As has already been intimated, others besides the Committee were deeply
interested in The Road; indeed, the little aid actually rendered by the
Committee, was comparatively insignificant, compared with the aid
rendered by some who were not nominally members. To this latter class of
friends, it seems meet that we should particularly allude. Before doing
so, however, simple justice to all concerned, dictates that we should
here copy the official proceedings of the first meeting and organization
of the Philadelphia Vigilance Committee as it existed until the very day
that the ever to be remembered Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham
Lincoln, rendered the services of the organization and road no longer
necessary. It reads as follows:
"PENNSYLVANIA FREEMAN," December 9, 1852.
Pursuant to the motion published in last week's "Freeman," a
meeting was held in the Anti-slavery rooms, on the evening of
the 2d inst., for the purpose of organizing a Vigilance
Committee.
On motion Samuel Nickless was appointed chairman, and William
Still secretary. J.M. McKim then stated at some length, the
object of the meeting. He said, that the friends of the fugitive
slave had been for some years past, embarrassed, for the want of
a properly constructed active, Vigilance Committee; that the old
Committee, which used to render effective service in this field
of Anti-slavery labor, had become disorganized and scattered,
and that for the last two or three years, the duties of this
department had been performed by individuals on their own
responsibility, and sometimes in a very irregular manner; that
this had been the cause of much dissatisfaction and complaint,
and that the necessity for a remedy of this state of things was
generally felt. Hence, the call for this meeting. It was
intended now to organize a committee, which should be composed
of persons of known responsibility, and who could be relied upon
to act systematically and promptly, and with the least possible
expenditure of money in all cases that might require their
attention.
James Mott and Samuel Nickless, expressed their hearty
concurrence in what had been said, as did also B.N. Goines and
N.W. Depee. The opinion was also expressed by one or more of
these gentlemen, that the organization to be formed should be of
the simplest possible character; with no more machinery or
officers than might be necessary to hold it together and keep it
in proper working order. After some discussion, it was agreed
first to form a general committee, with a chairman, whose
business it should be to call meetings when necessity should
seem to require it, and to preside at the same; and a treasurer
to take charge of the funds; and second, to appoint out of this
general committee, an acting committee of four persons, who
should have the responsibility of attending to every case that
might require their aid, as well as the exclusive authority to
raise the funds necessary for their purpose. It was further
agreed that it should be the duty of the chairman of the Acting
Committee to keep a record of all their doings, and especially
of the money received and expended on behalf of every case
claiming their interposition.
The following persons were appointed on the General Vigilance
Committee: