CORRESPONDENCE Between the Buckingham Female A.S. Society, and the Female A.S. Society of Philadelphia
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CORRESPONDENCE Between the Buckingham Female A.S. Society, and the Female A.S. Society of Philadelphia
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CORRESPONDENCE
Between the Buckingham Female A.S. Society, and the Female A.S. Society of Philadelphia.
Buckingham. 4th of 8th mo. 1837.
RESPECTED FRIENDS:
At a late meeting of the Female Anti-Slavery Society of Buckingham, a renewed interest was manifested respecting the use of free produce; and after much animated discussion on this important subject, it was unanimously agreed to address some inquiries to your Society, in relation to this concern.
We are not apprised to what extent the use of articles procured by free labor has attained; but, judging from the high price, and indifferent quality, of many kinds that we have seen, it appears very evident to us, that the demand for them must be very limited. And yet if the members of Anti-Slavery Societies are true to their principles, we should be led to suppose that there could be few who do not abstain from the product of slave labor, in many articles in daily use.
We believe that the practice of abstaining from such articles, and encouraging those which are the result of compensated labor, is not only among the imperious duties of every abolitionist, but that a neglect of it will justly subject abolitionists to the charge of inconsistency, and disqualify them for efficiently promulgating their principles. These positions, we believe, are so clear, that they require no illustration nor confirmation. We also entertain a belief that such a practice as the one alluded to, would be among the most available and powerful means of promoting the great cause of emancipation. A recurrence to the progress of this reformation will show that there are not about 1100 Anti-Slavery Societies in the United States, embracing at least 100,000 members; now if these Societies would individually, as well as collectively, use their influence to encourage the labor of free men, to the exclusion of that of slaves, can any one doubt that such influence would have a most salutary effect in promoting a market for free produce, and of course increase the supply to an indefinite extent? We wish to confer with you on this point, and inquire whether, in your opinion, more effectual means should not be employed to draw the attention of abolitionists to this subject? We the more readily solicit information, having understood that several of your members were, in years past, practically concerned in promoting this particular branch of your labors. We are aware that the results of your efforts were embodied in your reports, but these were made at a time when little attention was given to the cause in which you were engaged. We think such an exposition might satisfy many doubts relative to the practicability of obtaining free articles. I will, therefore, on behalf of our Society propound a few interrogatories.
1st. From what parts of the world are free groceries obtained? The same question in relation to the raw materials of which cotton fabrics are manufactured. And how may satisfactory information be obtained in regard to the sources from which the articles are respectively obtained?
2nd. If any Anti-Slavery Society should be a free produce association, would not such encouragement give an impulse to the market for free goods, that would eventually, if followed up, insure a triumph to free labor?
3rd. Would it not be advisable for abolitionists to patronize associations formed for the purpose of encouraging the importation and manufacture of free products?
Answers to all or any one of the above questions, would be thankfully received.
On behalf of our Association,
MARY JOHNSON.
REPLY
Philadelphia, September 12th, 1827.
RESPECTED FRIENDS:
Absence from home during the last few weeks, has occasioned my delay in answering your letter of August 4th. Its subject is one of importance, and should interest far more deeply than it does, abolitionists generally. We rejoice that you are considering it seriously, and trust that the influence of your example will be extensively felt. Surely they who declare it to be a heinous crime to drive the slave to his unwilling and unremunerated toil, and are rebuking in thunder tones the perpetrators of such sin, should take heed that they, in deed as well as in word, "despise the gain of oppression," and see to it that their tables are not spread "by unrighteousness," and their bodies clothed "by wrong." Yet it is a lamentable fact that many abolitionists will purchase the products of the slave's unrequited labor, thus hiring the oppressor to continue in the commission of sin, from which they are, at the same time, solemnly warning him to desist. Such inconsistency the slaveholder easily detects, and in reply to our arguments and reproofs, eagerly and triumphantly asks: "Are you not fed and clothed by the labor of slaves?" Well will it be for the cause of freedom, when our one hundred thousand abolitionists can answer, NO. We agree with you respecting the importance of calling the attention of Anti-Slavery Societies to this subject, and perhaps we cannot speak more loudly and effectually than by our example.
A Free Produce Society has existed in this city for many years, which has imported large quantities of free cotton from St. Domingo and the Southern States. It is, however, a distinct organization from our Anti-Slavery Society.
