proceedings, was taken up and laid on the table.
The resolution, first offered by Mr. Birney, proposing a definite settlement of the question respecting the State Societies, was taken up and laid on the table.
The resolutions declaring the annual reports of the Executive Committee not to be the reports of the Society, was taken up and laid on the table.
The report of the committee on publications was accepted and ordered to be printed with the proceedings.
The resolution respecting the free colored people was adopted.
Resolved, That the committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of more general and direct efforts to promote the political, intellectual and moral elevation of the whole of our free colored population, either by the agents and funds of this society, or by a new association to be formed for the purpose—and in case the latter course is deemed most wise, that they be directed to take measures for the organization of such an association, either in connection with the national Anti-Slavery Convention in the summer, or at some other suitable period, as early as may be.
On motion of R. French, the meeting adjourned, sine die, at 4 o'clock, P. M.
O'CONNELL.
The sublime and thrilling eloquence of the following extract from the Herald of Freedom, can scarcely be surpassed. Speaking of 'the great Agitator,' friend Rogers thus remarks:
His matchless talent and energy-his eloquence, that mighty kind, that revolutionizes nations, his great legal depth and sagacity that could guide his enthusiastic countrymen, unscathed and unexposed, along the very verge of treason against a government jealous for its supremacy 'as the eagle for her high eyrie'—and watching for the stumbling of Ireland, as the bird for the prey;-that rode fearlessly and in safety on the rein of the maelstrom where perished the Emmets and the Sheareses: that could conduct Irish rebellion, according to British law! His invulnerable integrity. Britain had not a diamond in her, crown, that could dazzle his fidelity, or make him forget he was an Irishman. His shoreless philanthropy-unchecked by oceans-compassing the countless complexions and the confused tongues of the human race. His 'agitatings'-standing there, in solitary sublimity, on the ' great globe itself,-his arena—his country and his home, and sending his voice into all climes. The isles heard him, in the distant tropics, and the slave 'shook his chains in transport and rude harmony. And to America, too, 'careering like the thunder against the winds'—he sent his 'Freedom's rallying word'—and now this tyrant nation fears him as Europe feared Napoleon. They hear his voice as the cry of destiny. He humbles her haughty ambassadors in Exeter Hall—and though it was the untitled 'printer master'-the 'mob orator of Clare and Kerry'-yet the accumulated dignity of this whole slaveholding Republic availed not the restless plenipotentiaries. They dare not endure the rebuke of O'Connell before the world, and sought relief in a duel. O'Connell disposed of their challenges, as he would have answered a spoiled schoolboy
Henry Clay had the desperation to deride him in his mad speech in the Senate. O'Connell will hear of that. He has heard of Henry Clay, and Clay will hear from him. At the anti-slavery meeting in London, in 1840-where they meet from all the civilized world in convention against slavery, (and from beyond the bounds of civilization they will come-the ambassadors of human liberty)-O'Connell will sure be there. He will speak-speak of America and the dregs of human slavery in her borders, and he will remember Henry Clay, and he will speak of him as the ADVOCATE OF SLAVERY. He will humble forever the Kentuckian's crest of pride. He will bereave him of his fame.
MEETING FOR BUSINESS.
The Annual Meeting for business was held at Chatham street Chapel, on Tuesday, May 7, at four o'clock P.M.
In the absence of the President, William R. Weeks, D. D, of New Jersey, the first Vice President who was present, was called to the chair.
Stephen Stanly, of N. Y., William Bassett and George Russell, of Mass., and Robert Purvis, of Pa, were appointed Secretaries.
On motion it was
Resolved That the Secretaries be a Committee to make up the roll.'
Nathaniel Colver. of Washington Co., N. Y., moved that our roll shall be made up, according to former usage, and men, duly appointed, shall constitute the roll.
Oliver Johnson, of Boston, moved an amendment substituting the word persons for men.
After discussion on the amendment, but before the question was taken. the Society adjourned, to meet (in consequence of a pre-engagement of the chapel) in the church at the corner of Frankfort and William street.
Tuesday Evening.
The Society met, pursuant to adjournment. Gerrit Smith, of New York, a Vice President, in the chair.
Opened with prayer by Henry Grew, of Pa.
On motion of William Lloyd Garrison,
'Resolved, That no person be allowed to speak twice on this subject, until all others desiring it, shall have spoken: and no person shall speak more than ten minutes at a time without leave of the Society.'
After full debate, the amendment was adopted by a large majority,
The resolution was then put to vote, and carried.
Lewis Tappan called for the yeas and nays, and the call was seconded by many members-but before they were called, the Society adjourned, to meet at the Chatham street Chapel, at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
Wednesday Morning, May 8, 1839.
The Society met, pursuant to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the chair.
Opened with prayer by Joshua Leavitt, of N. J.
On motion of J. Leavitt,
'Resolved, That a committee be appointed, consisting of a chairman and of a member from each State represented, to report on the business to be acted on by the Society at this meeting, and to report the rules of proceeding of this meeting.'
E. G. Loring. Mass. ; A. Stewart, N. York: I. Codding, Me.; S. D. Darling, N. H.; E. D. Barber, Vt.; W. M. Chace, R. I.: Horace Cowles, Ct.; G. W. Finney, N. J. ; C.C. Burleigh, Penn, ; John Rankin, Ohio; F. W. Graves, Illinois; W. Isham, Michigan; C. W. Denison, Delaware; A. A Phelps, Mass., were appointed this committee.
The resolution under action last evening came up for debate this morning, by general consent.
A reconsideration of the vote deciding that all persons be admitted to act with this body, was carried.
On motion of Lewis Tappan, it was voted to take the yeas and nays on this resolution.
Ellis Gray Loring offered the following amendment:
Strike out all after the word Resolved, and insert,
That the roll of this meeting be made by placing thereon the names of all persons, male and female, who are delegates from any auxiliary society, or members of this society.'
Amos A. Phelps moved the following amendment to the amendment, as a substitute for that of Mr. Loring.
