Submitting this declaration to the candid examination of the
people of this country, and of the friends of liberty
throughout the world, we hereby affix our signatures to it;
pledging ourselves that, under the guidance and by the help
of Almighty God, we will do all that in us lies, consistently
with this Declaration of our principles, to overthrow the
most execrable system of slavery that has ever been witnessed
upon earth; to deliver our land from its deadliest curse; to
wipe out the foulest stain which rests upon our national
escutcheon; and to secure to the colored population of the
United States all the rights and privileges which belong to
them as men and as Americans--come what may to our persons,
our interests, or our reputations--whether we live to witness
the triumph of Liberty, Justice, and Humanity, or perish
untimely as martyrs in this great, benevolent and holy cause.
_Signed in the Adelphi Hall, in the City of Philadelphia,
on the 6th day of December, A. D. 1833._
True to the pledges given in this declaration, the abolitionists had
printed, preached, and prayed without ceasing. As a proof of what they
were doing in one department of their work, he would exhibit a number
of newspapers, tracts, pamphlets, and other periodicals, which were in
circulation throughout the country. Mr. Thompson then produced copies
of the "Slaves Friend," "Anti-Slavery Records," "Anti-Slavery
Anecdotes," "Human Rights," "Emancipator," "Liberator," "New-York
Evangelist," "Zion's Herald," "Zion's Watchman," "Philadelphia
Independent Weekly Press," "Herald of Freedom," "Lynn Record," "New
England Spectator," &c., and an "Anti-Slavery Quarterly," edited by
Professor Wright, the Secretary of the National Society, and
distinguished by considerable literary talent. These were amongst the
means pursued by the Abolitionists. They were peaceful and honorable
means, and under God, would prove effectual to bring the
blood-cemented fabric of Slavery to the ground. Other than moral and
constitutional means, the abolitionists sought not to employ. Their's
would not be the glory reaped upon the crimson field amidst the
carnage and the din of war. Their victory would not be a victory
achieved by the use of carnal weapons, effecting the freedom of one
man by the destruction of another. Their victory would be a victory
won by the potency of principles drawn from the Gospel of the Prince
of Peace--their glory the glory of those who had obtained a bloodless
conquest over the consciences and hearts of men. In the full
conviction that the principles he (Mr. Thompson) had that night
maintained, were the principles of the word of God, he would still
prosecute the work to which he had for some years devoted himself. He
called upon those around him to be true to those principles, and to
continue zealously to advocate them, and leave the consequences in the
hands of God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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