In reply to your inquiries we can inform you, that free groceries are imported from the islands of Antigua, Bermuda, and St. Domingo, from Siam, Batavia, Java, Canton, and perhaps other parts of East India. Indigo may be obtained from Bengal, Mexico, and St. Domingo,--figs from Turkey,--oranges, lemons, and other foreign fruits from the Mediterranean. Most of the free cotton used in this country, is probably imported from St. Domingo, which is able to supply a larger than the present demand. It may also be ob-from the East Indies.
Respecting satisfactory information in regard to the sources from which particular articles are obtained, it is necessary to confide, in some measure, in the testimony of the merchants who import them.
In reply to your second inquiry, "If any Anti-Slavery Society should be a free produce association," would it not "give an impulse to the market for free goods, that would eventually, if followed up, insure a triumph to free labor?" No doubt a large demand for the produce of free labor, whether from an Anti-Slavery Society, or any other source, would increase the supply; and when such demand becomes greater than that for slave produce, free labor will triumph. But probably before that time can arrive slavery will be abolished by other and more powerful means, and while we would carefully abstain from the use of slave produce, such abstinence should, perhaps, be regarded as a simple duty, which consistency with our principles requires, and as an evidence of our sincerity, rather than as a weapon wielded for the overthrow of oppression. If it may be, we would that this warfare should have entirely a moral aspect, and we would rather win the slaveholder with arguments addressed to his heart, and his conscience, than by appeals to his pecuniary interests. If he understands that our reason for abstaining from his fruits of the plantation, is simply because we cannot conscientiously use them, he will respect our consistency; the slight self-denial will afford him some evidence of our sincerity, and he may be thus inclined to listen with candor to arguments, from which he would angrily turn away, if he supposed that we were attempting to compel him to emancipate his slaves, by making their labor unprofitable.
In reply to your third inquiry;--we think it is "advisable for abolitionists to patronize associations formed for the purpose of encouraging the importation and manufacture of free produce." Better than to resolve themselves into such associations, which would seem to be making that an end and aim, which is only a collateral and incidental duty.
We shall be happy at any time to receive communications from you, respecting this or any other subject relevant to our work, and wish you abundant prosperity in every department of your labor.
In behalf of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society.
MARY GREW, Cor. Sec.
Between the Buckingham Female A.S. Society, and the Female A.S. Society of Philadelphia.
Buckingham. 4th of 8th mo. 1837.
RESPECTED FRIENDS:
At a late meeting of the Female Anti-Slavery Society of Buckingham, a renewed interest was manifested respecting the use of free produce; and after much animated discussion on this important subject, it was unanimously agreed to address some inquiries to your Society, in relation to this concern.
We are not apprised to what extent the use of articles procured by free labor has attained; but, judging from the high price, and indifferent quality, of many kinds that we have seen, it appears very evident to us, that the demand for them must be very limited. And yet if the members of Anti-Slavery Societies are true to their principles, we should be led to suppose that there could be few who do not abstain from the product of slave labor, in many articles in daily use.
We believe that the practice of abstaining from such articles, and encouraging those which are the result of compensated labor, is not only among the imperious duties of every abolitionist, but that a neglect of it will justly subject abolitionists to the charge of inconsistency, and disqualify them for efficiently promulgating their principles. These positions, we believe, are so clear, that they require no illustration nor confirmation. We also entertain a belief that such a practice as the one alluded to, would be among the most available and powerful means of promoting the great cause of emancipation. A recurrence to the progress of this reformation will show that there are not about 1100 Anti-Slavery Societies in the United States, embracing at least 100,000 members; now if these Societies would individually, as well as collectively, use their influence to encourage the labor of free men, to the exclusion of that of slaves, can any one doubt that such influence would have a most salutary effect in promoting a market for free produce, and of course increase the supply to an indefinite extent? We wish to confer with you on this point, and inquire whether, in your opinion, more effectual means should not be employed to draw the attention of abolitionists to this subject? We the more readily solicit information, having understood that several of your members were, in years past, practically concerned in promoting this particular branch of your labors. We are aware that the results of your efforts were embodied in your reports, but these were made at a time when little attention was given to the cause in which you were engaged. We think such an exposition might satisfy many doubts relative to the practicability of obtaining free articles. I will, therefore, on behalf of our Society propound a few interrogatories.
1st. From what parts of the world are free groceries obtained? The same question in relation to the raw materials of which cotton fabrics are manufactured. And how may satisfactory information be obtained in regard to the sources from which the articles are respectively obtained?
