or citizens of the United States shall, contrary to the true
intent and meaning of this act, take on board, receive or
transport any such persons, as above described, in this act,
for the purpose of selling them as slaves, as aforesaid, he
or they shall forfeit and pay, for each and every person,
so received on board, transported, or sold as aforesaid, the
sum of two hundred dollars, to be recovered in any court of
the United States proper to try the same; the one moiety
thereof, to the use of the United States, and the other
moiety to the use of such person or persons, who shall sue
for and prosecute the same.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG.
_Speaker of the House of Representatives._
JOHN ADAMS, _Vice-President of the United States,
and President of the Senate_.
APPROVED--March the twenty-second, 1794.
G^o: WASHINGTON, _President of the United States_.
That the memorial, to the General Assembly of Connecticut, was
presented, accompanied with a memorial from the Abolition Society of
that state; whereupon, a bill was originated, and passed, in the House
of Representatives, to abolish slavery in Connecticut; which bill was
negatived by a small majority in the legislative Council.
That the memorials, to the Assemblies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
were presented, but not acted upon.
That the memorial, to the Delaware Assembly, was presented late in the
session, but no order taken thereon.
That the memorials, to the Legislatures of New York, Maryland, and
Virginia, by reason of accidents, were not presented.
That no certain information is yet obtained, that the memorials were
presented to the Legislatures of North Carolina, South Carolina, or
Georgia, although your committee have reason to believe they were
presented, as they were forwarded by a careful person.
The committee, appointed to prepare an address, as proposed in the
first and fourth sections of the report of the committee of
arrangement, presented one, which was read, and ordered to lie on the
table.
The committee, to whom was referred the third section of the report of
the committee of arrangement, made report, which was read, and ordered
to lie on the table.
The following resolutions were then adopted, _viz._
Resolved, That addresses be prepared and presented to the Legislatures
of those states, which have not passed laws for preventing the
importation of slaves.
Samuel Coates presented an essay of an address on this subject, to the
state of Georgia, which, with the above resolution, was referred to
William Dunlap, William Rawle and Joseph Townsend.
Resolved, That a memorial be transmitted to the Legislature of South
Carolina, requesting a continuance of the act for preventing the
importation of slaves.
Jonathan Edwards presented a draught of an address on this subject,
which, with the resolution, was referred to the above committee, who
were authorized to embrace such other objects, in the memorials, as
they might judge proper.
Resolved, That Theodore Foster, William Rawle, and William Johnson, be
a committee to consider, and report, whether any, and what, amendments,
appear necessary in the act, passed by the Congress of the United
States, prohibiting the carrying on the slave-trade to any foreign
place or country.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Societies, to transmit,
to the next Convention, an account of the number of free Negroes in
their respective states, with a general statement of their property,
employments, and moral conduct.
The address, to the several Abolition Societies, was re-committed to
William Walton Woolsey, William Johnson, Samuel Coates, and Robert
Patterson, for the purpose of incorporating therein such other matters
as this Convention have resolved to recommend to the said Societies.
Adjourned till to-morrow evening at six o'clock.
_January 13th. 1795._
The Convention met.
Present--Uriah Tracy, Zephaniah Swift, Theodore Foster, William
Johnson, Lawrence Embree, William Dunlap, William Walton Woolsey,
James Sloan, William Rawle, Robert Patterson, Samuel Coates, Caspar
Wistar, James Todd, Benjamin Say, Caleb Boyer, Cyrus Newlin, Joseph
Warner, Joseph Townsend, Joseph Thornburgh, John Bankson, Philip Moore,
Edward Scott, and James Houston.
The President being absent, Theodore Foster was appointed to preside
for the evening.
The committee, appointed to prepare memorials to the Legislatures of
the states of Georgia and South Carolina, presented two essays, which
were read; the one to the Legislature of Georgia, was ordered to lie on
the table; that to the Legislature 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 several
Societies, formed in different parts of the United States,
for promoting the abolition of slavery, in Convention
assembled, in Philadelphia, on the seventh day of January,
1795.
