446 
 06? 
 1735 
 CostB 
 

MINUTES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE SECOND 
 
 , Convention of Delegates 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 ABOLITION SOCIETIES 
 
 Eftabiiihed in different Parts of the United States, 
 
 ASSEMBLED AT 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN 
 
 HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVfc, AND CONTINUED, BY 
 
 ADJOURNMENTS, UNTIL THE FOURTEENTH DAY 
 
 OF THE SAME MONTH, INCLUSIVE. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED EV ZACHARJAH POULSON, JUNR. NUMBER EIGHTY, 
 CHESNUT-8TREET, EIGHT DOORS BELOW THIRD-STREET, 
 
 M D C C X C V. 
 
: [> 
 

 MINUTES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE SECOND 
 
 Convention of Delegates. 
 
 Philadelphia, Wednefday^ January jth. 1 795. 
 
 AGREEABLY to the recommendation 
 of the Convention, held in this city 
 laft year, a number of Delegates, from the 
 feveral Abolition Societies in the United 
 States, aflembled, this day, at the City Hall, 
 when, by the credentials produced, it ap- 
 peared, that the following perfons had been 
 chofen to reprefent their refpetive Societies 
 in this Convention: 
 
 Connecticut Society. 
 
 Jonathan Edwards, 
 Uriah Tracy, 
 Zephaniah Swift. 
 
 'M857971 New 
 
C 4 ) 
 
 New-York Society. 
 John Murray, junior, 
 William Johnfon, 
 Lawrence Embree, 
 William Dunlap, 
 William Walton Woolfey. 
 
 Pennfylvania Society. 
 
 William Rawle, 
 Robert Patterfon, 
 Benjamin Rum, 
 Samuel Coates, 
 Cafpar Wiftar, 
 James Todd, 
 Benjamin Say. 
 
 Delaware Society. 
 
 Richard Baffett, , 
 John Ralfton, 
 AUen M c Lane, 
 Caleb Boyer. 
 
 Wilmington Society (Jlatc of Delaware.) 
 
 Cyrus Newlin, 
 James A. Byard, 
 Jofeph Warner, 
 William Pcole. 
 
 Maryland Society. 
 
 Samuel Sterett, 
 Adam Fo nerd on, 
 Jofeph Tcwnfend, 
 
 Jofeph 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 Jofeph Thornburgh, 
 George Buchanan, 
 John Bankfon, 
 Philip Moore. 
 
 Cbrfter-town Society (ftate of Maryland.) 
 Edward Scott, 
 James Houfton. 
 
 Of whom the following appeared and took 
 their feats, viz. 
 
 Jonathan Edwards, 
 Uriah Tracy, 
 Zephaniah Swift, 
 William Johnfon, 
 Lawrence Embree, 
 William Dunlap, 
 William Walton Woclfev, 
 William Rawle, 
 Robert Patterfon, 
 Benjamin Rufh, 
 Samuel Coates, 
 Cafpar Wiftar, 
 James Todd, 
 Benjamin Say, 
 Richard Baflett, 
 Caleb Boyer, 
 Cyrus Newlin, 
 Jofeph Warner, 
 Samuel Sterett, 
 Jofeph Townfend, 
 Jofeph Thornburgh, 
 
 John 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 John Bankfon, 
 Philip Moore, 
 Edward Scott, 
 James Houfton. 
 
 The Convention proceeded to the election 
 of a Prefident, and, on counting the ballots, 
 it appeared, that Benjamin Rum was duly 
 elefted. 
 
 Walter Franklin, one of the Secretaries 
 of the Pennfylvania Abolition Society, was 
 appointed Secretary, and Jofeph Fry, Door- 
 keeper. 
 
 Agreed, That all queftions, xvhich mail 
 come before this Convention, be decided by 
 a majority of the votes of the members pre- 
 fent, and that every motion, when feconded, 
 fhall, if required by the Prefident, or any 
 member, be reduced to writing. 
 
 The addrefs, from the laft Convention, to 
 the different Abolition Societies in the United 
 States, was then read; after which, feveral 
 written and verbal communications were 
 made. 
 
 Jonathan Edwards, William Dunlap, Caf- 
 par Wiftar, Cyrus Newlin, Caleb Boyer, 
 Philip Moore, and James Houfton, were 
 appointed a committee to confider of, and 
 report, the objects proper for the attention 
 of this Convention, and the moft fuitable 
 means of attaining the fame. 
 
 Ordered, 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Ordered, That the feveral communica- 
 tions, made this evening, be referred to the 
 above committee, and that the members of the 
 Convention be requefted to impart to them 
 fuch information as they may poflefs, relative 
 to the object of their appointment. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow evening at five 
 o'clock. 
 