2nd. If any Anti-Slavery Society should be a free produce association, would not such encouragement give an impulse to the market for free goods, that would eventually, if followed up, insure a triumph to free labor?
3rd. Would it not be advisable for abolitionists to patronize associations formed for the purpose of encouraging the importation and manufacture of free products?
Answers to all or any one of the above questions, would be thankfully received.
On behalf of our Association,
MARY JOHNSON.
REPLY
Philadelphia, September 12th, 1827.
RESPECTED FRIENDS:
Absence from home during the last few weeks, has occasioned my delay in answering your letter of August 4th. Its subject is one of importance, and should interest far more deeply than it does, abolitionists generally. We rejoice that you are considering it seriously, and trust that the influence of your example will be extensively felt. Surely they who declare it to be a heinous crime to drive the slave to his unwilling and unremunerated toil, and are rebuking in thunder tones the perpetrators of such sin, should take heed that they, in deed as well as in word, "despise the gain of oppression," and see to it that their tables are not spread "by unrighteousness," and their bodies clothed "by wrong." Yet it is a lamentable fact that many abolitionists will purchase the products of the slave's unrequited labor, thus hiring the oppressor to continue in the commission of sin, from which they are, at the same time, solemnly warning him to desist. Such inconsistency the slaveholder easily detects, and in reply to our arguments and reproofs, eagerly and triumphantly asks: "Are you not fed and clothed by the labor of slaves?" Well will it be for the cause of freedom, when our one hundred thousand abolitionists can answer, NO. We agree with you respecting the importance of calling the attention of Anti-Slavery Societies to this subject, and perhaps we cannot speak more loudly and effectually than by our example.
A Free Produce Society has existed in this city for many years, which has imported large quantities of free cotton from St. Domingo and the Southern States. It is, however, a distinct organization from our Anti-Slavery Society.
In reply to your inquiries we can inform you, that free groceries are imported from the islands of Antigua, Bermuda, and St. Domingo, from Siam, Batavia, Java, Canton, and perhaps other parts of East India. Indigo may be obtained from Bengal, Mexico, and St. Domingo,--figs from Turkey,--oranges, lemons, and other foreign fruits from the Mediterranean. Most of the free cotton used in this country, is probably imported from St. Domingo, which is able to supply a larger than the present demand. It may also be ob-from the East Indies.
Respecting satisfactory information in regard to the sources from which particular articles are obtained, it is necessary to confide, in some measure, in the testimony of the merchants who import them.
In reply to your second inquiry, "If any Anti-Slavery Society should be a free produce association," would it not "give an impulse to the market for free goods, that would eventually, if followed up, insure a triumph to free labor?" No doubt a large demand for the produce of free labor, whether from an Anti-Slavery Society, or any other source, would increase the supply; and when such demand becomes greater than that for slave produce, free labor will triumph. But probably before that time can arrive slavery will be abolished by other and more powerful means, and while we would carefully abstain from the use of slave produce, such abstinence should, perhaps, be regarded as a simple duty, which consistency with our principles requires, and as an evidence of our sincerity, rather than as a weapon wielded for the overthrow of oppression. If it may be, we would that this warfare should have entirely a moral aspect, and we would rather win the slaveholder with arguments addressed to his heart, and his conscience, than by appeals to his pecuniary interests. If he understands that our reason for abstaining from his fruits of the plantation, is simply because we cannot conscientiously use them, he will respect our consistency; the slight self-denial will afford him some evidence of our sincerity, and he may be thus inclined to listen with candor to arguments, from which he would angrily turn away, if he supposed that we were attempting to compel him to emancipate his slaves, by making their labor unprofitable.
In reply to your third inquiry;--we think it is "advisable for abolitionists to patronize associations formed for the purpose of encouraging the importation and manufacture of free produce." Better than to resolve themselves into such associations, which would seem to be making that an end and aim, which is only a collateral and incidental duty.
We shall be happy at any time to receive communications from you, respecting this or any other subject relevant to our work, and wish you abundant prosperity in every department of your labor.
In behalf of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society.
MARY GREW, Cor. Sec.
Creator
Mary Johnson, Mary Grew
Source
Genius of Universal Emancipation 1:2, p. 91
Date
10.1837
Collection
Citation
Mary Johnson, Mary Grew, “CORRESPONDENCE Between the Buckingham Female A.S. Society, and the Female A.S. Society of Philadelphia,” No Stain of Tears and Blood, accessed October 22, 2026, https://productsoffreelabor.com/items/show/133.
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