Benezet to Frederick Douglass, August 16, 1858
PHILADELPHIA, August 16.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ.—Seeing in your
valuable journal the accounts of the spirited
manner in which the late Anniversary of British
West India Emancipation was celebrated at
Poughkeepsie and other places, and thinking
that your readers might wish to know what we
did here upon the borders of the slave States in
commemoration of this memorable event, we
send you an imperfect sketch of the anniversary
as it was celebrated in this city.
It was got up under the auspices of the Banneker
Institute, a society of young men in our
midst, having for their principal object their
own mental improvement, and the improvement
of the people at large, and who considered that
the celebration of the glorious first came within
the bounds of the designs for which the society
was established. The day was to have been celebrated
on the 2d inst, (Monday,) but owing to
the storm which seemed likely to continue several
days, it was postponed to the following
Monday.
The excursionists, numbering between three
and four hundred, proceeded at various times of
the day to the delightful Grove at Haddington,
where they enjoyed themselves to their hearts'
content—some seeking pleasure by roaming
through the woods and fields, viewing the natural
beauties of the place—others by being engaged
in the mazy dance. The music, which
was under the leadership of Mr. F. V. Seymour,
was excellent. Nothing occurred during the
day to mar the pleasure of the participants; and
the people of the neighborhood all praise the
excellent order that prevailed, and the sense of
decorum with which every one seemed to have
the right conception. The proprietor of the
Grove himself asserted that he was unused to
see such a large number of persons upon a
pic-nic, without some disorder occurring; but
"this was the best arranged and conducted affair
ever held upon the premises." Though this
day, Mr. Editor, is not celebrated with the enthusiasm
that it is in your own and in the Eastern
States, still we have the satisfaction to know
that with every year the people take an increased
interest in its observance.
At about 2 o'clock, speaking was commenced.
Mr. Geo. T. Burrell, President of the Institute,
occupied the chair, and introduced Mr. Wm. H.
Johnson, also a member. This gentleman stated
the object of the gathering, made a brief but
happy comparison between the 4th of July and
the 1st of August, and concluded by calling upon
the people to give those individuals who are
laboring for their elevation, and the liberation
of the four millions of chattels in the South,
their earnest and hearty co-operation and support.
He was followed by Mr. William Wells
Brown, who swayed the audience with a most
excellent extemporaneous effort of about an
hour's duration. He commenced by briefly
stating the efforts of Wilberforce and Clarkson
to overthrow the slave trade, and the long struggle
for emancipation, which was finally achieved.
He spoke of its workings, and gave undeniable
proofs of its great and glorious success.
Mr. Brown also gave a lively description
of the celebrations at Boston and New Bedford.
He spoke of the present agitation in this country,
and exhorted the people to endeavor one and
all to hasten the day of emancipation in our
land, and concluded by urging upon them a
spirit of determination, illustrating his remarks
with many historical examples. He sat down
amid great applause.
Mr. Isaiah C. Wears arose, and after a few
pertinent remarks, offered the following preamble
and resolutions, which, upon motion
were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, we have met to-day (in a country
in which every sixth man is a chattel slave)
to celebrate the emancipation of 800,000 human
beings from the yoke of slavery, accomplished
as it was under a monarchical government, with
less professions and pretensions than ours; and
Whereas, those of us who are nominally free,
are in fact classed with the slave, socially, politically,
civilly, and in almost every respect
legally; and
Whereas, the murderous spirit of oppression
in this, our native county, leaves us little else
than to congratulate the enfranchised of other
lands; therefore,
Resolved, That while we extend to the regenerated
and disenthralled of the British Isles
the congratulations which the occasion demands,
we are bound to bear faithful testimony of the
oppression under which we are crushed.
Resolved, That we charge home upon the defenders
of slavery, atheism rank and bold, and
whether they live in the North or South, whether
in the Church or out of it, the charge applies
with equal force to them.
Resolved, That while God is God, and nothing
less, and man is man and nothing more, no
man can (by any system of logical deduction)
be the property of another man.
Resolved, That whatever there has been or
may be of power in the revelation and other
general providence of God (and there is much)
to induce us to embrace the Protestant Christian
religion, there is certainly nothing attracting in
the supreme indifference manifested toward us
by its adherents in this county.
Resolved, That we challenge a successful contradiction
to the serious charge that the various
Christian denominations of this country, have
never fully and entirely recognized us as men.
Resolved, That in our case, as in all other
cases, the proper moral and religious sentiment
must originate with, and be sustained by the
Christian church.
Resolved, That no person has a right to demand,
request or even expect us to be Christians
of any description, until they are prepared to
acknowledge our manhood to the fullest and
farthest extent.
Resolved, That we view the Colonization Society
(notwithstanding the number of good
meaning men that are deceived by it) as a safety
valve to American slavery, as well as an allurement
from anti-slavery agitation.
Resolved, That whatever might be the inducement
for us to leave our native land, and
our brethren in bondage, such an act on
our part would leave them as hopeless as it would
make us contemptible.
Resolved, that however much the Colonization
Society may claim the advancement of Religion
and Civilization as the object of their existence
and labors, the governmental promise in
the second article of their constitution to forcibly
expel even colored Christians from the country,
reveals at once the "animus" of their whole
movement.
Resolved, That any church that fraternizes
with any other association of men (be their ostensible
purpose what it may) that founds itself
upon the doctrine that there is a natural and
invincible hatred between men, (distinguished
by whatever shade of complexion or contour of
feature,) such church is guilty of a shameful
abandonment of the great fundamental truth of
Christianity, viz: that God has made of one
blood all nations.
Resolved, That for such a position to be assumed
by persons calling themselves Christians,
is more compromising and damaging to Christianity
than all the abstract theories of infidels
extant.
Respectfully,
BENEZET.