_Respectfully shew_,
THAT, having been deputed, and having convened, for the purpose of
considering, and carrying into effect, the most proper measures for
the abolition of slavery; and being forcibly impressed with a sense of
the dangers to which the citizens of the United States are exposed,
while a numerous class of men exist among them, deprived of their
natural rights, and forcibly held in bondage;--we think it our duty to
address you, as men, fellow citizens, and brethren, and earnestly to
request your attention to the means of avoiding the evils naturally
resulting from the above mentioned unhappy circumstances.
The first step which we take the liberty of suggesting to you, is an
entire prohibition of all traffic in slaves, between your state and
every other nation or state, either by importation or exportation: This
is the first and principal object of our memorial--an object which we
the more earnestly recommend to your attention, as we are informed that
the law of your state, prohibiting the importation of slaves, will
expire sometime in March next.
In considering this subject, many methods of conciliating the
affections of this unfortunate people, and preparing them for that
state in society upon which depends our political happiness, suggest
themselves:--such as, an amelioration of their condition and a
diffusion of knowledge among them. But, as nothing can be effectual
while the number of slaves may be daily increased by importation, and
while the minds of our citizens are debased, and their hearts hardened,
by contemplating these people only through the medium of avarice or
prejudice (a necessary consequence of the traffic in man) we confine
the prayer of this petition to the total prohibition of all traffic in
slaves, between your state and every other nation or state, either by
importation or exportation; which we respectfully solicit you to grant,
having full confidence, that, independant of other considerations, you
will see the evident policy of the measure.
* * * * *
The committee, appointed to consider whether any, and what, amendments
appear necessary in the act, passed by Congress, prohibiting the
carrying on the slave-trade to any foreign place or country, made
report as follows, _viz._
The committee, to whom was referred the consideration of the act of the
Congress of the United States, for prohibiting the traffic in slaves,
report,--
That, in their opinion, no amendment is necessary to the law in
question. It appears, to them, to prohibit the exportation of slaves
from America, for the purposes of traffic, or from any part of any
foreign country, whether a port, river, bay, or coast, to any other
foreign country. The generical term "place" certainly includes as well
the sea as the land; and it is, in substance, declared to be unlawful
so to traffic in any place or manner, except only what the
constitution, at present, denies the power of restraining, _viz._ the
importation of slaves into the United States.
Whether further experience may point out defects at present not seen,
the committee cannot predict. It may not, perhaps, be prudent to aid
avarice and inhumanity by the attempt.
Ordered, That the said report be accepted.
On motion,
Resolved, That this Convention address the free black people, in the
United States, exhorting them, by suitable arguments and motives, to
such conduct and behaviour as may be judged most proper to promote
their own happiness, and render them useful members of society.
Ordered, That Samuel Coates, Robert Patterson, and William Dunlap, be a
committee to prepare, and report, an address conformable to the said
resolution.
Adjourned till to-morrow evening at six o'clock.
_January 14th. 1795._
The Convention met.
Present--Uriah Tracy, Zephaniah Swift, Theodore Foster, William
Johnson, Lawrence Embree, William Walton Woolsey, James Sloan, Robert
Patterson, Benjamin Rush, Samuel Coates, Caspar Wistar, James Todd,
Benjamin Say, Cyrus Newlin, Joseph Warner, Joseph Townsend, and James
Houston.
The address, to the Legislature of the state of Georgia, was read a
second 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 several
Societies, formed in different parts of the United States,
for promoting the abolition of slavery, in Convention
assembled, in Philadelphia, on the seventh day of January,
1795.
_Respectfully shew_,
THAT the Convention, assembled in the month of January, 1794, addressed
your body on the subject of the African slave-trade; and the present
Convention, not having been informed of the success of that memorial,
have thought it a duty incumbent on them, to re-call your attention to
some points nearly connected with the honor of humanity, and the
interest of your state, and of the United States.