 January 8tb. 1795. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 Prefent Jonathan Edwards, Uriah Tracy, 
 Zephaniah Swift, William Johnfon, Lawrence 
 Etnbree, William Dunlap, William Walton 
 Woolfey, William Rawle, Robert Patterfon, 
 Samuel Coates, Cafpar Wiftar, James Todd, 
 Benjamin Say, Richard Baflett, Caleb Boyer, 
 Cyrus Newlin, Jofeph Warner, Jofeph Town- 
 fend, Jofeph Thornburgh, John Bankfon, 
 Philip Moore, Edward Scott, James Houfton. 
 
 The Prefident being abfent, Uriah Tracy 
 was appointed to prefide for the evening. 
 
 An extract, from the minutes of the pro- 
 ceedings of a general meeting of the New 
 Jerfey Abolition Society, was read, by which 
 it appeared, that Jofeph Bloomfield, William 
 Coxe, junior, James Sloan, John Wiftar, 
 and Franklin Davenport, were elected to 
 reprefent that Society in this Convention, 
 of whom, William Coxe, junior, James 
 Sloan, and Franklin Davenport, appeared 
 and took their feats. 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 The committee, appointed at the iaft meet- 
 ing, not being prepared to make a final report, 
 were continued. 
 
 Several communications, from the New 
 Jerfey Society, were prefented by their De- 
 legates, and referred to the faid committee. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow afternoon at five 
 o'clock. 
 
 January gtb. 1 795. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 Prefent Jonathan Edwards, Uriah Tracy, 
 Zephaniah Swift, William Johnfon, Lawrence 
 En&bree, William Dunlap, William Walton 
 Woolfey, William Coxe, junior, James Sloan, 
 Franklin Davenport, William Rawle, Robert 
 Patterfon, Benjamin Rum, Samuel Coates, 
 Cafpar Wiftar, James Todd, Benjamin Say, 
 Richard Baflett, Caleb Boyer, Cyrus Newlin, 
 Jofeph Warner, Samuel Sterett, Jofeph Town- 
 fend, Jofeph Thornburgh, John Bankfon, 
 Philip Moore, Edward Scott, James Houfton. 
 
 A letter, from the Prefident of the Provi- 
 dence Abolition Society, was read; by which 
 it appeared, that Theodore Fofter and George 
 Benfon were appointed to reprefent that So- 
 ciety in this Convention. 
 
 A letter, from the Wafhington Abolition 
 Society in Pennfylvania, was, alfo, read, 
 notifying the appointment of Thomas Scott, 
 
 Abfalom 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 Abfalom Baird, and Sar^e' Clark, as Repre- 
 fentatives of the laid . v i:.c : ety, in this Con- 
 vention. 
 
 The Secretary was t;;. - :--:rtd to inform fuch 
 of thofe gentlemen as atfe how in i-i's city, 
 of the receipt and purport of the above 
 letters. 
 
 The Convention being inform?], tfrat ; 
 abfence of Jofeph ElocmiieLJ, o iy, 
 
 was occafioned by fidmefs me:i."jn therebf 
 was ordered to be made en tiie Mi - IJ 
 
 The committee, appoint :d to cvi.fl .1 rr cf, 
 and report, the objects pro.vrr for liu cci. i- 
 deration of the Conv^ ;'on, arid the moll: 
 fuitable means of att: ; the i. : ie, made 
 report, which, after 2n^,\^.,^\\^ vvas adopted 
 as follows, viz. 
 
 Firft, That an addrefs be made, by this 
 Convention, to the feveral Abolition Societies 
 in the United States, recommending to them, 
 to fend Deputies to a Convention, fimilar to 
 the prefent, to be holden in Philadelphia the 
 firft day of January, in the year 1796; alfo, 
 that it be recommended to thofe Societies, 
 who have not fent, to this Convention, com- 
 plete copies of the laws of their feveral ftates, 
 relative to flavery, to fend, to the next 
 Convention, copies of all fuch laws, both 
 thcie which are now in farce, and thofe 
 which have been repealed; and to fend, to 
 the next, and every fucceeding, Convention, 
 
 B an 
 
an accurate lift of their officers for the time 
 being, together with an account of the place 
 of their abode, and of the offices, civil, 
 military, or eccleiiaftic, which they may 
 fuftain, with the number of members of 
 which they confift: that it be further recom- 
 mended, to the feveral Societies, to fend, 
 annually, to the Convention, an accurate lift 
 of all thofe perfons who have been relieved 
 and liberated by their agency; and, alfo, an 
 account of fuch trials and decifions of courts, 
 the general knowledge of which they fhall 
 judge fubfervient to the caufe of abolition: 
 that it be recommended to the feveral Socie- 
 ties, to inftitute public periodical difcourfes, 
 or orations, on the fubjed of flavery, and 
 the means of its abolition; alfo, to continue, 
 without remiffion, and in iiich ways as they 
 fliall, refpedively, judge moft likely to be 
 fuccefsful, their exertions to procure an ame- 
 lioration of the laws of their refpedive ftates, 
 relative to the Blacks; and, at the fame time, 
 to give particular attention to the education 
 of the black children: and, as an hiftorical 
 review of the legiflative provifions, relative 
 to flavery, in the feveral ftates of the Union, 
 from their refpedive fettlements to the pre- 
 fent time, would be conducive to the general 
 benefit, that it be further recommended, to 
 the feveral Abolition Societies, to take mea- 
 fures for procuring the materials, and pro- 
 moting the publication, of fuch a work; and 
 
 that 
 
( II ) 
 
 that a communication of the fteps taken, in 
 purfuance of this recommendation, be made 
 to the enfuing Convention. 
 
