Slike strani
PDF
ePub

REPORT.

ON presenting their eighth annual Report to the Society which they have the honor to represent, the BOARD OF MANAGERS Congratulate it that, notwithstanding the opposition of malignant foes, and the treachery of professed friends, the antislavery cause has made rapid advances towards a final and glorious consummation during the past year. In no one State has it lost ground; in every non-slaveholding State, the number of its friends and advocates has been greatly multiplied, and its resources extended proportionably. In no previous year, it is believed, have such liberal contributions been made, or more abundant labors performed, in its behalf. As a clear indication of its extraordinary growth, it will suffice to state, that the whole number of anti-slavery societies in the land may now be safely estimated at not less than Two THOUSAND, having at least Two HUNDRED THOUSAND persons enrolled as members, and embodying a large proportion of the patriotism, the humanity, the religion of the country. If the executive power and efficiency of the American Anti-Slavery Society have in some measure been restricted, it has been owing solely to the infusion of new life-blood into the veins of each State auxiliary; and, instead of furnishing any evidence that "abolition is dying away," proves that the responsibilities of our great enterprise are divided more equally among its members than heretofore. If, therefore, the enemies of emancipation would ascertain whether the cause we espouse has advanced or retrograded within the last twelve months, let them not be governed in their inquiries either by the number of agents employed by the Na

tional Society, or the amount contributed to its treasury, as compared with former years; but let them look at the aggregate of anti-slavery labors and contributions throughout the United States.

By a vote at the last annual meeting of the Parent Society, the Executive Committee were 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. The design and effect of that vote have been to stir up each State auxiliary to unusual activity, and to advance the general interests of our cause beyond all precedent during a similar period. It seems to be the growing conviction of abolitionists, that there should be as little centralization of power as possible in the management of the anti-slavery enterprise; that no committee, however enlightened or disinterested, can be so safely trusted as the people themselves; that State Societies are admirably adapted to lessen the burden of the Parent Society, and at the same time to do the work better; and that even more is dependant upon individual than associated action for the furtherance of anti-slavery principles and measures. In many instances, it will be found that some two or three individuals, in a place, possess more vitality than a whole organization; nay, that, in fact, they constitute the organization, though numerically but a fraction of it. That line of policy is undoubtedly best, which best enforces individual accountability, and makes the pressure of the cause an individual concern. In the promo

tion of every grea reform, associated effort is indispensable; yet nothing can be predicated of the zeal or efficiency of an association, by the number enrolled upon its list of members. Of the various religious and humane enterprises in our land, not one is so truly republican, so well guarded, or so philosophical in its management, as the anti-slavery enterprise. In its deliberations, all who espouse it, of whatever sect, party, complexion, or name, freely participate. Its platform is as broad as the whole earth, upon which every human being, who is not an oppressor or an apologist for oppression, may stand erect. In its control, all may have an equal share. It is in the hands of

the people, "the common people." It takes no cognizance of rank, station, authority, but regards man as man simply. Hence the energy and success with which it is conducted, and the anxiety and alarm which it gives to principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places.

Since the last annual meeting of this Society, a war of extermination has been waged against it, not less unnatural than extraordinary; but, happily, with very little success. The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society is the parent of all the other kindred societies in the land. It has ever been hated, therefore, with peculiar intensity, by the enemies of the colored race. From the first hour of its existence to the present time, it has pursued the same fearless, uncompromising, straight-forward course, deterred by no danger, disheartened by no opposition, wearied by no effort. Various have been the attempts to cripple its influence, to limit its action, to destroy its life. The evil spirit of sectarianism has, from time to time, summoned all its strength to crush the Society, or to transfer its management to other hands. In several instances, direct efforts have been made to supplant it by the formation of a rival Society. Foremost in this crusade have been the colonization, pro-slavery clergy of the Commonwealth. Convicted of sin for refusing to plead the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction in our land-rebuked before all the people, without fear or favor, as though they were indeed like other men-stripped of their pharisaical guise, and exhibited in all their time-serving abjectness -conscious that the colonization imposture which they had palmed upon the people stood fully revealed-perceiving that a gradual yet mighty change was taking place in public sentiment favorable to the anti-slavery movement-and knowing that they must at least seem to be the opponents of slavery, without materially changing their position, or they would ere long be swept away by a whirlwind of popular indignation—they rallied together and organized a society with the sounding title of "The American Union for the Relief and Improvement of the Colored Race." Like the Union of the States, it was composed of the most incongruous materials, based upon the shifting-sand of policy, and cemented with selfishness. It was a sad specimen

