New York Daily Tribune

Social Reorganization-Convention at Boston.

Correspondence of The Tribune.

Boston, Dec. 30, 1843.

I take my pen to give a hurried and most inadequate account of the Convention of Friends of Association, which has been held, according to previous notice, in this city the present week.

The Convention assembled on Tuesday morning in the spacious hall under the Tremont Temple (late Tremont Theatre,) and was organized as follows: -William BASSETT of Lynn, President; Adin BALLOU of Hopedale, G. W. BENSON of Northampton, George RIPLEY of Brook Farm, and James N. BUFFUM of Lynn, Vice Presidents; Eliza J. KENNY of Salem, and Charles A. DANA of Brook Farm, Secretaries. Professor WALKER of Oberlin, being present, was invited to preside; but, on account of the immature state of his mind on the great questions to come before the Convention, he deemed it his duty to decline, though he manifested a deep interest in the subject, and subsequently took part in the debates.

The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee of Business, to prepare resolutions, &c.: W. H. CHANNING of New-York, George RIPLEY of Brook Farm, John A. COLLINS of Skaneateles, N. Y., David WILDER, G. W. BENSON of Northampton, JOHN ALLEN and FREDERICK DOUGLASS. All persons interested in the question of Association, whether Fourierites or the advocates of any other plan of Social Reorganization, were invited to participate in the discussions.-

The Convention was thus organized and conducted on the most enlarged principles of freedom and toleration, and the effect of this course was seen in the loving and charitable spirit which, with few and slight exceptions, characterized the proceedings. Persons of widely different opinions in respect to the best mode of Social Reorganization, but who felt a common conviction of the necessity of Association in some form, met as brethren to impart and receive light on this great and important question. The sentiments put forth, as might be expected in a Convention thus composed, were various and conflicting; but the spirit of Love and Harmony was strikingly manifested from the commencement to the close. The deep and absorbing interest felt in the discussions will be apparent when it is considered that the Convention was constantly attended by a numerous and highly intellectual audience from its commencement on Tuesday morning till its close on Friday evening, a period of four days. That the debates were worth hearing you will readily believe, when I give you the names of the most prominent speakers, as follows:--Adin Ballou, Prof. Walker of Oberlin. Dr. Walter Channing, Chas. A. Dana. Wm. H. Channing, George Ripley, Albert Brisbane. O. A. Bronson. John A. Collins. Wm. Lloyd Garrison, J. S. Dwight, John Pierpont, A. B. Alcott. G. W. Benson, James Boyle, Henry Clapp. It will not be invidious to remark that, of all this number of eloquent and effective speakers. Rev. W. H. Channing of New York was decidedly the favorite of the Convention. He spoke frequently, sometimes at considerable length, but always with such eloquence of manner and warmth of heart, that the audience never tired of listening to him.

The debates took the widest possible range, and embraced almost every thing connected in any way with human welfare. The present false institutions of Society were probed with a fearless hand, and their inadequacy to the wants of the race fearlessly exposed. Many crude notions were of course put forth, but the men who guided the deliberations of the Convention were eminent for intelligent attainments and practical good sense. The question of Association, depend upon it, is taking strong hold upon thinking minds in New-England, and the fruits will ere long appear.

The question which created the strongest excitement in the Convention was that of a Community of Property as presented and defended by Mr. Collins. On this subject the debates were earnest, and marred occasionally by too great vehemence and impatience. Mr. Collins stood forth alone in defence of his views, and spoke with his usual ability; but I think the Convention generally had little sympathy with his peculiar opinions.

The following resolutions, I believe, are all that the Convention adopted, its object having been mainly to afford men of different views to meet each other in free and earnest discussion, rather than to sanction any particular scheme of Association:

Resolved, That the movements now in progress in various parts of the country, designed to promote a Social Re-organization, are the legitimate results of the spirit of Christian Brotherhood, of Liberty, and of Peaceful Reform: and that the inefficacy of all modes of Public Charity to relieve or prevent Pauperism with its attendant degradations: the injustice of our common system of Wages: the tediousness, oppressiveness, and unhealthiness of our habits of Labor: the unequal distribution of means and opportunities for Culture, Refinement, Recreation and Social Pleasures: the imperfect character and degree of Popular Education both for children and adults; the unnatural subservience of Woman: the distinctions of Caste based upon outward and artificial circumstances; the universal war of Competition; and finally the tendency of our Industrial, Commercial, and Financial transactions to the establishment of a Moneyed Feudalism-call urgently upon all to aid by their counsel, energies and means, these movements, and others having the similar end in view of Uniting all Conflicting Interests, and of establishing the relations of Society on the basis of Universal Justice and Love, thus securing for each human being the highest possible Social Good.

Resolved, That, grateful for the light which we believe that the Social Science discovered by Charles Fourier has cast upon the existing evils of Society and their true remedies, we desire to see a thorough test of the actual working of his principles in an Association, organized upon them as a basis; and meanwhile commend to the efficient encouragement and aid of all the friends of Human Progress, the various Associations for Social Reform already partially established, which recognize individual Rights and the Religious Sentiment; and wish success to all who in any way are seeking the removal of Social Evils, in the modes which they may deem most true to the Nature of Man and the Laws of God.

Resolved, That in order to give expression to the interest now awakened on the subject of Social Reform, of enlightening the public mind upon the principles and means involved in the proposed movements, and of establishing between existing Associations and the public the freest communication, we recommend the formation of Societies in Towns and Counties of the friends of this cause, united under such an organization as may seem to them best for the purpose of disseminating their principles by Lectures, Tracts, Conventions or otherwise; and lastly, by the widest possible circulation of all publications which advocate these Reforms. And the Convention earnestly recommend to the friends of Human Progress, The Present, and "The Phalanx," as worthy of their most cordial support.