 Second, That the ' Convention take into 
 confederation the cafe of thofe perfons, who, 
 having been made free by the republic of 
 France, are ftill holden in flavery by thofe 
 who have emigrated into the United States 
 from the territories of the faid republic; and 
 that the Convention devife fome lawful mea- 
 fures for their relief: we barely fuggeft, 
 whether an application to the French ambaf- 
 fador be, or be not, proper in the cafe. 
 
 Third, That the Convention take into 
 confideration the means of improving the 
 condition of the Blacks, who are, or may 
 be, made free in the different Hates, and of 
 preventing the inconveniences that may arife 
 from the d.egraded ftate of the Negroes in 
 the United States. 
 
 Fourth^ That it be recommended, to the 
 Society of New Jerfey, to enter on proper 
 meafures to procure an amendment of the 
 law of that ftate, prohibiting the manumif- 
 fion of flaves of a greater age than thirty- 
 five years. 
 
 William Johnfon, Franklin Davenport, 
 and Samuel Coates, were appointed to pre- 
 pare an addrefs, as propofed in the firft and 
 fourth lections of the above report. 
 
 The 
 
( I* ) 
 
 The fecond fecYion was referred to William 
 Walton Wool fey, William Rawle, James 
 Todd, and Edward Scott, to report thereon. 
 
 The third fedtion was referred to Lawrence 
 Embree, Cafpar Wiftar, Benjamin Say, Jo- 
 feph Warner, and Samuel Sterett, to report 
 thereon. 
 
 Samuel Coates, James Sloan, and Jofeph 
 Townfend, were appointed a committee to 
 enquire, and report, concerning the meafures 
 taken, in purfuance of the feveral refolutions 
 of the former Convention, for tranfmitting 
 memorials and addrefles to the Congrefs of 
 the United States, and the Legiflatures of 
 individual ftates. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow evening at fix 
 o'clock. 
 
 January loth. 1795. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 Prefent Uriah Tracy, Zephaniah Swift, 
 William Johnfon, Lawrence Embree, William 
 Dunlap, William Walton Woolfey, James 
 Sloan, William Rawle, Robert Patterfon, 
 Benjamin Rufh, Samuel Coates, James Todd, 
 Benjamin Say, Caleb Boyer, Cyrus Newlin, 
 Jofeph Warner, Jofeph Townfend, Jofeph 
 Thornburgh, John Bankfon, Philip Moore, 
 James Houfton. 
 
 Theodore 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 Theodore Fofter, delegated to reprefent 
 the Providence Society, appeared and took 
 his feat. 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred the 
 fecond fe&ion of the report of the committee 
 of arrangement, reported, that they had taken 
 the fubjedl into confideration; that it appear- 
 ed to them, to be within the province of the 
 feveral Societies to acl: therein; and that the 
 Convention fhould recommend, to the laid 
 Societies, to exert themfelves for the libera- 
 tion of the perfons defcribed in the faid report, 
 fo far as may be confiftent with the laws of 
 their refpedive ftates. 
 
 Ordered, That the faid report be accepted. 
 
 Adjourned till Monday evening next at 
 fix o'clock. 
 
 Monday evening^ January i ^th. \ 795. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 Prefent Jonathan Edwards, Zephaniah. 
 Swift, Theodore Fofter, William Dunlap, 
 William Johnfon, Lawrence Embree, Wil- 
 liam Walton Woolfey, James Sloan, William 
 Rawle, Robert Patterfon, Samuel Coates, 
 Cafpar Wiftar, James Todd, Benjamin Say, 
 Caleb Boyer, Cyrus Newlin, Jofeph Warner, 
 Jofeph Townfend, Jofeph Thornburgh, John 
 Bankfon, Philip Moore, Edward Scott, James 
 Houfton. 
 
 The 
 
The Prefident being abfent, Zephaniah 
 Swift was appointed to prefide for the even- 
 ing. 
 
 The committee, appointed to enquire con- 
 cerning the meafures taken, in purfuance of 
 the refolutions of the former Convention, 
 for tranfmitting memorials and addrefles to 
 the Congrefs of the United States, and the 
 Legiflatures of individual ftates, prefented 
 the following report, which was read and 
 accepted, viz. 
 
 The committee, appointed to enquire if 
 the memorials to Congrefs, and the different 
 ftate Legiflatures, were prefented agreeably 
 to the order of the Convention laft year, > 
 report, 
 
 That the memorial was prefented to the 
 Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives of the 
 United States, in Congrefs aflembled, who 
 took the fame into confideration, and granted 
 the prayer thereof by enacting a law, of 
 which the following is a copy: 
 
 An AEl to prohibit the carrying on the Slave-- 
 trade from the United States to any foreign 
 place or country. 
 
