hat Gospel which anoints to "preach
deliverance to the captive," to "set at liberty them that are
bruised." From that time the duty of abstinence, as far as
practicable, from slave-grown products was so clear that I
resolved to make the effort "to provide things honest" in this
respect. Since then, our family has been supplied with free
labor, groceries, and to some extent, with cotton goods unstained
by slavery.
The labors of the devoted Benjamin Lundy, and his "Genius of
Universal Emancipation," published in Baltimore, added to the
untiring exertions of Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others in
England, including Elizabeth Heyrick, whose work on slavery
aroused them to a change in their mode of action; and of William
Lloyd Garrison, in Boston, prepared the way for a Convention in
Philadelphia, to take the ground of immediate, not gradual
emancipation, and to impress the duty of unconditional liberty
without expatriation.
December 3, 1833, the American Anti-Slavery Society was formed in
Philadelphia. Among the sixty-two people present were Lucretia Mott,
Lydia White, and Esther Moore, Rev. Beriah Green in the chair. In
reading and discussing their Declaration of Sentiments, Mrs. Mott
wishing to make some suggestions, asked the chairman in her modest way
if she might speak. Mr. Green promptly and enthusiastically responded,
"Certainly, certainly, say all you are moved to say." She at once
proposed to strike out two words from one sentence in the Declaration,
"We may be personally defeated, but our principles never (can be)."
One readily sees how much stronger the sentence is made by striking
out the last two words. The quickness of Mrs. Mott in grasping the
sentiment and phraseology of a resolution or appeal was always
remarkable in our conventions. Mr. Garrison, who wrote the
anti-slavery Declaration, readily accepted her amendment. When the
members were asked for their signatures, as James Mott pen in hand
stood near the desk, Thomas Shipley said that before signing it would
be well to consider, as it would bring down on their heads terrible
persecutions and great losses in their business relations. He said he
should sign it himself, but he would advise James Mott and others to
pause. The moment Mr. Shipley ceased speaking, Lucretia, in a brave
inspiring tone said, "James, put down thy name," which he quickly did,
joining in the general sm
|