That the term 'person,' as used in the 4th Article of the Constitution of this society, is to be understood as including men and women, and as entitling women to sit, speak, vote, hold office, and exercise the same rights of membership as persons of the other sex.'
After debate, it was voted that the question should be taken at one o'clock. The debate continued until one o'clock, at which hour the amendment of Amos A. Phelps was rejected, and the amendment of Ellis Gray Loring was carried. The question was then taken by yeas and nays, on the resolution, as amended, and carried as follows:
'Resolved, That the roll of this meeting be made by placing thereon the names of all persons, male and female, who are delegates from any auxiliary society, or members of this society.'
MAINE.
Yeas.-C. L. Remond.-1.
Nays.—Ichabod Codding, J. Underwood, D. B. Randall, C. Cone, Ebenezer Dole, Ebenezer Dole, Jr.6.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Yeas.-C. C. Chase.-1.
Nays.-N B Warner, S D Darling, Silas Curtis, J Perkins, Wm. H Brewster.5.
VERMONT
Yeas.-James Dean, J Holcomb, C L Knapp, R T Robinson, Benj. F Haskell-5
Nays.-Dan'l. Roberts J W Hale, W C Dennison. E D Barber.-4.
RHODE ISLAND.
Yeas.-Mary E Chace, Abel Tanner, Wm. Adams, Thos. Davis, George L Clarke, Dan'l Mitchell, William Buffum, James C Crawford, Nancy L Brayton, Alphonso R James.-10.
Nays.—Wm. Tanner.—1.
MASSACHUSETTS
Yeas-Ellis Gray Loring, Elijah Bird, Wendell Phillips, Eliza Barney, Eliza Nicholson, C. T. Bagley, Stillman Lothrop, N. H. Whiting, Amos Farnsworth, Luther Boutelle, Asa Bronson, Wm. Lewis, Joseph Southwick, Harris Cowdrey, Clarissa Lawrence, Moses Wilmarth, Anne Warren Weston, Thankful Southwick, Mary C. Frye, Wm. Bassett, Michael R. Brown, Samuel Philbrick, Jacob Noyes, Rodney French, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, Dexter Dickinson, Deborah S. Henshaw, Abner Sanger, Oliver Johnson, H. C. Wright, Charles Davies, George Bradburn, Abby Kelly, J.A. Collins, John S. Hall, John T. Hilton, Henry A. Farnsworth, Ezra C. Smith, J. B. Pierce, Wm. R. Chapman, Edmund Jackson, Francis Jackson, Ezekiel Hale, Jr. John Jones, Simeon Collins, John N. Barbour G. W. F. Mellen, Hannah Buffum, Harvey Chase, Benj. P. Bassett, Wm. P. Powell, Samuel W. King, Nathan Johnson, Thomas P. Ryder, Josiah Hayward, Benjamin Hall, Samuel Reed, Daniel Henshaw, James P. Boyce, Wm. B. Oliver, Christopher Robinson, John W. Browne, P. R. Russell, Wm. Ashby, W. B. Burley, Thomas Cole, John Parkman, Otis Thompson, Sarah G. Buffum, N. B. Borden, C. P. Grosvenor, L. Woodbury.-72.
Nays—Sewall Harding, Phineas Crandall, Israel Trask, R. B. Hubbard, Geo. Russell, George Goodyear, Harper Boice, Samuel Osgood, S. H. Emery Charles T. Torrey, George H. Smith, A. A Phelps. Bucklin Fitts, O. Scott, D Butler, D. W. Alvord, Joseph Hurlbut, John E. Fuller, George Allen, James Birney, Jr. S. S. Smith, T. E. Turner, J. A. Canfield. Thos. W. Ward, Nathl. Colver.-25.
CONNECTICUT.
Yeas--Jonathan Leonard, Samuel Deming, George W. Benson, Asa Curtis, D Plumb, Horace Cowles, William Bolles, A. F. Williams, Francis Hawley Charles Fairman, Erasmus D. Hudson, Sherman M Booth, P. Loveridge, John Turney.—14.
Nays-F. A. Perkins, Julius Pratt, Randolph Lindsley, James Averill, A. G. Beman, A. C. Luca, Chas. P. Buck, Lewis Bars, George Hall, W. L. Wilson, James Quinnard-11.
NEW JERSEY.
Yeas—J Leavitt, G W Finney, Alex N Dougherty, James W Higgins, James Howe, Joseph Parish, Jr., Stephen Grimes, Swain A Condit, Aaron Pearson-9
Nays- Torbet, Wm R Weeks—2.
PENNSYLVANIA
Yeas-Alexander Sweany, George Sellers, Moses Thatcher, Saml M'Farland, Joshua L Hallowell, Henry Peterson, Thomas F Cavender, Stephen H'Gloucester, Edwin H Coates, Robert Purvis, Lewis C Gunn, Jos L. Pennock, Mahlen Linton, John G Whittier Samuel Webb, C Burleigh, Jos Healy, Daniel Neall, Jr., Thomas Haile, Sam'l Tyson, Arnold Buffum.—21
Nays—Sam'l D Hastings, Charles W Gardner, Wm. Adair, F Julius Le Moyne, Henry Grew, Andrew Harris, George M Alsop.—7.
NEW YORK.
Yeas-R P G Wright, H V Teall, Philip Firman, Nathan Berant, J C Delong, Richard P Hunt, Thomas McClintock, Samuel Thompson, William P Green, Augustus Beach, Stephen Angell, Fordyce Rice, Al. van Stewart, J H Murray, T O Buckmaster, J N Knowles, A Hawley, Charles B Ray, John Cross, J Rhodes, G Grant, J P Clarke, Henry Frost, Esther Carpenter, Isaac Post, Isaac Pierce, Samuel Welles, Benjamin Fish. A Doolittle. John Hopper, Abel F Burke, Henry W Davison, Hammon Pinney, James C Fuller, Gerrit Smith, W L Chaplin, J T Raymond Reuben Sleeper, Sarah E Pierce, John Rhodes, George Cragin, John Brown, David Ruggles, Henry A Garnet, John Robinson.-45.