We have learned, with the highest satisfaction, that you have
prohibited the importation of slaves into your state, from all other
parts of the world, except Africa. We congratulate you, and the friends
of humanity in general, on such a step; but the time, we hope, is not
far distant, when every motive of wisdom and true policy will lead you
to prohibit entirely this species of commerce. And we, at this time,
request your serious attention to a consideration of the evil likely to
ensue from the continuance of the traffic, and to the numerous
advantages which must arise from its abolition. Among the least of
these, we would mention the consistency 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 naturally expected, as likely to be
afforded to those blacks who are already in your country. To these
suggestions, permit us to add a wish, that you would consider of the
propriety of passing a law, to empower the owners of slaves to grant
their gradual emancipation, by will or otherwise, as we are well
convinced, that the happiest effects are to be expected from a
progressive abolition of slavery.
* * * * *
The committee, to whom was re-committed the address to the several
Abolition Societies, for the purpose of incorporating therein such
other matters as had received the approbation of the Convention since
the appointment of the first committee,--presented one with the
additions, which, being read and amended, was adopted as follows,
_viz._
_To the ---- Society for promoting the abolition of slavery, &c._
THE Delegates, from the several Abolition societies in the United
States, convened in this city, express to you, with great satisfaction,
the pleasure they have experienced from the punctual attendance of the
persons delegated to this Convention, and that harmony with which they
have deliberated on the several matters that have been presented to
them, at this time, for their consideration. The benefits which may
flow from a continuance of this general meeting, by aiding the
principal design of its institution--the universal emancipation of the
wretched Africans who are yet in bondage, appear to us so many and
important, that we are induced to recommend to you, to send Delegates
to a similar Convention, which we propose to be holden, in this city,
on the first day of January, in the year one thousand, seven hundred
and ninety-six.
We have thought it proper to request your further attention to that
part of the address, of the former Convention, which relates to the
procurement of certified copies of the laws of your state respecting
slavery; and that you would send, to the next Convention, exact copies
of all such laws as are now in force; and of such as have been
repealed. Convinced that an historical review of the various acts and
provisions of the Legislatures of the several states, relating to
slavery, from the periods of their respective settlements to the
present time, by tracing the progress of the system of African slavery
in this country, and its successive changes in the different
governments of the Union, would throw much light on the objects of our
enquiry and attention, and enable us to determine, how far the cause of
justice and humanity has advanced among us, and how soon we may
reasonably expect to see it triumphant;--we recommend to you, to take
such measures as you may think most conducive to that purpose, for
procuring materials for the work now proposed, and assisting its
publication; and to communicate, to the ensuing Convention, what
progress you shall have made toward perfecting the plan here offered
for your consideration and care.
Believing that an acquaintance with the names of the officers of the
several Abolition Societies, would facilitate that friendly
correspondence which ought always to be preserved between our various
associations, we request that you would send, to the next, and to
every future, Convention, an accurate list of all the officers of your
Society, for the time being, with the number of members of which it
consists. And it would assist that Convention in ascertaining the
existing state of slavery in the United States, if you were to forward
to them an exact account of the persons who have been liberated by the
agency of your Society, and of those who may be considered as signal
instances of the relief that you have afforded; and, also, a statement
of the number of free blacks in your state, their property,
employments, and moral conduct.
As a knowledge of what has been done, and of that success which has
attended the efforts of humanity, will cherish the hope of benevolence,
and stimulate to further exertion, we trust that you will be of opinion
with us, that it would be highly useful to procure correct reports of
all such trials, and decisions of courts of judicature, respecting
slavery, a knowledge of which may be subservient to the cause of
abolition, and to transmit them to the next, or to any future,
Convention.
