The Liberator

From the Advocate of Freedom.

The Annual Meeting of the Maine A. S. Society.

This occasion, which was looked forward to with so much interest, is now passed. It exceeded the anticipations of most, both in number and interest. It is believed to have been the largest anti-slavery meeting ever held in the State, and probably more delegates, and from a larger number of towns, were together than ever before. The harmony of the meeting was delightful, its high moral bearing ennobling, and its firmness in defence of truth encouraging. It was good to see the friends of the slave come up from the conflicts, and difficulties, and mistakes of the last year, prepared to cast the mantle of charity over the past, and seek for the path of duty in the future.

The political question, as was expected, was the one of leading interest. The discussion on it was manly and courteous, and resulted in the entire triumph of truth. The great moral principles for which we have been contending were settled immoveably in the minds of all present, so far as we know, viz. that it is a sin against God, our country and the slave, to give our political power to slavery.

The Annual Report was a long and very able article, and much discussion was had on the question of its acceptance, because it favored independent nominations—the propriety of which the Society, as such, did not wish to decide; and although it is probable a large proportion of the members were in favor of such a measure, yet it was believed best to leave it to be decided and carried into execution in a conventional capacity. This leaves all, of whatever views on this subject, vigorously to prosecute the objects of the Society without the least embarrassment with this question.

The Society is considered as standing upon the same ground on this subject as that on which it stood last year. It asserts the duty of voting for the slave. but leaves the manner of doing it to be settled elsewhere. On this ground all true abolitionists, it would seem, might harmonize, and we have no doubt they will.

On the question of our foreign relation, it was undoubtedly the very general wish to become auxiliary to the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, but out of respect to the feelings of several individuals, it was unanimously agreed to remain independent the present year.