4 V "^ 
 
 ^o 
 
 
 ^ '^ 
 >-•- '^^ 
 
 
 A^o ^^^A"" : 
 
 \..^^ 
 
 ■o ^.^..♦^ 
 

 
 ^'^f 
 
 
 
 • •« 
 
 - 
 
 
 <.*^^\o** \-.i^.\<v* %'^?f:'/ 
 
 
 1« 
 
 
 
 
 
 a^°.*» 
 
 
 ^'% 
 
 •^.r.c,'^' 
 
 
 ^ ' • • " ' ^" 
 
 
 _ -oT ^ 
 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 OF TUK 
 
 ^Imericait Contientioti 
 
 FOR PROMOTING THE 
 
 ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 
 
 IMPROVING THE CONDITION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AFRICAN RACE, 
 
 ASSEMBLED AT 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 IN JANUARY, 1804, 
 TO THE 
 
 IPEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 PRINTED BY SOLOMON W. CONRAD, 
 
 1804. 
 

ADDRESS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN CONVENTION 
 
 FOR PROMOTING THE 
 
 ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, ^c. 
 
 TO THE 
 
 PEOPLE 
 
 OF ' 
 
 THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 FELLOW CITIZENS, 
 
 THE American Convention for promoting 
 the Abolition of Slavery, and improving the Con- 
 dition of the African race, assembled for the pur- 
 pose of deliberation upon such matters as relate to 
 the design of their institution, believe it their duty 
 to address you at this time : not with a view to^ 
 descant upon the horrors of slavery, or its incom- 
 patibility with sound policy, with justice, with mo- 
 rality, and with the spirit and doctrines of Christi- 
 anity : for besides that the circumscribed nature 
 of such an address necessarily precludes lengthy 
 animadversion, these are topics, which have been 
 so repeatedly and ably discussed, as to leave little 
 room for additional argument or new illustration. — 
 The feelings and the judgment have been often ad- 
 di-essed with all the strength of reason and the pow- 
 
crs of eloquence, and although prejudice may blind 
 the eyes of some, and avarice close the avenues of 
 sensibility in others, we derive consolation from 
 the assurance, that the wise and the good, the lib- 
 eral and the considerate of all classes of the commu- 
 nity, lament the existence of slavery, and consider 
 it as a dark stain in the annals of our country. We 
 do not e^'en hesitate to believe, that many who hold 
 slaves by demise, acknowledge the injustice of the 
 tenure ; but perplexed in the contemplation of the 
 embarrassment in which they find themselves, they 
 are ready to exclaim, " What shall be done with 
 them !" We vrould willingly include these among 
 the number of our friends, and entreat them to unite 
 in the removal of aji evil so justly and almost uni- 
 versally deplored. 
 
 A principal object of our concern, is to rouse the 
 attention of the public to the continued- --may we 
 not say---increasing necessity of exertion. We fear 
 many have taken up an idea, that there is less oc- 
 casion now than formerly, for active zeal in pro- 
 moting the cause of the oppressed African : but 
 when it is remembered that there are about nine 
 hundred thousand slaves in our country ! that hun- 
 dreds of vessels do annually sail from our shores, to 
 traffic in the blood of our fellow men ! and that 
 the abominable practice of kidnapping is carried on 
 to an alarming extent ! surely it will not be 
 thought a time for supincness and neglect. Ought 
 not rather every faculty of the mind to be awaken- 
 ed ? and in a matter wherein the reputation and 
 prosperity of these United States arc so deeply in- 
 volved, is it possible that any can remain as indif- 
 ferent and idle spectators ? 
 
 The gross and violent outrages committed by g. 
 horde of kidnappers, call aloud for redress. We 
 
liave reason to believe, there is a complete chain of 
 them along our sea coast, from Georgia to Maine. 
 Like the vulture, soaring in apparent indifFerence, 
 while watching for his prey, these shameless men, 
 disguised in the habiliments of gentlemen, haunt 
 public places, and at night seize and carry off the 
 victims of their avarice. The Convention are in- 
 formed of some of their insidious manoeuvres. 
 They generally have vessels moored in small rivers 
 and creeks, and after stealing the unprotected, they 
 decoy by stratagem and allure by specious offers of 
 gain, such free persons of colour as they find sus- 
 ceptible of delusion. Others residing near the sea- 
 coast, are continually purchasing slaves in the 
 middle states, to sell at an advanced price to their 
 compeers in infamy. For the victims of this shock- 
 ing business, they find a ready market among the 
 southern planters. The design of this detail, must 
 be obvious : It is to excite the vigilance of every 
 friend to humanity and to virtue, in the detection 
 and punishm€nt of these monsters in the shape of 
 men. 
 