Nays-Abraham Requa, Anthony Lane, G H Williams, James Hildreth, Asa Bennet, E T Ball. Edward C Pritchett, Hester Lane, James Westervelt, H W Norton, Augustus Wilcox, E S Lane, J M Sherwood, James G Birney, James Wallin, S Stanley, E A Lambert, Asa W Bushnell, William Patton, Jr., Robert Aickman, Jr., N E Johnson, G R Parburt, G Baily. John Jay, Sumner Davidson, O R Bush, R R Kellogg, George M Tracy, Wm T Coolidge, D Willson A O Wilcox, Roe Lockwood, W T Dorr, Peter Williams, S W Benedict, Augustus J Gillett, Frederick James, Fayette Shipherd, Lyman W Gilbert, A Libolt, Hezekiah H Loomis, Selden Haynes, John Cromwell, R G Murry, E E Mills, Theodore McNamee, James Mc Cune Smith, M N'Niles, Guy Davis, George Storrs, Clarke Lockwood, Amos Savage, Henry H Loomis, Beriah Green, Lewis Tappan, Duncan Dunbar, G Meriweather, John Low, Hiram Barney, H H Kellogg, E W True, C B Hatch, Darius E Jones, Christopher Rush, Lewis C Lockwood, Mrs G M Tracy, Lucy Deming, La Roy Sunderland, C Kenmore, Joshua Bishop H C Bowen, Thomas L Jennings, James G Barbour, Wm E Whiting, Thos Downing, H D Sharpe.-76.
| Ayes. | Nays. | |
| Maine, | 1 | 5 |
| New Hampshire, | 1 | 5 |
| Vermont, | 5 | 4 |
| Massachusetts, | 72 | 25 |
| Rhode Island, | 10 | 1 |
| Connecticut, | 14 | 11 |
| New York, | 45 | 76 |
| New Jersey, | 9 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania, | 21 | 7 |
| Delaware, | 1 | |
| Ohio, | 2 | |
| Indiana, | ||
| Illinois, | 2 | |
| Michigan, |
DELAWARE
Nay-C W Denison.-1.
OHIO.
Yeas-Isaac Colby, John Rankin.-2
ILLINOIS.
Nays-F W Graves, G W Gale.-2.
RECAPITULATION.
Total of Ayes, 180.
Total of Noes, 140.
Majority 40.
Lewis Tappan and Charles T, Torrey gave notice that they should protest against the allowance of women to vote in the meeting.
Amos A. Phelps offered the following resolution, seconded by La Roy Sunderland.
Resolved, That in placing 'the names of all persons, male and female, who are delegates from any auxiliary society, or members of this,' on the roll of this or any subsequent meeting of this society, it is not to be understood that by the constitution and usage of the society, women are entitled to sit, speak, vote, hold office, and exercise the same rights of membership as persons of the other sex.'
The Society adjourned, to meet in this place at half past three o'clock this afternoon.
Wednesday Afternoon.
The Society met according to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the chair.
Meeting opened with prayer by Moses Thacher, of Pa.
Orange Scott moved the following resolution :
Resolved, That the editors of the different anti-slavery papers throughout the country be requested to publish the resolution on making up the roll, with the yeas and nays and places of residence.' Adopted.
On report of the Business Committee, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to audit the Treasurer's accounts.'
Wendell Phillips, C. L. Knapp, and J. C. Fuller, were appointed.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to examine and report on the letters addressed to this meeting.'
William L. Garrison, Eliza Barney, and C. L. Remond, were appointed.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to examine and report on the expenses of the Society.
Francis Jackson, George W. Benson, and R. G. Williams, were appointed.
Resolved,' That a committee be appointed to report on the character of the publications of the society, and whether any and what measures ought to be taken to extend their circulation and increase their usefulness.'
J. G. Whittier, Abby Kelly and John Frost were appointed.
'Resolved, That a committee of one from each State, on Finance, be appointed to consider and propose some mode of providing funds to sustain the anti-slavery cause.'
The committee are, Samuel Webb, Pa.: A. Farnsworth, Mass.; C. W. Denison, Del.; W. L. Chaplin, N. Y.; J. W. Mason. Me.: J.Perkins. N. Hamp.; T. Davis, R. I.; A. C.'Luca, Conn.; J. Holcomb, Vt.; Isaac Colby, Ohio; W. Isham, Mich.; G. W. Gale, III.; M. Buffum, N. J.
Ordered, That all resolutions, to be offered to the meeting be presented through the Business Committee and if they decline, in any case, reporting a resolution submitted to them, that the mover of it have leave to offer the same after the disposal of the business reported by the committee.
'Resolved. That a committee be appointed, consisting of one from each State represented, to nominate suitable persons for officers of this society for the ensuing year.'
D. B. Randall, Maine; C. C. Chase, N. H.; B.F. Haskell, Vt.; S. Philbrick, Mass.; W. Adams, R. I.; F. A. Perkins. Conn : R. G. Williams, N. Y.; W. R. Weeks, N. J.; L. C. Gunn. Penn.; C W. Denison, Del.; J. Rankin, Ohio; F. W. Graves, Ill.; and W. Isham, Mich.; were appointed.
'Resolved, That the committee of nominations be directed to report the names of nine persons to serve as a committee of arrangements for the National Anti-Slavery Convention. appointed to be held at Albany, on the 30th day of July next.'
'Ordered, That no member be allowed by the Chair, without special leave of the meeting, to speak more than ten minutes, nor oftener than once upon each motion, until every other member, who wishes to address the meeting, has spoken.
Resolved, That when we adjourn, we adjourn to meet at this place to-morrow morning, at half-past eight o'clock.'
The resolution offered by Amos A. Phelps then came up.
On motion of Alvan Stewart, the previous question was taken and carried.