 Section I. "D E it enabled by the Senate and 
 fj .Houfe of Reprefentatives of 
 the United States of America, in Congrefs 
 a/cmblcd, That no citizen or citizens of the 
 United States, or foreigner, or any other 
 
 perfon 
 
( '5 ) 
 
 perfbn coming into, or refiding within the 
 fame, mall, for himfelf or any other perfon 
 whatfoever, either as mafter, factor or owner, 
 build, fit, equip, load or otherwife prepare 
 any ihip or veffel, within any port or place 
 of the faid United States, nor ihall caufe any 
 fhip or veffel to fail from any port or place 
 within the fame, for the purpofe of carrying 
 on any trade or traffic in flaves, to any fo- 
 reign country; or for the purpcfe of pro- 
 curing, from any foreign kingdom, place or 
 country, the inhabitants of fuch kingdom, 
 place or country, to be tranfported to any 
 foreign country, port or place whatever, to 
 be fold or difpofed of, as flaves: And if any 
 fhip or veffel mail be fo fitted out, as afore- 
 faid, for the faid purpofes, or mail be caufed 
 to fail, fo as aforefaid, every fuch fhip or 
 veffel, her tackle, furniture, apparel and 
 other appurtenances, fhall be forfeited to the 
 United States; and fhall be liable to be feized, 
 profecuted and condemned, in any of the 
 circuit courts or diftricl: court for the diftricT:, 
 where the faid fhip or veffel may be found 
 and feized. 
 
 Section II. And be it further enaSed^ That 
 all and every perfon, fo building, fitting out, 
 equipping, loading, or otherwife preparing, 
 or fending away, any fhip or veffel, know- 
 ing, or intending, that the fame fhall be 
 employed in fuch trade orbufinefs, contrary 
 to the true intent and meaning of this adr, 
 
 or 
 
or any ways aiding Or abetting therein, fhall 
 federally forfeit and pay the fum of two 
 thoufand dollars, one moiety thereof, to the 
 nfe of the United States, and the other 
 moiety thereof, to the ufe of him or her, 
 who fhall fue for and profecute the fame. 
 
 Sedion III. And be it further enaffied^ 
 That the owner, mafter or fador of each 
 and every foreign fhip or veflel, clearing out 
 for any of the coafts or kingdoms of Africa, 
 or fufpeded to be intended for the flave- 
 trade, and the fufpicion being declared to 
 the officer of the cuftoms, by any citizen, 
 on oath or affirmation, and fuch information 
 being to the fatisfadion of the faid officer, 
 fhall firft give bond with fufficient fureties, 
 to the Treafurer of the United States, that 
 none of the natives of Africa, or any other 
 foreign country or place, fhall be taken on 
 board the faid fhip or veflel, to be tranfported, 
 or fold as flaves, in any other foreign port 
 or place whatever; within nine months there- 
 after. 
 
 Sedion IV. And be it further enafied^ 
 That if any citizen or citizens of the United 
 States fhall , contrary to the true intent and 
 meaning of this ad, take on board, receive 
 or transport any fuch perfons, as above de- 
 fcribed, in this ad, for the purpofe of felling 
 them as flaves, as aforefaid, he or they fhall 
 forfeit and pay, for each and every perfon, 
 
 fo 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 fo received on board, tranfjrorted, or fold as 
 aforefaid, the fum of two hundred dollars, 
 to be recovered in any court of the United 
 States proper to try the fame; the one moiety 
 thereof, to the ufe of the United States, and 
 the other moiety to the ufe of fuch perfon 
 or perfons, who ihall fue for and profecute 
 the fame. 
 
 FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG. 
 
 Speaker of the Houfe of Reprefintatives. 
 
 JOHN ADAMS, Vla-Prtfidcnt of the United States, 
 and Prefident of the Senate. 
 
 APPROVED March the twenty-fecond, 1794. 
 
 G: WASHINGTON, PrefiJent of the United Stated 
 
 That the memorial, to the General Aflem- 
 bly of Connecticut, was prefented, accom- 
 panied with a memorial from the Abolition 
 Society of that ftate; whereupon, a bill was 
 originated, and pafled, in the Houfe of Re- 
 prefcntatives, to aboliih llavery in Connecti- 
 cut; which bill was negatived by a fmall 
 majority in the legiflative Council. 
 
 That the memorials, to the AlTemblies of 
 New Jerfey and Pennfylvania, were pre- 
 fented, but not acted upon. 
 
 That the memorial, to the Delaware Af- 
 fembly, was prefented late in the feffion, but 
 no order taken thereon. 
 
 That the memorials, to the Legiflatures 
 of New York, Maryland, and Virginia, by 
 reafon of accidents, were net prefented. 
 
