History of the Negro Race in America Volume II Part 7

It ill.u.s.trated the power of the Gospel of Love, the gentleness of Negro character, and the powers and possibilities of the race. It was G.o.d's message to a people who had refused to listen to his anti-slavery prophets and priests; and its sad, weird, and heart-touching descriptions and dialogues restored the milk of human kindness to a million hearts that had grown callous in an age of self-seeking and robbery of the poor.

In a political and sectional sense, the "Impending Crisis," by Helper, exerted a wide influence for good. It was read by merchants and politicians.

Diverse and manifold as were the methods of the friends of universal freedom, and sometimes apparently conflicting, under G.o.d no honest effort to rid the Negro and the country of the curse of slavery was lost. All these agencies, running along different lines, converged at a common centre, and aimed at a common end--the ultimate extinction of the foreign and domestic slave-trade.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] In the Library of the New York Historical Society there is "An Oration Upon the Moral and Political Evil of Slavery. Delivered at a Public Meeting of the Maryland Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes and Others Unlawfully Held in Bondage, Baltimore, July 4, 1791. By George Buchanan, M.D., Member of the American Philosophical Society. Baltimore: Printed by Phillip Edwards, MDCCXCIII."

[13] Men of our Times, pp. 162, 163.

[14] Speech delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Cork Anti-Slavery Society, 1829.

[15] Sumner's Works, vol. i. p. 336.

[16] At the election that took place on the 9th of November, 1846, the vote stood as follows: Winthrop (Whig), 5,980; Howe (Anti-Slavery), 1,334; Homer (Democrat), 1,688; Whiton (Independent), 331. The number of tickets in the field indicated the state of public feeling.

[17] Sumner's Works, vol. 1. p. 337.

[18] Church As It Is, etc., Introduction.

[19] Channing's Works, vol. ii. p. 10, sq.

[20] American Conflict, vol. i. pp. 25, 26.

[21] The following were the objects of the Colonization Society:

"1st. To rescue the free colored people of the United States from their political and social disadvantages.

"2d. To place them in a country where they may enjoy the benefits of free government, with all the blessings which it brings in its train.

"3d. To spread civilization, sound morals, and true religion through the continent of Africa.

"4. To arrest and destroy the slave-trade.

"5. To afford slave-owners who wish, or are willing, to liberate their slaves an asylum for their reception."

[22] The Republic, Sept. 11, 1850.

[23] National Intelligencer, October 23, 1850.

[24] Tribune, December 25, 1850.

[25] Herald, December, 17, 1850.

[26] It is to be regretted that William Still, the author of the U. G.

R. R., failed to give any account of its origin, organization, workings, or the number of persons helped to freedom. It is an interesting narrative of many cases, but is shorn of that minuteness of detail so indispensable to authentic historical memorials.

[27] Judge Stroud, William Goodell, Wendell Phillips, William Jay, and hundreds of other white men contributed to the anti-slavery literature of the period.

CHAPTER VI.

ANTI-SLAVERY EFFORTS OF FREE NEGROES.

INTELLIGENT INTEREST OF FREE NEGROES IN THE AGITATION MOVEMENT.--"FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLE OF COLOR" HELD AT PHILADELPHIA.--REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COLLEGE FOR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR.--PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED IN EACH CITY.--CONVENTIONAL ADDRESS.--SECOND CONVENTION HELD AT BENEZET HALL, PHILADELPHIA.--RESOLUTIONS OF THE MEETING.--CONVENTIONAL ADDRESS.--THE Ma.s.sACHUSETTS GENERAL COLORED a.s.sOCIATION.--CONVENTION OF ANTI-SLAVERY WOMEN OF AMERICA AT NEW YORK.--PREJUDICE AGAINST ADMITTING NEGROES INTO WHITE SOCIETIES.--COLORED ORATORS.--THEIR ELOQUENT PLEAS FOR THEIR ENSLAVED RACE.

The free Negroes throughout the Northern States were not pa.s.sive during the agitation movement. They took a lively interest in the cause that had for its ultimate end the freedom of the slave. They did not comfort themselves with the consciousness that _they_ were free; but thought of _their brethren_ who were bound, and sympathized with them.

"_The First Annual Convention of the People of Color_" was held in Philadelphia from the 6th to the 11th of June, 1831. Its sessions were held "in the brick Wesleyan Church, Lombard Street," "pursuant to public notice, ... signed by Dr. Belfast Burton and William Whipper."

The following delegates were present:

_Philadelphia_--John Bowers, Dr. Belfast Burton, James Cornish, Junius C. Morel, William Whipper.

_New York_--Rev. Wm. Miller, Henry Sipkins, Thos. L. Jennings, Wm. Hamilton, James Pennington.

_Maryland_--Rev. Abner c.o.ker, Robert Cowley.

_Delaware_--Abraham D. Shad, Rev. Peter Gardiner.

_Virginia_--Wm. Duncan.

The following officers were chosen:

_President_--John Bowers.

_Vice-Presidents_--Abraham D. Shad, William Duncan.

_Secretary_--William Whipper.

_a.s.sistant Secretary_--Thos. L. Jennings.

The first concern of this convention was the condition of that cla.s.s which it directly represented--the "free persons of color" in the United States. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Morel, Shad, Duncan, Cowley, Sipkins, and Jennings, made the following report on the condition of the free persons of color in the United States:

"_Brethren and Fellow-Citizens:_

"We, the Committee of Inquiry, would suggest to the Convention the propriety of adopting the following resolutions, viz.:

"_Resolved_, That, in the opinion of this Convention, it is highly necessary that the different societies engaged in the _Canadian Settlement_ be earnestly requested to persevere in their praiseworthy and philanthropic undertaking; firmly believing that, at a future period, their labors will be crowned with success.

"The Committee would also recommend this Convention to call on the free people of color to a.s.semble _annually_ by delegation at such place as may be designated as suitable.

"They would also respectfully submit to your wisdom the necessity of your deliberate reflection on the dissolute, intemperate, and ignorant condition of a large portion of the colored population of the United States. They would not, however, refer to their unfortunate circ.u.mstances to add degradation to objects already degraded and miserable; nor, with some others, improperly cla.s.s the virtuous of our color with the abandoned, but with the most sympathizing and heartfelt commiseration, show our sense of obligation as the true guardians of our interests, by giving wholesome advice and good counsel.

"The Committee consider it as highly important that the Convention recommend the necessity of creating a general fund, to be denominated the CONVENTIONAL FUND, for the purpose of advancing the objects of this and future conventions, as the public good may require.