 To complain of injusice, or petition for redress 
 of grievances, cannot be mistaken for rebellion a- 
 gainst the lavw s of our country. We lament there- 
 fore the existence of statutes in the state of North 
 CaroUna, prohibiting individuals the privilege of 
 doing justice to the unfortunate slave, and to their 
 own feelings, by setting him at liberty ; and we 
 learn with the deepest regret, that the state of South 
 Carolina has recently repealed the law prohibiting 
 the importation of slaves fi'om Africa into that 
 state. Such appears to be the melancholy fact ; but 
 we cannot restrain the involuntary question — Is 
 this possible ? Is the measure of iniquity not yet 
 filled ? Is there no point at which you will stop ? Or 
 
was it necessary to add this one step, to complete 
 the climax of folly, cruelty, and desperation ? Oh 
 legislators ! we beseech you to reflect, before you 
 increase the evils which already surround you in 
 jgloomy and frightful perspective ! 
 
 Beholdins: wdth anxiety the increase rather than 
 diminution of slavery and its dreadful concomitants, 
 we earnestly request the zealous co-operation of 
 every friend to justice and every lover of his coun- 
 try. It is an honourable, a virtuous, and a humane 
 cause in Avhich we have embarked. Much good 
 has already been effected, but much remains to be 
 done ; and, under the divine blessing, may we not 
 confidently hope, that in proportion to the sincer- 
 ity of our motives, and the temperate, firm, and 
 persevering constancy of our exertions, will be our 
 success, and peaceful reward. Those who live 
 contiguous to the sea-ports, in particular, we wish 
 may be stimulated to vigilance, that none of those 
 shameful acts of atrocity adverted to, may elude 
 deserved punishment ; and our fellow citizens of 
 the eastern states are respectfully invited to pay at- 
 tention to the clandestine traffic in slaves, carried on 
 from some of their ports. Such daring infractions 
 of the laM^s of our country require prompt and de- 
 cisive measures. 
 
 Many aspersions have been cast upon the advo- 
 cates of the freedom of the Blacks, by malicious or 
 interested men ; but, conscious of the rectitude of 
 our intentions, and the disinterestedness of our en- 
 deavours, we hope not to be intimidated by censure 
 from performing the part assigned us. We frankly 
 own, that it is our wish to promote a general 
 emancipation ; and, in doing this, it is our belief 
 
we essentially promote the true interests of the 
 state : Although many inconveniencies may result 
 from a general liberation of the People of Colour ; 
 yet those which flow from their continuance in sla- 
 very, must be infinitely greater, and are every day 
 increasing. It is, therefore, in our estimation, 
 desirable that this object should be brought about 
 with as much speed as a prudent regard to existing 
 circumstances,, and the safety of the country, will 
 admit : But in all our endeavours for its accom- 
 plishment, we hope to move with care and circum- 
 spection. We pointedly disavow the most distant 
 intention to contravene any existing law of the 
 states collectively or separately- --We will not know- 
 ingly infringe upon the nominal rights of property, 
 although those rights may only be traced to our 
 statute-books ; and while we desire to be supported 
 in our endeavours to defend the cause of the. op- 
 pressed, we hope that discretion and moderation 
 will characterize all our proceedings. We feel with 
 others the common frailties of humanity, and, there- 
 fore cannot expect an exemption from error. The 
 best intentions are sometimes inadvertently led a- 
 stray ; a lively zeal in a good cause may occasional- 
 ly overleap the bounds of discretion : although 
 therefore individuals may, in some instances, have 
 suffered their zeal to exceed knowledge, yet we re- 
 peat, that the line of conduct which we approve, and 
 which is consonant with the spirit and design of 
 our institutions, is in strict conformity with a due 
 submission to existing laws, and to the legal claims 
 of our fellow citizens. On this ground we think 
 we have a juft claim to the countenance and support 
 of all liberal minds- --of all who delight in the real 
 prosperity of their country, and in the multiplica- 
 tion of human happiness. 
 
We conclude in the expression of a hope, that 
 the Supreme Disposer of events, will prosper our 
 labours in this work of justice, and hasten the day, 
 when liberty shall be proclaimed to the captive, and 
 this land of boasted freedom and independence, be 
 relieved from the opprobrium which the sufferings 
 ©f the oppressed African now cast upon it. 
 
 By order of the Convention, 
 
 MATTHEW FRANKLIN, President. 
 
 ATTEST, 
 
 OTHNIEL ALSOP, Sec'nj, 
 Philadelphia, 1ft month, (January) 13th, 1804. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 ■^■^"1 
 
 Solomon W. Conrad — Printer. 
 No. 22, PcwtCi-PIatter AWey. 
 
 54 W 
 

 
 
 
 >''♦ A-V ^ 
 
 
 ^^0^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *-./ 
 
 
 
 ,0' ''i. *♦'.-' 
 

 
 
 ^*=* ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 ; .iP'Sv. '.^^ 
 
 • ■ « 
 
 ^ -i^ 
 •^^•s^ 
 
 '^ JP \ 
 
 
 • ••