The main question was then put, and the resolution of Mr. Phelps was lost.
The Recording Secretary presented the report of the Executive Committee.
After explanation respecting former practice,
On motion of William L. Garrison, voted that the annual report be now taken up, and so much of it read as relates to political action.
Select portions were read accordingly, by J. Leavitt.
On motion of William Lloyd Garrison,
Resolved, That the portion of the report which treats of political action, be referred to a committee of one from each state represented.
The following are the committee :
Messrs. Garrison of Massachusetts, Adams of Rhode Island, Barber of Vermont, Darling of New Hampshire, Perkins of Connecticut, Dole, Jr., of Maine, M' Clintock of New York, Leavitt of New Jersey, Earle of Pennsylvania, Denison of Delaware, Rankin of Ohio, Graves of Illinois, Isham of Michigan.
Certain resolutions on political action, reported by the Business Committee, were referred to the same Committee.
On application from Mr. Barnes, for leave to record his vote, Ellis Gray Loring moved that all whose names, were on the roll at the time the yeas and nays were called, and who did not vote at that time, be allowed to record their votes.
On motion of J. C. Fuller, seconded by W. L Garrison, the subject was laid on the table.
Adjourned, to meet at this place at half-past eight o'clock to-morrow morning.
Thursday Morning, May 9, 1839.
The society met pursuant to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the Chair
Prayer was then offered by James Howe, of N. J.
The Committee of Business reported the following resolution for consideration, which was accepted.
Resolved, That the Executive Committee of this society shall not interfere, directly or indirectly, by sending or employing agents or otherwise, in the conduct of the cause, in any state within which a state society exists, without the assent of such society.
Gerrit Smith moved to amend it so as to read, That the Executive Committee shall not send or employ any agents within any state within which a state society exists, without the assent of such society. The amendment was adopted.
The discussion was continued by A. A. Phelps, L. R. Sunderland, Jos. Hurlbut, E. C. Pritchett, Dr. Osgood, Dan'l Neal, Jr., T. P. Rider, Jno. Rankin, W. L. Chaplin, J. R. Wilson, and E. G. Loring.
W. L. Chaplin moved the following substitute, which was lost.
CHAPLIN'S RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved. That the slaveholding power of the South is countenanced and mainly upheld by the false views on the subject of 'human rights,' cherished and carried out in legislation at the North-that a leading object of the anti-slavery enterprise is to correct these erroneous views, and to obtain a repeal of all legislative acts which, in their operation, are peculiarly oppressive and injurious to the colored people ; and that these objects can alone be attained by the systematic instruction and thorough conviction on the subject of their duties, as men and christians, of all classes of society.
'Resolved, That those arrangements which will most perfectly impose responsibility upon the individual officers and members of the National, State, county and local societies, and secure their constant and earnest endeavors in behalf of the object to be subserved by our organization, will be the safest and most likely to attain the result at which we aim.
Resolved, That the plan of independent State action agreed upon last year, if prosecuted with resolution and good faith by all parties concerned, is believed to be at once the most simple, efficient and satisfactory ; and that it ought to be adopted, as the basis of future operations in the anti-slavery cause.
John Rankin, of Ohio, moved the indefinite postponement of the subject which was debated by Messrs. Rankin, Bradburn, French, Gunn, Barber, and others.
Resolved, That, when we adjourn it be to meet at half-past three o'clock this afternoon, at the church corner of Frankfort and William streets.'
Gerrit Smith moved that the original resolution and all the motions connected therewith, be laid on the table, that he might offer a substitute. Carried.
Mr. Smith then offered the following:
Resolved, That the Executive Committee of this society be earnestly invited, for the sake of securing the advantages of harmonious action, not to send into or employ any agent within any State, within which
a State society exists without the assent of such society.'
C C. Burleigh moved to substitute the word instructed for the words earnestly invited.—Lost. The debate was continued by G. Smith. Thomas Earle, W. Phillips
The subject was suspended to receive the report of the committee on nominations, which was accepted and after amendment was adopted, as follows:
LIST OF OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1839-40
President. Arthur Tappan.
Vice-Presidents.
James Appleton, Maine, Geo. Kent, N. H. Rowland T. Robinson, Vt. Francis Jackson, Mass. Peleg Clark. R. I. John T. Norton, Ct. Gerrit Smith, N. Y. Samuel Aaron, N. J. Abraham L. Pennock. Pa. Leicester King, Ohio. John Needles. Maryland, Ziba Ferris, Del. James Morrow, Ind. David Nelson, Ill. Robert Stuart, Mich. Arthur Thome, Kentucky, Samuel F. Phoenix, Wis. Ter. Peter Van Vliet, Iowa Ter.
Corresponding Secretaries
James G. Birney, Theodore D. Weld, Henry B. Stanton.
Recording Secretary.—Joshua Leavitt.
Treasurer.-John Rankin.
Managers.
Maine. Samuel M. Pond. Galvin Newton. Moses Hill, E. Southwick, George Shepard, David Thurston Daniel B. Randall. Samuel Hutchins. Nathan Winslow Samuel Fessenden.
New Hampshire, David Root. N. P. Rogers, Daniel Hoit. Timothy K. Blaisdell, Jared Perkins, Calvin Cutler, Edmund J. Worth.
Vermont. H. F. Leavitt, E. D. Barber, Lawrence Brainard, Daniel Roberts, Jr. J. W. Hale, David M Camp, C. L. Knapp, O. S. Murray, Merrit Bates.
Massachusetts. Wm. L. Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Edmund Quincy, Amasa Walker, Amos Farnsworth, Phineas Crandall. Nathan Johnson, Samuel Osgood Samuel J. May, Ellis Gray Loring, A. A. Phelps, Orange Scott, William Bassett, C. P. Grosvenor.
Rhode Island. James Eames. William Adams, Henry Cushing, John G. Clark, William Buffum.
