The Liberator

Celebration at Philadelphia.

The American Anti-Slavery Society was formed in Philadelphia, at the celebrated Convention which was held in that city on the 4th, 5th and 6th of December, 1833. At its last annual meeting, a resolution was adopted, recommending the celebration of its first decade in Philadelphia, in December next. An official call for this grand commemorative meeting has been put forth, and the abolitionists of the country are summoned to give their attendance. It is earnestly to be hoped that they will respond to the summons with alacrity, at least so far as to ensure a spirited and crowded gathering; for the occasion will be one of deep, solemn, thrilling interest, and a retrospect of the Past with a comparison of the Present will create the strongest heartfelt emotions, and excite to more generous sacrifice and greater determination in the cause of enslaved and despised Humanity.

How multiform and multitudinous, how stirring and grand, how melancholy and deplorable, how cheering and hopeful, how pregnant with darkness, how full of light, have been the events that have transpired in this country, within the last ten years, connected with the great question of American (not African) emancipation! The cloud that was then no bigger than a man's hand, now overshadows the whole nation. Then, scarcely a sufficient number of abolitionists could be found in the United States to constitute a convention; now their ranks are crowded, and their banners are floating on every hill and on every plain in the free States. Then, their cause was not only rejected as chimerical, but treated as infamous universally; now it is widely respected, and all opposition to it is felt to be futile.

How diverse have been the aspects, how various the positions of the anti-slavery forces, since the first gun of liberty was fired, and the war declared! If the abolitionists have, from time to time, changed their ground, they have never abandoned it, and their principles remain unadulterated and immutable. They have carried one outpost after another of the enemy, and are now fast approaching a general engagement, under the most auspicious circumstances.

We regret that earlier and better measures were not adopted to ensure an immense attendance at Philadelphia; but we trust the meeting will be in all respects worthy of the occasion and the cause.