... The neglected period of anti-slavery in America (1808-1831)

Front matter

Class.

Book.

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

Preface

This monograph is the result of research work done under the direction of Professor Albert Bushnell Hart, Ph.D., of Harvard University, during 1898-1899, and in the intervals of other work, in 1902-1904. The work was undertaken with the simple purpose of gaining inspiration, and help in methods, from association with one so justly famed in historical circles, with no idea of any further result. A study of the period, 1808-1831, however, showed such a wealth of material, and reversed so many of the ideas prevalent among historians, that the results have been put into permanent form w^ith the hope that the work may prove of some material aid to other students and writers of history.

The period 1808-183 1 has most commonly, perhaps, received the name of "the Period of Stagnation." It is credited with no aggressive anti-slavery work; it is rarely credited with even real anti-slavery sentiment of any sort. The anti-slavery workers are said to have trusted that the abolition of the African slave trade would do all the work necessary for the benefit of the slave, even to his ultimate emancipation, until William Lloyd Garrison with his trumpet-blast waked the sleepers and began the new era, whose history is familiar to all.

While it is not to be denied that in some sections of the country there was considerable ground for such a characterization of the period, it is not in reahty a fair one for all sections, nor for the entire period. Investigation has shown anti-slavery sentiment where none was suspected; anti-slavery labors where none had been heard of; even appeals for immediate and universal emancipation and violent denunciation of slavery, in a "period of stagnation."

So much material has been found which has always been available to one who could spend the timer in its search, and the conclusions which one must inevitably draw from the study of the material are so opposite to prevailing opinions, that the period iv Preface

has seemed to deserve the name which has therefore been applied to it, — "The Neglected Period of Anti-Slavery in America, 1808- 1831."

The research involved was carried on principally in the vicinity of Boston, where exhaustive use has been made of the Harvard University Library; the Boston Public Library; the Athenaeum; the Massachusetts State Library; the Newton Public Library; and various private libraries. The writer has also personally visited the Library of Congress; Brown University Library; the Library of the Historical Society of Rhode Island, at Providence; and that of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Many thanks are due the librarians and assistants, who were of great aid in the investigation. In addition to these, many libraries were kind enough to send to Harvard Library for consultation books which could not be otherwise obtained. Among these were the Library Company of Philadelphia, Ridgeway Branch; the New York State Library; the Historical Society of Pennsylvan'a; Cornell University; the University of Pennsylvania; the K \torical Society of Wisconsin; the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.; Oberhn College; and the Library of Congress.

The writer wishes also to express her gratitude to those who have shown interest in the work, not only by welcome words of encouragement, but by substantial help in the discovery of material, or in the preparation of the book. Among such are the late Judge WiUiam Birney, of Washington, and the late Dr. Leonard Woolsey Bacon, of New Haven; Francis J. Garrison and Wendell P. Garrison, the two sons of William Lloyd Garrison ; aU of whom aided in the discovery of material; to Miss Mary S. Locke, the author of the monograph on "Anti-Slavery in America, 1620- 1808," who, as a fellow-student of Professor Hart, and a writer on the previous period of anti-slavery labor, was of substantial aid in the beginning of the investigation ; to Miss Louise Manning Hodgkins, formerly Professor of Literature at Wellesley College, and Miss Frances Bent Dillingham, of Auburndale, who read the manuscript ; and to Professor Edwin F. Gay, of Harvard University, whose review of the proofs has been of great help. Especial thanks are due to Professor Albert Bushnell Hart, Ph.D., of Harvard University, who, in every way, from beginning to end, has

\ Preface v

been an inspiration and an aid ; who, with his words of help and encouragement, or of criticism and warning has made the book a possibility; to whom, more than to anyone else, is due whatever success the author may have achieved.

Alice Dana Adams

AuBURNDALE, Mass., Sept. 1908

CONTENTS CHAPTER I

Page The Elements of the Anti-Slavery Contest, 1808-1831 .... i

The three periods of the anti-slavery contest. Numerical importance of slavery. Study of the census tables. Condition and treatment of the slaves. Six directions of anti-slavery efforts.

CHAPTER II Public Opinion in the South: Men of Prominence 17

David Rice. David Barrow. John D. Paxton. Thomas Jefferson. Henry Clay. James G. Birney. Daniel Raymond. Daniel Bryan. Words of Randolph, Crav^rford, Drayton, Benton, and Taney. William Swaia Elisha Tyson. Benjamin Lundy.

CHAPTER III Public Opinion in the South: Popular Sentiment 29

Four divisions of the epoch. The first period, 1808-1814: George Fowler; Lewis Dupre; "Arator." Second period, 1814-1819. The third period: Missouri Compromise. The fourth period, 182 i-i 831 : beginning of aggressive work ; individual emancipations ; spirit of emancipation in slave states.

CHAPTER IV Public Opinion in the South: Essays, Magazine Articles and

Newspapers. 39

Plans for emancipation. Newspaper articles against slavery. William Maxwell. Work of women. Of children. Editorials against slavery. Niles' Register. Anti-slavery publications. Genius of Universal Emancipation.

CHAPTER V Public Opinion in the South: Memorials, Petitions and Resolutions

Memorials from Maryland. From Tennessee. From the District of Columbia. Legislation in favor of the blacks. Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830. United States Congress.

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CHAPTER VI Page

Public Opinion in the North: Men of Prominence 57

Group of anti-slavery workers in Illinois: Edward Coles. Group in Ohio: Dyer Burgess; Charles Osborn ; James Gilliland; John Rankin. Attitude of John Adams; John Quincy Adams; Webster. Congressmen from the North. Prominent anti-slavery workers in Philadelphia. Daniel Gibbons. William Jay. Elias Hicks. Anti-slavery workers in New England: Leonard Bacon; William Lloyd Garrison.