 G That 
 
That no certain information is yet obtain- 
 ed, that the memorials were prefented to the 
 Legiflatures of North Carolina, South Caro- 
 lina, or Georgia, although your committee 
 have reafon to believe they were prefented, 
 as they were forwarded by a careful perfon. 
 
 The committee, appointed to prepare an 
 addrefs, as propofed in the firfl and fourth 
 fedions of the report of the committee of 
 arrangement, prefented one, which was read, 
 and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred the 
 third feftidn of the report of the committee 
 of arrangement, made report, which was 
 read, and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 The following refolutions were then adopt- 
 ed, viz. 
 
 Refolved, That addrefles be prepared and 
 prefented to the Legiflatures of thofe ftates, 
 .which have not pafled laws for preventing 
 the importation of flaves. 
 
 Samuel Coates prefented an effay of an 
 addrefs on this fubjed, to the ftate of Geor- 
 gia, which, with the above refolution, was 
 referred to William Dunlap, William Rawle 
 and Jofeph Townfend. 
 
 Refolved, That a memorial be tranfmitted 
 to the Legiflature of South Carolina, requeft- 
 ing a continuance of the at for preventing 
 the importation of flaves. 
 .. Jonathan Edwards prefented a draught of 
 an addrefs on this fubjet, which, with the 
 
 refolution- 
 
( '9 ) 
 
 refolution, was referred to the above com- 
 mittee, who were authorized to embrace 
 fuch other objects, in the memorials, as they 
 might judge proper. 
 
 Refolved, That Theodore Fofter, William 
 Rawle, and William Johnfon, be a com- 
 mittee to confider, and report, whether any, 
 and what, amendments, appear neceflary in 
 the act, pa{Ted by the Congrefs of the United 
 States, prohibiting the carrying on the flave- 
 trade to any foreign place or country. 
 
 Refolved, That it be recommended to the 
 feveral Societies, to tranfmit, to the next 
 Convention, an account of the number of 
 free Negroes in their refpective ftates, with 
 a general ftatement of their property, em- 
 ployments, and moral conduct. 
 
 The addrefs, to the feveral Abolition So- 
 cieties, was re-committed to William Walton 
 Woolfey, William Johnfon, Samuel Coates, 
 and Robert Patterfon, for the purpofe of 
 incorporating therein fuch other matters as 
 this Convention have refolved to recommend 
 *o the faid Societies. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow evening at fix 
 o'clock. 
 
 January i$tb. 1795. 
 The Convention met. 
 Prefent Uriah Tracy, Zephaniah Swift, 
 Theodore Fofter, William Johnfon, Lawrence 
 Embree, William Dunlap, William Walton 
 ^ Woolfey, 
 
Woolfey, James Sloan, William Rawle, Ro- 
 bert Patterfon, Samuel Coates, Cafpar Wiftar, 
 James Tedd, Benjamin Say, Caleb Boyer, 
 Cyrus Newlin, Jofeph Warner, Jo feph Town- 
 fend, Jofeph Thornburgh, John Bankfon, 
 Pbilip Mcore, Edward Scott, and James 
 Houfton. 
 
 The Prefident being abfent, Theodore 
 Fofter was appointed to prefide for the 
 evening. 
 
 The committee, appointed to prepare me- 
 morials to the Legiflatures of the ftates of 
 Georgia and South Carolina, prefented two 
 eflays, which were read; the one to the 
 Legillature of Georgia, \vas ordered to lie 
 on the table; that to the Legillature of South 
 Carolina, after amendment, was agreed to as 
 
 follows, viz. 
 
 
 To the of the State of 
 
 South Carolina. 
 
 The memorial and petition of the Delegates 
 from the feveral Societies, formed in dif- 
 ferent parts of the United States, for pro- 
 
 ii meting the abolition of flavery, in Con- 
 vention afTeinbled, in Philadelphia, on 
 the feventh day of January, 1795. 
 
 Refpcclfidly ficw, 
 
 THAT, having been deputed, and hav- 
 ing convened, for the purpofe of con- 
 fid ering, an4 carrying into effect, the moft 
 
 proper 
 
proper meafurcs for the abolition of flavery; 
 Mid being forcibly imprefied \vith a fenfe of 
 the dangers to which the citizens of the 
 United States are exppfed, while a numerous 
 clafs of men exift among them, deprived cf 
 their natural rights, and ..'.forcibly held in 
 bondage; we think it our duty to addrefs 
 you, as men, fellow citizens, and brethren, 
 and earneftly to requeft your attention to 
 the means of avoiding the evils naturally 
 refulting from the above mentioned unhappy 
 circum Ranees. 
 
 The firft ftep which we take the liberty 
 cf fuggefting to you, is an entire prohibition 
 of all traffic in flaves, between your ftate 
 and every other nation or ftate, either by 
 importation or exportation. This is the firft 
 and principal object of our memorial an 
 object which we the more earneftly recom- 
 mend to your attention, as we are informed 
 that the law of your ftate, prohibiting the 
 importation of flaves, will expire ibinetiine 
 in March next. 
 
