An Anti-slavery Soiree (Event)

An Anti-slavery Soiree (Event)

Meeting in Newcastle-on-Tyne recommends the Free Labor Movement

An Anti-slavery Soiree was held at Newcastle-on-Tyne on the 13th ult., to welcome H.H. Garnet and family to that town. Several ministers and other friends of the cause took part in the proceedings, which were of a spirited and interesting character. Fruits and other refreshments were handed in the course of the evening, an excellent feeling pervaded the audience, which numbered between three and four hundred. The following resolutions were passed unanimously:
"1st. - The friends of different religious communities now assembled, recognizing the fact that God has made of one blood all nations of men, whom he has united one to another by mutual wants, as well as by a common nature, deeply regret the continuance of American Slavery, by which fearful wrongs are inflicted upon millions of our fellow creatures, the laws of justice and mercy are set at nought, and the Creator himself is grossly insulted.
"2d. - That this meeting contemplates with feelings of grief and shame the extent to which American Christians and churches are implicated in the perpetuation of Slavery, and still more in the support they have given to the Fugitive Slave Act; and we feel constrained, by our love of righteousness, by our sympathy for those who suffer wrongfully, by our reverence for the laws of God, and by our concern for the honour of Christianity, to protest against this great transgression of the American people, and to beseech them to employ the best means for its speedy and complete termination.
"3d. - This meeting rejoices to know that multitudes of fugitives have, from time to time, made their escape from American Slavery into the British dominions; and, among the rest, we hail the name of the Rev. Henry Garnet; and we take this opportunity of assuring him of our sympathy, confidence, and love, whilst we hasten to give him and his family a hearty welcome to Newcastle, on their coming to reside amongst us for a season.
"4th. - Seeing that the great design of the Fugitive Slave Act is to supply the markets of the world, and, above all, British markest, with slave produce , in competition with free labour, this meeting would earnestly recommend to their friends the Free Labor movement , as a legitimate and effectual method of putting down a system of wickedness such as can find no parallel on the face of the earth." - The Slave .

3.11.1852