CHAPTER VII Public Opinion in the North: Popular Sentiment 71

Travelers' witness. Position of negroes. Northern travelers in the South. Other writers: Thomas Branagan; John Bristed; C. J. Fox; Matthew Carey; "Vigornius." The dark side of slavery. Plans for emancipation. Immediate emancipation: George Bourne.

Chapter VIII

Public Opinion in the North: Newspapers, Resolutions, Legislation. The Colored Citizen 83

Anti-slavery periodicals. Sentiment in Ohio. Anti-slavery in Pennsylvania politics. Meetings to protest against slavery in Missouri. Slavery in Illinois. Slavery in Indiana. Emancipation in New Jersey and New York. Resolutions against slavery extension and for abolition in the District of Columbia. Eminent colored men: James Forten; Ruesell Parrott; Samuel Cornish. Conventions of colored men. John B. Russwurm. David Walker. Walker's "Appeal."

CHAPTER IX Attitude of the Chu~rches g6

General statements. Methodists: General Conference; Quarterly Conference, Maryland; general sentiment. Presbyterian Church: General Assembly; individual Synods and Presbj-teries : Chillicothe Presbytery. Other denominations. The Society of Friends.

Chapter X

American Colonization Society. Table of Colonization Societies. Immediate emancipation. Growth of anti-slavery sentiment. Southern "delicacy." "Brutus: The Crisis."

Contents ix

CHAPTER XI Page

Anti-Slavery Societies jj5

General enumeration. Tables. Location of societies. The size of the societies. The prominent members. The organization of the societies. The work done in the societies. Addresses of the Manumission Society of North Carolina. Memorials and petitions. Negro schools.

CHAPTER Xn

Delaware. District of Columbia. Kentucky. Tennessee. Maryland. North Carolina.

CHAPTER XVI The Influence of the American Convention: Addresses. ... 177

Addresses to Societies, and others. Later addresses more significant. Address of 1821 on the Missouri Compromise. Address of 1825 on the abolition of slavery and the danger of slave insurrection. Address of 1826 on abolition in the District -of Columbia. Addresses of 1827 on publications, education of free blacks, and abolition in the District of Columbia. Address of 1828, the last of the old Convention : denunciation of slavery and abolition in the District of Columbia.

CHAPTER XVII Page

The Influence of the American Convention Memorials. . . . 185

Memorials to Congress and to the State Legislatures, on abolition in the District of Columbia. Memorials on prohibition of slavery in Florida. The convention method. The American Convention compared with the confederation. Characterization of the American Convention. " Its attitude guarded yet aggressive.

Chapter XVIII

African Slave Trade illegal. Legislation against the slave trade. Domestic slave trade not illegal. A point of attack by the anti-slavery men. Fugitive slaves. African colonization. Was the American Colonization Society anti-slavery? Anti-slavery advocates of colonization. Proslavery opponents of colonization. American Convention opposition to colonization. Anti-slavery opponents of colonization. Opposition of free colored men of Philadelphia. Constitution, reports and addresses equivocal. John Quincy Adams' characterization. Only safe deduction from the conflicting statements.

Chapter XIX

Anti-slavery struggle in Indiana: indenture system; petition for introduction of slavery; "Log Convention"; Constitution equivocal; fugitive slave act of 1824. Struggle over the slavery in Missouri: slavery per se; memorials and petitions against slavery in Missouri; "Pocahontas: a Proclamation"; Congressmen on slavery in Missouri ; vi^ords of John Q. Adams. Anti-slavery struggle in Illinois: Constitution ambiguous; Governor Coles; pro-slavery convention; Birkbeck. Slavery in the District of Columbia.

Chapter XX

Legality of slavery in Northern states. Indenture law of Indiana. Kidnapping. Violation of Federal Slave Trade Act. Violation of the State transportation laws. Rhode Island. New York. New Jersey. Maryland. District of Columbia. Birth in free states. Removal to free state. Decisions at variance with the Dred Scott Decision. Rankin vs. Lydia, in Kentucky. Omis prohandi on pure negro, but not on "persons of color." Other conditions reverse presumption from color: reputation

Contents xi

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for freedom ; actual possession of freedom for twenty years. Emancipations. Freedman protected in freedom. Enforced emancipation. Suits for freedom. Slave given the benefit of all doubts and protected in his suit. Fugitive slave laws. Children of slaves.

Chapter XXI

Marriage of slaves in the North. Trials of slaves in North by common law. Laws concerning trials of slaves in Southern states. Slaves as witnesses. Ill-treatment of slaves. Distinction between master and stranger. Convictions for cruelty. Penalties for killing slaves. Servile insurrection. Denmark Vesey Insurrection. South Carolina Colored Seamen's Act. Inflammatory pamphlets in the South. Free negroes in the South had many of the rights of the whites.

CHAPTER XXII Conclusion v. - - 249

"Gradualism." The South indubitably the leader in anti-slavery labor during the period. New York and Pennsylvania the leaders among the North. Illinois and Ohio contained the most of the reputed immediate emancipations. Sectional jealousy and "delicacy." The period one of preparation.

APPENDIX A. Names Mentioned in Connection with Anti- Slavery, 1808-1831 253

Officers of Anti-Slavery Societies and Delegates to American Conventions. Other Names. Agents of Lundy's " Genius."

APPENDIX B. Names of Anti-Slavery Societies, 1808-1831 . 264

APPENDIX C. Table of Court Cases Cited 268

APPENDIX D. Bibliography 271

INDEX 299

THE NEGLECTED PERIOD OF ANTI- SLAVERY IN AMERICA