of clerical hollow-heartedness and duplicity: yet so much did it appear like the Angel of Emancipation, some abolitionists were deceived by it for a time-among them, one of the most conspicuous in the anti-slavery ranks. It had a hot spirit, but a stony heart. Its real object was to crush abolitionism universally, and especially the Massachusets Anti-Slavery Society, that old irreverent pioneer of all manner of heresy and fanaticism in Church and State! The hand of the LORD was against it, and it dissolved away "like the baseless fabric of a vision.” It was of the earth, earthy-without life or vision—and now lies buried in the tomb of ignominy. The mourners do not go about the streets : there is none so poor as to do it reverence.

The next attempt made to subvert this Society, and give the control of our anti-sectarian enterprise into the hands of a sect, was by five orthodox clergymen, all claiming to be "abolitionists in the strictest sense"-two of whom had lectured extensively on the subject of slavery, and one of whom was the na member of this Board. That they were not actuated by a spirit of brotherly kindness was at once apparent from the fact, that they preferred the most flagrant charges against those with whom they were associated, through the medium of the press, instead of first seeking a private interview, and endeavoring to convict them of wrong-doing. That they were not prompted by any regard for the integrity and success of our cause was evident, because they volunteered to shield from merited censure certain pro-slavery clergymen, and to endorse almost every false accusation and malicious innuendo against "leading abolitionists," which had been coined by the implacable enemies of immediate einancipation. That they were governed by a manpleasing, and not a God-fearing spirit, by a desire to conciliate a body of clergymen, who had distinguished themselves for their violent hostility to abolitionism,- by selfish and sectarian purposes, was manifest from the language and spirit of their memorable "Appeal" and "Protest," and from their subsequent conduct. The individual who was foremost in this defection was the Rev. CHARLES FITCH, then a preacher at the Marlboro' Chapel, in Boston, and now located in Newark, N. J. He was, for a time, "a burning and a shining light"

among abolitionists, and distinguished himself for the ardor of his zeal, the boldness of his invective, and the severity of his denunciation. But, alas! in an evil hour, he forgot the claims of pleading humanity, and took sides with a corrupt priesthood in traducing the character and conduct of those who stood prominently forth as the advocates of righteous emancipation. The light that was in him became darkness—and how great was that darkness! It was ala mentable, a surprising change. What are his present views and feelings respecting his participancy in the "Clerical Appeal," and how he now regards a movement which was started ostensibly to promote the glory of God, but which inflicted very serious injury upon the cause of the perishing slave, may be learnt from the following letter addresssed to the Corresponding Secretary of this Society:

MR. W. L. GARRISON:

NEWARK, Jan. 9, 1840.

[ocr errors]

DEAR SIR-Here with I attempt the discharge of a duty, to which I doubt not that I am led by the dictates of an enlightened conscience, and by the influences of the Spirit of God. I have been led, of late, to look over my past life, and to inquire what I would think of past feelings and actions, were I to behold Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven, coming to judge the world, and to establish his reign of holiness, and righteousness, and blessedness, over the pure in heart. From such an examination of my past life, I find very much, even in what I have regarded as my best actions, deeply to deplore; but especially do I find occasion for shame, and self-loathing, and deep humiliation before God and man, when I see in what multiplied instances the ruling motive of my conduct has been a desire to please men, for the sake of their good opinion. In seeking the promotion of good objects, I have often acted with this in view; but I feel bound in duty to say to you, sir, that to gain the good will of man was the only object I had in view, in every thing which I did relative to certain writings called 'Clerical Appeal.' I cannot say that I was conscious at the time, certainly not as fully as I am now, that this was the motive by which I was actuated; but as I now look back upon it, in the light in which it has of late been spread before my own mind, as I doubt not by the spirit of God, I can clearly see that, in all that matter, I had no true regard for the glory of God, or the good of man. I can see nothing better in it, than a selfish and most wicked desire to gain thereby the good opinion of such men as I supposed would be pleased by such movements; while I can clearly see, that I did not consult the will of God, or the good of my fellow-men, in the least, and did indulge towards yourself and others, and toward principles which I now see to be according to truth, feelings which both my conscience and my heart now condemn; which I know a holy God never can approve; and which I rejoice to think he never will approve.

I send you this communication, because my conscience and my heart lead me to do it; because I think the truth and the spirit of God approve it, and influence me to do it; and not because I expect or wish thereby

« PrejšnjaNaprej »