 In confidering this fubjefl, many methods 
 of conciliating the affections of this' unfor^ 
 tunate people, and preparing tlicm for that 
 ftate in focicty upon which depends our po- 
 litical happinefs, fuggeft themfelvcs : fuch 
 as, an amelioration of their condition and a 
 diifiifion of- knowledge among them. But, 
 as -nothing can be effectual while the number 
 of flaves may be daily increafed by importa* 
 
tion, and while the minds of our citizens 
 are debafed, and their hearts hardened, by 
 contemplating thefe people only through the 
 medium of avarice or prejudice (a neceffary 
 confequence of the traffic in man) we con- 
 fine the prayer of this petition to the total 
 prohibition of all traffic in flaves, between 
 your ftate and every other nation or ftate, 
 either by importation or exportation; which 
 we refpedfully folicit you to grant, having 
 full confidence, that, independant of other 
 confiderations, you will fee the evident policy 
 of the meafure. 
 
 The committee, appointed to confider 
 whether any, and what, amendments appear 
 neceffary in the aft, paffed by Congrefs, 
 prohibiting the carrying on the flave-trade 
 to any foreign place or country, made report 
 as follows, viz. 
 
 The committee, to whom was referred 
 the confideration of the ad of the Congrefs 
 of the United States, for prohibiting the 
 traffic in flaves, report, 
 
 That, in'their opinion, no amendment is 
 neceffary to the law in queftion. It appears, 
 to them, to prohibit the exportation of flaves 
 from America, for the purpofes of traffic, 
 or from any part of any foreign country, 
 whether a port, river, bay, or coaft, to any 
 other foreign country. The generical term 
 ." place" certainly includes as well the fea as 
 
 the 
 
the land ; and it is, in fubftance, declared to 
 be unlawful fo to traffic in any place or 
 manner, except only what the constitution, 
 at prefent, denies the power of reftraining, 
 viz. the importation of flaves into the 
 United States. 
 
 Whether further experience may point 
 out defects at preient not feen, the commit- 
 tee cannot predict. It may not, perhaps, 
 be prudent to aid avarice and inhumanity 
 by the attempt. 
 
 Ordered, That the faid report be accepted. 
 On motion, 
 
 Refolved, That this Convention addrefs 
 the free black people, in the United States, 
 exhorting them, by fuitable arguments and 
 motives, to fuch conduct and behaviour as 
 may be judged moft proper to promote their 
 own happinefs, and render them ufeful mem- 
 bers of fociety. 
 
 Ordered, That Samuel Coates, Robert 
 Palterfon, and William Dunlap, be a com- 
 mittee to prepare, and report, an addrefe 
 conformable to the faid refolutioa. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow evening at fix 
 -o'clock. 
 
 January i^th. 1795. 
 The Convention met. 
 Prefent Uriah Tracy, Zephaniah Swift, 
 Thepdore Fofter, William Johnfon, Lawrence 
 Embree, William Walton Woolfey, James 
 
 Sloan, 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 Sloan, Robert Patterfon, Benjamin Ruili, 
 Samuel Coates, Cafpar Wiftar, James Todd, 
 Benjamin Say, Cyrus Newlin, Jofeph Warner, 
 Jpfeph Townfend, and James Houfton. 
 
 The addrefs, to the Legiflature of the itate 
 of Georgia, was read a fecond time, and, 
 being amended, was adopted as follows, viz. 
 
 To the of the 
 
 State of Georgia. 
 
 The memorial and petition of the Delegates 
 from the feveral Societies, formed in dif- 
 ferent parts of the United States, for pro- 
 moting the abolition of flavery, in Con- 
 vention aflembled, in Philadelphia, on 
 the feventh day of January, 1795. 
 
 Refpeclfully fo 
 
 THAT the Convention, aflembled in 
 the month of January, 1794, addref- 
 fed your body on the fubjedt of the African 
 flave-trade; and the prefent Convention, not 
 having been informed of the fuccefs of that 
 memorial, have thought it a duty incumbent 
 on them, to re-call your attention to fome 
 points nearly connected with the honor of 
 humanity, and the intereft of your ftate, and 
 of the United States. 
 
 We have learned, with the higheft fatis- 
 faction, that you have prohibited the im- 
 portation of flaves into your itate, from all 
 
 other 
 
( '5 ) 
 
 ether parts of the world, except Africa. We : 
 congratulate you, and the friends of huma- 
 nity in general, oa fuch a ftep; but the 
 time, \vc hope, is net far diftant, when 
 every motive of wifdom and true policy 
 will lead you to prohibit entirely this fpecies 
 of commerce. And we, at this time, rcqueft 
 your ferious attention to a confideration of 
 the evil likely to enfue from the continuance 
 of the traffic, and to the numerous advan- 
 tages which muft arile from its abolition. 
 Among the leaft of thefe, we would men- 
 tion the confiftency it would afford to the 
 American character, now held up, as an 
 example to the European world; and the 
 good treatment which might hence be natu- 
 rally expected, as likely to be afforded to 
 thofb blacks who are already in your coun- 
 try. To thefe fuggeftions, permit us to add 
 a wiih, that you would confider of the pro- 
 priety of pafling a la\v, to empower the 
 owners of flaves to grant their gradual eman- 
 cipation, by will or otherwife, as we are well 
 convinced, that the happieit effeds ar.e to be 
 expedled from a progreflive abolition of 
 flavery. 
 
