Abolition Society Notice Transcription
Robert Pleasant’s advertisement for the
organization of the Virginia Abolition Society, as transcribed from The Virginia
Independent Chronicle and General Advertiser, January 27, 1790, page 3, column
4:
To the FRIENDS of LIBERTY.
SEEING that,
“Righteousness
exalteth
a nation, ” and
from a full
conviction
that all mankind
are by nature
equally entitled to
freedom ; and
also that slavery
is not only a moral
but political evil ;
which often depraves the morals
of the people where
it prevails and
rather tends to
promote arbitrary
power, than establish
the just
rights and liberties of mankind.
A number of per-
sons of different
professions, from a
belief, that the
establishment of a society in this state, similar to those
in other parts
of the world,
for promoting the abo-
lition of slavery, and the
relief of those
who under
the present
laws and constitution
of the country,
may have
a right to
freedom; take this method
of
informing the real friends
and advocates of liberty,
that a meeting is
proposed to be held
in the city of
Richmond, on
the fifth of
the month called
April
next, for
the purpose of
associating together, and
to establish a
constitution, and appoint
officers, and
committees, for
promoting the views
and objects of
the society ; and
also to invite
all persons of every
denomination or
profession, disposed to
favor such
an institution ( who hold no slaves ) to attend accord-
ingly , or to
signify ( by others who may
be present,
or by letters free of postage ) their
willingness to be-
come members ,
and disposition to
promote so de-
sirable a work.