Regarding the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia
Windham Times
Windham Times 1833-11-unknown day
Negative notice
Transcription
“We see it stated in the “Unionist,” a paper published at Brooklyn, Ct., that a memorial is in circulation in the eastern part of the State, the object of which is, ‘the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia.’ Persons frequently put their names to papers of this description without sufficient reflection, and on the exparte statement of those who are interested, or have an object in procuring signatures. Our object in penning this notice is to caution the public against the movements of the fanatics, and to request every intelligent man to consider well what he is about before signing this memorial. It as a scheme fraught with dangerous and alarming consequences—a project that cannot be executed—and the very attempt to effect it, threatens the tranquility of the Union. We regard these movements of the northern agitators, in as infamous a light as those of the southern nullifiers, and they should meet with universal condemnation. It has been intimated that some of our members of Congress would countenance this insane project: but we do not believe that the madness of party desperation will carry any one of them so far. Let no man sign this memorial who loves his country and would preserve the Union.”
About this Item
The notice about this petition could have appeared in late October or early November 1833 in the Unionist. Resolutions to end slavery in the District of Columbia were passed at the New-England Anti-Slavery meeting in January 1833, and the American Anti-Slavery organizational meeting in December 1833. Samuel J May introduced the resolution, which was seconded by Crandall lawyer William Ellsworth in the American Anti-Slavery Society December meeting. So a local campaign in eastern Connecticut, spearheaded by the Unionist, seems logical.
Item Details
See Full Metadata Hide Full MetadataAmerican Anti-Slavery Society Broadside against Slavery in the District of Columbia
