Ladies' Department: Constitution of the Female Anti-Slavery Society of Philadelphia.

LADIES' DEPARTMENT.

(For the Liberator.)

CONSTITUTION OF THE FEMALE ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA.

ADOPTED 12th mo. 14th, 1833.

Whereas more than two millions of our fellow creatures of these United States are held in abject bondage; and whereas we believe slavery, and the prejudice against color, are contrary to the laws of God, and to the principles of our far famed Declaration of Independence; and recognizing the right of the slave to immediate emancipation:—We deem it our duty, as professing Christians, to manifest our abhorrence of the flagrant injustice and deep sin of slavery, by united and vigorous exertions for its speedy removal, and for the restoration of the people of color, to their inalienable rights. For this purpose, we, the undersigned, agree to associate ourselves, under the name of 'The Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society,' to be governed by the following rules:

ARTICLE 1. The object of the Society shall be to collect and disseminate correct information of the character of slavery, the actual condition of the slaves and of the free people of color; for the purpose of inducing the community generally, and our sisters particularly, to unite in removing this foul stain from our boasted land of liberty, and to adopt such measures as may be in our power, to dispel the prejudice against the people of color, to improve their condition, and to bring about the speedy abolition of Slavery.

ART. 2. Any female uniting in these views, and contributing to the funds, shall be a member of the Society.

ART. 3. The management of the concerns of the Society, and the disposition of the funds, shall be entrusted to a Presiding Officer, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary a Treasurer, and Librarian, who, together with six other members, shall constitute a Board of Managers, whose duty it shall be, to consider and adopt the means best calculated to promote the objects in view, and report the same to the Society at each stated meeting. They shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur in their board until the next stated meeting.

ART. 4. The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of the transactions of the Society, and notify all meetings of the Society, and of the Board of Managers.

ART. 5. The Corresponding Secretary shall keep all communications directed to the Society, and manage all the correspondence with any other bodies or individuals, according to the directions of the Society, or of the Managers.

ART. 6. The Treasurer shall collect the subscriptions and grants to the Society, make payments according to its directions and those of the Managers, and present an accurate account of the funds at each annual meeting.

ART. 7. The Librarian shall take charge of all books and pamphlets, belonging to the Society, and conform to the rules and regulations, prescribed by the Society for the management of the Library.

ART. 8. The Managers shall meet once a month, or oftener if necessary, on a day fixed by themselves, and stated meetings of the Society shall be held quarterly on the 2d day in the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th months. The officers shall be elected annually in the 1st month.

ART. 9. It is especially recommended, that the members of this Society should at all times, and on all occasions, give the preference to free produce to that of slaves—believing, that the refusal to purchase and use the products of slave-labor is one of the most efficient means of abolishing slavery.

OFFICERS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.

ESTHER MOORE, Presiding Officer,

LUCRETIA MOTT, Corresponding Secretary.

MARGARET FORTEN, Recording Sec.

ANN BUNTING, Treasurer.

LYDIA WHITE, Librarian.