Connecticut Alexander C. Luca, Horace Cowles, U. Tuttle, D. P. James, Geo. W. Benson, Leicester A. Sawyer, George Read.
New York. Beriah Green, Wm. L. Chaplin, R. P. G. Wright, O. N. Bush, Reuben Sleeper, N. E. Johnson, Alvan Stewart, Henry Brewster, Samuel Wells, Elon Galusha, C. W. Denison, James C. Fuller, S. W. Benedict.
New Jersey. John Grimes, James Cook, James White, J. W. Higgins, A. N. Dougherty, James Parkhurst. N. P. Thomas. C Pelloubet.
Pennsylvania. J G Whittier, Thomas Earle, Peter Wright, F J Le Moyne, J P Gazzam, Nathan Stem, Wm. Jessup, James Forten, Leonard Fletcher, Robert Purvis, Wm. A Adair, Lindley Coates, Daniel Neal jr, Chas. W Gardner, Samuel Webb.
Ohio. Robert Stewart, James C Ludlow, John M Sterling, Benjamin Stanton, Wm. Donaldson, James Gilleland, Wm. W. Bancroft, Asa Mahan, George Carey, George Whipple, John Rankin.
Indiana. Timothy Spaulding, Samuel Donald, sen. Herbert Williams, Luke Munsell, John Sailer, Wm. Twining.
Illinois. James M Buchanan, Asa Turner, James H Dickey, Owen Lovejoy, Benjn. Lundy, Wm. Stewart. Geo. W Gale. Edward Beecher.
Delaware. Samuel Boozly, Hume Jenkins, Henry Gibbons, Sam'l M Gayley.
Michigan. J P Cleaveland, Wm. Kirkland, Marcus Harrison, Arthur L Porter, Charles Hastings.
Wisconsin Territory. D S Holliston, Nathan G Storrs.
Iowa Territory. Isaac Field,, Asa Turner, jr. Lewis Tapping.
The Society then adjourned, to meet at half past two o'clock instead of half past three.
Thursday Afternoon.
The Society met according to adjournment. Gerrit Smith in the chair. Prayer was made by John Rankin of Ohio
Lewis C. Gunn, by consent, introduced the following amendment.
That the Executive Committee of this society ought to send no agent into, nor employ any agent in a State where there is a State society, without the assent of such society: provided that, if a request be sent, by a county or town society for an agent to labor among them, he may be sent, with instructions to confine his labors to such particular society or societies.
The debate was continued by A St. Clair, C C Burleigh, T P Ryder, J G Birney. G Smith, Beriah Green, L C Gunn. O Scott. and J Leavitt.
Lewis C Gunn withdrew his amendment, which was renewed by Charles T Torrey,
The question was taken on Mr. Torrey's amendment, and lost.
Mr. Leavitt moved to amend, by striking out the words, ' The Executive Committee are invited not to send, and insert the words, the Society will not send. Lost.
The resolution offered by Gerrit Smith, was adopted as follows:
Resolved, That the Executive Committee are earnestly invited for the sake of securing the advantages of harmonious action, not to send into or employ any agents in a State, within which a State Society exists without the assent of such Society.
Mr. Garrison, from the Committee to whom was referred so much of the annual report as relates to political action. made their report as follows :
ON THE ANNUAL REPORT.
Resolved, That the Executive Committee be requested to omit that part of their report, contained between the 17th line on the 59th page, to the 17th line on the 60th page, as containing language liable to misconstruction: and that they be authorized to omit or verbally amend any other portion which they may see fit, and then to publish the said report as the sentiments of the Executive Committee.
ON POLITICAL ACTION.
1. 'Resolved, That it is the duty of the American people, and especially of abolitionists, to endeavor to elect such men only to legislative and other official stations as will advocate the repeal of every legal enactment by which the aid of the public authority is lent to the support of slavery.
2. Resolved, That the temporary and repeated failures to attain the objects sought by abolitionists in petitioning and in voting at the polls for opponents of slavery, constitute no valid grounds for abandoning those measures; but we have full confidence that a steady perseverance in them will secure an ultimate triumph.
3. Resolved. That in the original formation of this society, it was not contemplated, nor is it now desired to exclude from its membership any persons, on account of their being prevented by conscientious scruples from participating in all the measures which the mass of the society, either originally or subsequently, may have contemplated as proper for the advancement of the Anti-Slavery cause.
The first resolution reported was taken up.
On motion of Joshua Leavitt, seconded by H C Wright, the question was divided. The first clause was taken up and discussed. and after explanation by members of the Committee, and discussion by several members, the whole resolution was then laid on the table.
Ellis Gray Loring then moved that the report of the Executive Committee be referred back to that Committee, with liberty to cause such portions of it to be printed, as the expression of their own sentiments, as they may choose.
This was discussed by Messrs. Lee, Garrison, R G Williams, C C Burleigh.
R G Williams moved to amend, by striking out the words, as the expression of their sentiments. Lost.
C C Burleigh moved as a substitute-That the report be referred back to the Executive Committee, with instructions to prepare for publication a simple historical account of their doings, and the income, expenditures and funds of the Society-Which was debated by J Leavitt, E D Barber, C T Torrey, H C Wright, E G Loring, Gerrit Smith, H Grew, Dr. Rice, A Buffum.
Gerrit Smith moved an alteration.
The previous question was then called and carried.
The question then recurred on Mr. Loring's motion. which was carried. A division being called for, there appeared for the motion 98, and against it 55. It is as follows :
Resolved. That the report of the Executive Committee be referred back to that Committee, with liberty to cause such portions of it to be printed, as the expression of their own sentiments, as they may choose.
Wendell Phillips moved that this resolution be published immediately preceding the report, as well as among the proceedings of the Society.
Ellis Gray Loring moved that the rules be suspended for the purpose of receiving this motion without its passing through the Business Committee, pending which,
The Society adjourned to meet in this place at half past seven o'clock this evening.
Thursday Evening.
The society met pursuant to adjournment. The president of the society in the chair. Opened with prayer by Phineas Crandall.