It cannot have escaped your observation, how many persons there are who
continue the hateful practice of enslaving their fellow men, and who
acquiesce in the sophistry of the advocates of that practice, merely
from want of reflection, and from an habitual attention to their own
immediate interest. If to such were often applied the force of reason,
and the persuasion of eloquence, they might be awakened to a sense of
their injustice, and be startled with horror at the enormity of their
conduct. To produce so desirable a change in sentiment, as well as
practice, we recommend to you the instituting of annual, or other
periodical, discourses, or orations, to be delivered in public, on the
subject of slavery, and the means of its abolition.
We cannot forbear expressing to you our earnest desire, that you will
continue, without ceasing, to endeavour, by every method in your power
which can promise any success, to procure, either an absolute repeal of
all the laws in your state, which countenance slavery, or such an
amelioration of them as will gradually produce an entire abolition.
Yet, even should that great end be happily attained, it cannot put a
period to the necessity of further labor. The education of the
emancipated, the noblest and most arduous task which we have to
perform, will require all our wisdom and virtue, and the constant
exercise of the greatest skill and discretion. When we have broken his
chains, and restored the African to the enjoyment of his rights, the
great work of justice and benevolence is not accomplished--The new born
citizen must receive that instruction, and those powerful impressions
of moral and religious truth, which will render him capable and
desirous of fulfilling the various duties he owes to himself and to his
country. By educating some in the higher branches of science, and all
in the useful parts of learning, and in the precepts of religion and
morality, we shall not only do away the reproach and calumny so
unjustly lavished upon us, but confound the enemies of truth, by
evincing that the unhappy sons of Africa, in spite of the degrading
influence of slavery, are in no wise inferior to the more fortunate
inhabitants of Europe and America.
As a mean of effectuating, in some degree, a design so virtuous and
laudable, we recommend to you to appoint a committee, annually, or for
any other more convenient period, to execute such plans, for the
improvement of the condition and moral character of the free blacks in
your state, as you may think best adapted to your particular situation.
By a decree of the National Convention of France, all the blacks and
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 persons, of the
above description, notwithstanding the decree in their favor, have been
brought from the West-India islands, by emigrants, into the United
States, and are now held as slaves.--We suggest to you the propriety,
as well as the necessity, of making enquiry into the subject, and of
effecting their liberation, so far as may be found consistent with the
laws of your state.
Copies of our proceedings will be transmitted to you, and we hope, that
you will receive such satisfaction as will induce your early attention
to the objects we have here recommended.
* * * * *
The committee, appointed to prepare an address to the free black
people, reported one, which was read, and ordered to be postponed for
the consideration of the next Convention.
* * * * *
Resolved, That Theodore Foster, Robert Patterson, Samuel Coates, and
Benjamin Say, be a committee to superintend the publication and
distribution of the proceedings of this Convention; and that so many
copies thereof as may be thought proper by the Pennsylvania Abolition
Society, be printed, and distributed among the several Abolition
Societies in the United States.
That the address, to the several Abolition Societies, be signed by the
President, attested by the Secretary, and transmitted, by the above
mentioned committee, to the said Societies.
That the Memorials, to the Legislatures of the states of South Carolina
and Georgia, be signed and attested as above mentioned, and
transmitted to the respective Presidents or Speakers of one branch of
the Legislature, or laid before the respective Houses, in such manner
as the President may think expedient.
That a copy of the proceedings of this Convention be transmitted to the
President of the Abolition Society of London.
Resolved, That the Abolition Society of Pennsylvania be requested to
thank the Mayor of the city of Philadelphia for accommodating the
Convention with a room.
The Convention then adjourned _sine die_.
_Published by order of the Convention_,
WALTER FRANKLIN, _Secretary_.
_Philadelphia, January 14th. 1795._
[Illustration: (decoration)]
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
Changed long-s to regular s throughout text.
Pages 20, 24, 26: The long dash ---- represents the blank area in the
"To the" address title.
Page 22: Retained original spelling of independant.