 The committee, to whom was re-com- 
 mitted the addrefs to the feveral Abolition 
 Societies, for the purpofe of incorporating 
 therein fuch other matters as had received 
 B the 
 
the/approbation of the Convention fince the 
 appointment of the firft committee, pre- 
 fented one with the additions, which, being 
 read and amended, was adopted as follows, 
 viz. 
 
 To the Society for 
 
 promoting the abolition of Jlavcry, CSV. 
 
 Delegates, from the feveral Aboli- 
 tion Societies in the United States, 
 cQnvened in this city, exprefs to you, with 
 great fatisfadion, the pleafure they have 
 experienced from the punctual attendance 
 of the peribns delegated to this Convention, 
 and that harmony with which they have 
 deliberated on the feveral matters that have 
 been prefented to them, at this time, for 
 their conlideration. The benefits which 
 may flow from a continuance of this general 
 meeting, by aiding the principal defign of 
 its inftitution the u niv erf al emancipation of 
 the wretched Africans who are yet in bond- 
 age, appear to us ib many and important, 
 that we are induced to recommend to you, 
 to fend Delegates to a fmiilar Convention, 
 which we propofe to be holden, in this city, 
 on the firft day of January, in the year one 
 thoufand, feven hundred and ninety-fix. 
 
 We have thought it proper to requeft your 
 further attention to that part of the addrefs, 
 of the former Convention, which relates to 
 the procurement of certified copies of the 
 
 laws 
 
laws of your ftatc refpefting flavery; and 
 that you would lend, to the next Conven- 
 tion, exaft copies of all fuch laws as are 
 now in force, and of fuch as have been 
 repealed. Convinced that an hiftorical re- 
 view of the various ats and proviiions of 
 the Legislatures of the feveral Hates, relating 
 to flavery, from the periods of their reipec- 
 tive fettlements to the prefent time, by tra- 
 cing the progrefs of the iyftem of African 
 flavery in this country, and its fueceffive 
 changes in the different governments of the 
 Union, would throw much light on the ob- 
 jects of our enquiry and attention, and ena- 
 ble us to determine, how far the caufe of 
 juftice and humanity has advanced among 
 us, and how foon we may reafonably expert 
 to fee it triumphant; we recommend to 
 you, to take fuch meafures as you may think 
 moft conducive to that purpofe, for procur- 
 ing materials for the work now propoied, 
 and aflrfling its publication; and to commu- 
 nicate, to the enfuing Convention, what 
 pvogrefs you fhall have made toward per- 
 fedting the plan here cfiered for your confi- 
 deration and care. 
 
 Believing that "an acquaintance with the 
 names of the officers of the feveral Abolition 
 Societies, would facilitate that friendly eor- 
 refpondence which ought always to be pre- 
 ferved between our various afi eclat ions, we 
 requeft that you would fend, to the next, 
 
 and 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 and to every future, Convention, an accurate 
 lift of all the officers of your Society, for 
 the time being, with the number of mem- 
 bers of which it confifts. And it would 
 affift that Convention in afcertaining the 
 exifting ftate of flavery in the United Stales, 
 if you were to forward to them an ejcact: 
 account of the perfons who have been libe- 
 rated by the agency of your Society, and of 
 thofe who may be confidered as fignal in- 
 ftances of the relief that you have afforded; 
 and, alfo, a ftatement of the number of free 
 blacks in your ftate, their property, employ- 
 ments, and moral conduct. 
 
 As a knowledge of what has been done, 
 and of that fuccefs which has attended the 
 efforts of humanity, will cherifh the hope 
 of benevolence, and ftimulate to further 
 exertion, we truft that you will be of opi- 
 nion with us, that it would be highly ufeful 
 to procure correct reports of all fuch trials, 
 and decifions of courts of judicature, refpect- 
 ing flavery, a knowledge of which may be 
 fubfervient to the caufe of abolition, and to 
 tranfmit them to the next, or to any future, 
 Convention, 
 
 It cannot have efcaped your obfervation, 
 how many perfons there are who continue 
 the hateful practice of enflaving their fellow 
 men, and who acquiefce in the fophiftry of 
 the advocates of that practice, merely from 
 want of reflection, and from an habitual 
 
 attention 
 
attention to their own immediate intereft. 
 If to fuch were often applied the force of 
 reafon, and the perfuafion of eloquence, 
 they might be awakened to a fenfe of their 
 injuftice, and be ilartled with horror at the 
 enormity of their conduct. To produce fo 
 defirable a change in fentiment, as well as 
 practice, we recommend to you the inftitut- 
 ing of annual, or other periodical, difcourfcs, 
 or orations, ta be delivered in public, on the 
 fubjecl: of flavery, and the means of its abo- 
 lition. 
 