Ellis Gray Loring withdrew his motion for a suspension of the rules.
The Business Committee reported several resolutions, which were accepted and laid on the table.
The vote passed this day respecting the annual report, was reconsidered.
On motion of Henry B Stanton, it was amended by striking out the words that committee, and inserting the words, the Executive Committee.
On motion of N B Borden, the words, of the last year, were inserted after the word Committee, in the first line, and the word present before the words Executive Committee' in the second line.
Joshua Leavitt moved to strike out all after the word Committee in the second line, and insert the words, for revisal and publication.
Mr. Ryder called for the Previous Question, which was lost.
The amendment was then put and carried.
Charles C Burleigh moved to amend by adding the words, as the expression of their opinions.
The Previous Question was called for, but withdrawn.
After the discussion by C C Burleigh, C W Gardner, and others,
C T Torrey moved that the resolution lie on the table. Lost.
The debate was continued by J Leavitt. P R Russell, Amasa Walker, D Neall, Jr., and Henry Grew, and the question was taken on Mr. Burleigh's amendment and carried.
The main question was then taken, and the resolution adopted, as follows.
'Resolved, That the Report of the Executive Committee of last year be referred to the present Executive Committee for revisal and publication, as the expression of their opinions.
The Business Committee reported further resolutions, which were accepted and laid on the table.
The meeting was then adjourned to meet in this place at half past eight o'clock to-morrow morning.
Friday Morning, May 10, 1839.
The society met pursuant to adjournment. Rowland T Robinson, one of the Vice Presidents, in the chair.
Mr. Garrison, from the committee on correspondence, reported, and the report was adopted, as follows:
The Committee to whom were referred the letters addressed to the meeting, from abolitionists in various parts of the country, report that these letters be referred to the Executive Committee, with instructions to publish such of them in the Emancipator as they shall think proper.'
Samuel Webb, from the Committee on finance, reported three resolutions as follows:
1. Resolved, That _____ be a committee to visit the philanthropists of Great Britain, and receive from them contributions to aid the Anti-Slavery cause in this country, and that the funds when received, (after deducting the expense of collection,) be paid into the treasury of this Society.
2. Resolved, That the sum of thirty-two thousand five hundred dollars be raised for the use of this society, by an equitable contribution among the several States.
3. Resolved, That it be recommended to such auxiliary societies as are disposed to take the charge of the abolition cause within their respective fields, to make arrangements with the Executive Committee of this society, guaranteeing to our treasury such stated payments as may be adjudged reasonable, and then assuming within their own limits the entire direction of lecturers and agents in forming local societies, collecting funds, circulating memorials, and establishing libraries; and that this society will not send its agents to labor for these objects with the bounds of such auxiliaries as carry out this plan, except in concurrence with the Executive Committee of such auxiliaries.
The report was accepted, and the first resolution was taken up, and debated by J. C. Fuller, C. C. Burleigh, W. L. Chaplin, Abby Kelly, H. C. Wright, Isaac Pierce, D. Neall, Jr., G. W. Finney.
E. D. Barber moved that the resolution be laid on the table. Carried.
Francis Jackson, one of the Vice Presidents, took the chair.
The second resolution was taken up, and debated by J. Holcomb, A. Stewart, J. Rankin, E. D. Barber, H. B. Stanton, S. Webb, W. Phillips, and J. G. Birney, and, then, on motion of J. G Birney, was laid on the table.
The Auditing Committee reported, and their report was accepted, as follows :
New York. May 9th. 1839.
The Treasurer's accounts and vouchers have been submitted to our inspection and examination, and we find a balance due the treasurer, of two hundred and seven dollars and eighty cents.
Signed Wendell Phillips James C. Fuller, Auditors.' Chauncy L. Knapp,
The third resolution reported by the Finance Committee, was taken up and laid on the table.
The Business Committee reported the following resolution, which was accepted and laid on the table.
1 'Resolved, That the sense of this society be taken on the following proposition—Can the Anti-Slavery cause be best conducted without any of the machinery of the American Anti-Slavery Society—solely by independent State action ?'
The resolutions reported by Mr. Garrison on political action were then taken up. Mr. French moved to lay them on the table for the purpose of introducing a resolution, that the society will adjourn, sine die, at four o'clock this afternoon. Lost.
On motion of Oliver Johnson, seconded by William L. Garrison, the last resolution was taken up first.
A motion of James G. Birney to lay it on the table, was lost.
James G. Birney offered a substitute, which was cut off by the Previous Question.
The Previous Question was called by Oliver Johnson, and ordered, and the resolution, without the amendment, was passed.
The first resolution was then taken up, and the previous question called by Wendell Phillips, and ordered. The resolution was then put and carried.
James G. Birney offered the following resolution, which had been submitted to the Business Committee and by them refused to be presented.
Resolved. That to maintain that the elective franchise ought not to be used by abolitionists to advance the cause of emancipation is inconsistent with the duty of abolitionists under the constitution.
It was moved to lay it on the table.
Mr. Birney withdrew his resolution for the present.
The Business Committee presented the following resolution which was accepted and laid on the table.
Resolved, As the sense of this society, that the annual reports of the Executive Committee be regarded solely as their own reports, and not as the reports of the American Society.
The following resolution was reported by the Business Committee.
Resolved, That this society still holds, as it has from the beginning, that the employment of the political franchises, as established by the constitution and laws of the country, so as to promote the abolition of slavery, is of high obligation—a duty, which, as abolitionists, we owe to our enslaved fellow countrymen groaning under legal oppression.'
On motion of J. Leavitt, the report was accepted, and the resolution debated by J. Leavitt. H. B. Stanton, C. C. Burleigh, G. Bradburn, J. G. Birney.
C. C. Burleigh offered as an amendment,
That the abolitionist who regards it as his duty to use the elective franchise, and yet uses it against, or neglects to use it for the promotion of the cause of emancipation, is false to his own principles and clearly fails to do his duty.'
Mr. Birney offered as an amendment the resolution he had before withdrawn.
The Committee on Nomination reported a list of names for the Committee of Arrangements of the National Convention, which was laid on the table.
The debate was continued by A. Walker, N. Colver, A. St. Clair, G W. Benson, E. W. Chester, J. Frost, A. A. Phelps. W. Buffum.
The previous question was then called, and sustained, cutting off all the amendments.
The yeas and nays were called for, on the main question, and on a division, there appeared sixty-three in favor of the yeas and nays, and eighty in the negative. The chair decided that the call for the yeas and nays was sustained. An appeal was taken and withdrawn.
The question was then taken on the original motion, and carried as follows:
Maine.
Yea—I. Codding, E. Dole, Jr., C. L. Remond, 3.
Nay—Thomas T. Stone, 1.
New Hampshire.
Yea—Silas Curtis, Benjamin Cornings, 2.
Vermont.
Yea—J. W. Hale, J. Holcomb, B. F. Haskell, 3.
Nay-R. T. Robinson, 1.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Yea-Phineas Crandall. A. St. Clair, Dexter Dickinson, C. T. Torrey. G. A. Smith. A. A. Phelps. O. Scott Geo. Allen, J. A. Campfield, Josiah Brackett, C. P. Grosvenor, N. Colver, N. B. Borden, 13.
Nay-Elijah Bird, Wendell Phillips, Eliza Barney, Eliza Nicholson. Stillman Lothrop. N H Whiting, L Boutelle, William Lewis, Joseph Southwick, Mary C Frye, W Bassett, M R Brown, Jacob Noyes, Rodney French, B P Bassett, W P Powell, Nathan Johnson, Israel Hayward, Benj Hall, P R Russell, W Ashby, W A Burley, Thos Cole, Mary A W Johnson, W L Garrison, Abner Sawyer, Oliver Johnson, H C Wright, Geo Bradburn, Abby Kelly, J A Collins, John S Hall, J T Hilton, H A Farnsworth, W R Chapman, Francis Jackson, Ezekiel Hale, Jr, John Jones, G W F Mellen, Sarah G Buffum, T P Ryder, C D Davis, Amos Farnsworth, J. S. Hall, H. M. Cowdry, Anne W. Weston, Thankful Southwick, 47.
Rhode Island.
Yea-Hiram Brooks, Wm. Tanner, 2.
Nay—Mary E Chase, Abel Tanner, William Adams, William Buffum, Nancy L Brayton, Thomas Davis, 6.
CONNECTICUT.
Yea-A G Beman, A C Luca, E D Hudson, Sherman N Booth, 4.
Nay--Jonathan Leonard, Geo W Benson, 2.
New York.
Yea-R P G Wright, E W Chester, A Requa, Luther Lee. Anthony Lane, Jas T Hildreth, Robert Aickman, E C Pritchett, Hester Lane, Alvan Stewart, Alex Crummell, James G Birney, James Wallin, G R Parburt, Stephen Stanley, E A Lambert, William Patton, Jr, John Frost, Samuel Wells, Adrastus Doolittle, A O Wilcox, Roe Lockwood, W S Dorr, S W Benedict, Lyman W Gilbert, James Cannings Fuller, Henry H Loomis, W L Chaplin, Beriah Green, Duncan Dunbar, J T Raymond, J P Turney, Hiram Barney, H H Kellogg, La Roy Sunderland, Theodore S Wright, Henry H Garnet, D E Jones, J Buckner, John Cross, Geo Cragin, 41.
Nay-Nathan Blount, R P Hunt, W P Green. Augustus Beach, Fordyce Rice, Edward P Clarke, Benj Fish, John Hopper, Abel B Burke, Henry W Davison, 10.
New Jersey.
Yea-Joshua Leavitt, S W Buffum, A M Torbet, S A Condit, A Bradley, 5.
Nay-Joseph Parrish, Jr, 1.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Yea-Charles W Gardiner, Henry Grew, George M Alsop, John G Whittier, Samuel Webb, Joseph Healy, 6.
Nay-W Adair, Joshua L Hallowell, Henry Peterson, Thomas S Cavendar, Lewis C Gunn, Mahlon Linton, C C Burleigh, Daniel Neall, Jr, Samuel Tyson, 9.
DELAWARE.
Yea—Charles W Denison, 1.
OHIO.
Yea—Isaac Colby, John Rankin, 2.
ILLINOIS.
Yea—G W Gale, 1.
MICHIGAN.
Yea—Warren Isham, 1.
RECAPITULATION
[The above decision is not to be regarded in the light of a test question. Mr. Burleigh's amendment was preferred by many, because its phraseology was too plain to be misconstrued; but the previous question being called for, that amendment was cut off, and hence the closeness of the vote upon the original resolution, which was drawn up, we believe, by John G. Whittier.]-Ed. Lib.
Mr. Birney presented a Protest, of 123 members of the meeting, against the vote adopted by the Society, respecting the admission of women to vote.
On motion, the Protest was ordered to be entered on the records, and published with the proceedings of the meeting. The Protest is as follows:
'The Protest has not been received by us, but shall appear in our columns next week.]
Alvan Stewart moved the appointment of a committee of three to reply to the Protest.
G. W. Benson moved to lay it on the table. Carried.
Rodney French moved to adjourn sine die. Withdrawn.
C. L. Knapp moved to adjourn till 4 o'clock, P. M. Withdrawn.
J. C. Fuller was called to the chair.
The resolutions respecting Hiram Wilson, and the fugitives from slavery, were taken up, amended and passed.