 We cannot forbear expreffmg to you our 
 earneft defire, that you will continue, with- 
 out ceafing, to endeavour, by every method 
 in your power which can promife any fuc- 
 cefs, to procure, either an abfolute repeal of 
 all the laws in your ftate, which countenance 
 flavery, or fuch an amelioration of them as 
 will gradually produce an entire abolition. 
 Yet, even fhould that great end be happily 
 attained, it cannot put a period to the necef- 
 fity of further labor. The education of the 
 emancipated, the nobleft and moft arduous 
 talk which we have to perform, will require 
 all cur wifdom and virtue, and the conftant 
 cxcrcife of the greatefl fkill and difcretion. 
 When we have broken his chains, and re- 
 ftored the African to the enjoyment of his 
 rights, the great work of juftice and benevo- 
 lence is not accomplifhed The new born 
 citizen mull receive that inftr^clion, and 
 
 thofe 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 thofe powerful impreflions of moral and reli- 
 gious truth, which will render him capable 
 and defirous of fulfilling the various duties 
 he owes to himfelf and to his country. By- 
 educating foine in the higher branches of 
 fcience, and all in the ufeful parts of learn- 
 ing, and in the precepts of religion and mo- 
 rality, we fliall not only do away the reproach 
 and calumny fo unjuftly lavifhed upon us, 
 but confound the enemies of truth, by evinc- 
 ing that the unhappy fons of Africa, in fpite 
 of the degrading influence of flavery, are in 
 no wife inferior to the more fortunate inha- 
 bitants of Europe and America. 
 
 As a mean of effectuating, in forne de- 
 gree, a defign fo virtuous and laudable, we 
 recommend to you to appoint a committee, 
 annually, or for any other more convenient 
 period, to execute fuch plans, for the improve- 
 ment of the condition and moral char after 
 of the free blacks in your ftate, as you may 
 think heft adapted to your particular fituation. 
 
 By a decree of the National Convention of 
 France, ail the blacks smd people of color, 
 within the territories of the French republic, 
 are declared free, and entitled to an equal 
 participation of the rights of citizens of 
 France. We have been informed that many 
 perfons, of the above defcription, notwith- 
 ftanding the decree in their favor, have been 
 brought from the Weft-India iflands, by 
 emigrants, into the United States, and are 
 
 now 
 
now held as Haves. We fugeft to you the 
 propriety, as well as the neceffity, of making 
 enquiry into the fubjeft, and of effecting 
 their liberation, io far as may be found con- 
 iiftent with the laws of your ftate. 
 
 Copies of our proceedings will be tranf- 
 rnitted to you, and we hope, that you will 
 receive fuch fatisfaftion as will induce your 
 early attention to the obj efts' we have here 
 recommended. 
 
 The committee, appointed to prepare an 
 addreis to the free black people, reported one, 
 which was read, and ordered to be poflponed 
 for the confideration of the next Convention. 
 
 Refolved, That Theodore Fofter, Robert 
 Patterfon, Samuel Coates, and Benjamin Say, 
 be a committee to iuperintend the publication 
 and distribution of the proceedings of this 
 Convention ; and that fo many copies thereof 
 as may be thought proper by the Pennfylvania 
 Abolition Society, be printed, and diftribut j.i 
 among the feveral Abolition Societies in 
 United States. 
 
 That the addrefs, to the feverai Abolition 
 Societies, be figned by the Prefident, ; 
 by the Secretary,and tranfmitted,by the above 
 mentioned committee, to the faid SocietijG. 
 
 That the Memorials, to the Legiflaturcb 
 the ftates of South Carolina and Georgia, be 
 
 fur: 
 
( 3' ) 
 
 figned and attefted as above mentioned, and 
 tranfmitted to the refpe&ive Prefidents or 
 Speakers of one branch of the Legiflature, 
 or laid before the refpedive Houfes, in fuch 
 manner as the Prefident may think expedient. 
 
 That a copy of the proceedings of this 
 Convention be tranfmitted to the Prefident 
 of the Abolition Society of London. 
 
 Refolved, That the Abolition Society of 
 Pennfylvania be requefted to thank the Mayor 
 of the city of Philadelphia for accommodat- 
 ing the Convention with a room. 
 
 The Convention then adjourned fine die. 
 
 Ptiblijbed by order of the Convention^ 
 WALTER FRANKLIN, Secretary. 
 
 Philadelphia , January iqtb. 1795. 
 
Gaylamount 
 Pamphlet 
 
 Binder 
 Gaylord Bros.. Inc. 
 
 Stockton, Calif. 
 T. M. Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. 
 
 M257971 
 
 l79b 
 CM 
 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UBRARY