Whereas, the elevation of the free people of color is among the avowed objects of our organization : and whereas, the fact that thousands of our enslaved fellow-countrymen have been compelled to take refuge from republican oppression, in the Canadian possessions of the British crown, does not release us from obligation to labor for their intellectual and moral welfare; and whereas, it is our duty to aid them in obtaining the blessings of christian education, in their only refuge from the power of the oppressor; and whereas, the efforts of our noble brother, Hiram Wilson, and his benevolent coadjutors, for this end, ought to be sustained, and their sphere of labor extended till it embraces all these 'poor outcasts.' And whereas, it is unjust to those, and on other accounts unwise to throw upon brother Wilson the whole labor and responsibility of sustaining these schools, and collecting and disbursing the necessary funds; and whereas, there is no organized association which can legitimately take charge of these operations, except our own, and those affiliated with it ; therefore
'Resolved, That we regard the object in which Hiram Wilson is engaged, viz: to promote the intellectual and moral elevation of the colored people in Canada, as having strong claims to the patronage of Christians and philanthropists.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of the Convention of western New York, holden at Pen Yan, to go forward in the adoption of the necessary measures to attain the end of their appointment.
The resolutions respecting amendments of the Constitution were taken up, amended and passed.
Resolved, That the same persons who were appointed at the last anniversary to consider and report at the next annual meeting, upon the expediency of amending the Constitution of this Society, viz: Ellis Gray Loring, Amos A. Phelps, David L. Child, J. T. Norton and William L. Chaplin, be re-appointed a committee for the above purpose, and that the subjects under their consideration the present year, be continued under reference to them.
Resolved, That the chairman of said committee give notice as soon as may be, to the Executive Committee, of the results of their deliberations, that the members of this Society may be early informed through the Emancipator of the amendments, if any, which may be submitted for their action, at the next annual meeting.
The resolution, first offered by Wendell Phillips, requiring the resolutions on the annual report to be fixed to the report, as well as published among the proceedings, was taken up and laid on the table.
The resolution, first offered by Mr. Birney, proposing a definite settlement of the question respecting the State Societies, was taken up and laid on the table.
The resolutions declaring the annual reports of the Executive Committee not to be the reports of the Society, was taken up and laid on the table.
The report of the committee on publications was accepted and ordered to be printed with the proceedings.
The resolution respecting the free colored people was adopted.
Resolved, That the committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of more general and direct efforts to promote the political, intellectual and moral elevation of the whole of our free colored population, either by the agents and funds of this society, or by a new association to be formed for the purpose—and in case the latter course is deemed most wise, that they be directed to take measures for the organization of such an association, either in connection with the national Anti-Slavery Convention in the summer, or at some other suitable period, as early as may be.
On motion of R. French, the meeting adjourned, sine die, at 4 o'clock, P. M.
O'CONNELL.
The sublime and thrilling eloquence of the following extract from the Herald of Freedom, can scarcely be surpassed. Speaking of 'the great Agitator,' friend Rogers thus remarks:
His matchless talent and energy-his eloquence, that mighty kind, that revolutionizes nations, his great legal depth and sagacity that could guide his enthusiastic countrymen, unscathed and unexposed, along the very verge of treason against a government jealous for its supremacy 'as the eagle for her high eyrie'—and watching for the stumbling of Ireland, as the bird for the prey;-that rode fearlessly and in safety on the rein of the maelstrom where perished the Emmets and the Sheareses: that could conduct Irish rebellion, according to British law! His invulnerable integrity. Britain had not a diamond in her, crown, that could dazzle his fidelity, or make him forget he was an Irishman. His shoreless philanthropy-unchecked by oceans-compassing the countless complexions and the confused tongues of the human race. His 'agitatings'-standing there, in solitary sublimity, on the ' great globe itself,-his arena—his country and his home, and sending his voice into all climes. The isles heard him, in the distant tropics, and the slave 'shook his chains in transport and rude harmony. And to America, too, 'careering like the thunder against the winds'—he sent his 'Freedom's rallying word'—and now this tyrant nation fears him as Europe feared Napoleon. They hear his voice as the cry of destiny. He humbles her haughty ambassadors in Exeter Hall—and though it was the untitled 'printer master'-the 'mob orator of Clare and Kerry'-yet the accumulated dignity of this whole slaveholding Republic availed not the restless plenipotentiaries. They dare not endure the rebuke of O'Connell before the world, and sought relief in a duel. O'Connell disposed of their challenges, as he would have answered a spoiled schoolboy
Henry Clay had the desperation to deride him in his mad speech in the Senate. O'Connell will hear of that. He has heard of Henry Clay, and Clay will hear from him. At the anti-slavery meeting in London, in 1840-where they meet from all the civilized world in convention against slavery, (and from beyond the bounds of civilization they will come-the ambassadors of human liberty)-O'Connell will sure be there. He will speak-speak of America and the dregs of human slavery in her borders, and he will remember Henry Clay, and he will speak of him as the ADVOCATE OF SLAVERY. He will humble forever the Kentuckian's crest of pride. He will bereave him of his fame.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Appointment
Slave Related
What keywords are associated?
Anti Slavery Society
Annual Meeting
Women Suffrage
Political Action
State Societies
Officer Election
Fugitive Aid
What entities or persons were involved?
Gerrit Smith
William Lloyd Garrison
Lewis Tappan
Arthur Tappan
Ellis Gray Loring
Amos A. Phelps
Joshua Leavitt
James G. Birney
Wendell Phillips
Where did it happen?
New York
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
New York
Event Date
May 7 10, 1839
Key Persons
Gerrit Smith
William Lloyd Garrison
Lewis Tappan
Arthur Tappan
Ellis Gray Loring
Amos A. Phelps
Joshua Leavitt
James G. Birney
Wendell Phillips
Outcome
resolution passed allowing women to vote and participate equally (180 yeas, 140 nays); officers elected including arthur tappan as president; resolutions on political action, state societies, and aid for fugitives in canada adopted; protest by 123 members against women's voting rights recorded.
Event Details
The American Anti-Slavery Society's annual meeting debated and voted on including women as full members with voting rights, adopted rules for proceedings, elected officers, discussed executive committee reports on political action, relations with state societies, finances, and publications, and passed resolutions supporting abolition efforts including aid for escaped slaves in Canada.