Fugitive Slave Convention facts for kids
The Fugitive Slave Law Convention was an important meeting held in Cazenovia, New York, on August 21 and 22, 1850. It was organized and paid for by a leading abolitionist named Gerrit Smith. Abolitionists were people who wanted to end slavery. This convention was held just one month before the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was expected to become law. This new law would make it much harder for enslaved people to escape to freedom.
The people at the convention didn't try to stop the new law. Instead, they focused on what enslaved people who had escaped should do, and how their friends could help them. Many important figures attended, including Frederick Douglass, who had escaped slavery himself, the Edmonson sisters, Gerrit Smith, and Angelina Grimké.
The meeting started at a church, but so many people came (between 2,000 and 3,000!) that it moved to an orchard the next day. Frederick Douglass led the meeting. The area around Cazenovia was known for its strong abolitionist movement.
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A Safe Place for Freedom Seekers
This convention was largely thanks to Gerrit Smith, who was one of the richest men in New York State. He made Madison County, where Cazenovia is located, a safe place for enslaved people seeking freedom. People who tried to catch escaped slaves, called slave catchers, were afraid to come there.
Smith helped many freedom seekers who reached his home in nearby Peterboro. He gave them food and shelter. He also helped them travel to Syracuse, which was also a safe city. From Syracuse, they could cross Lake Ontario into Canada, where slavery was illegal.
In the early 1840s, several anti-slavery newspapers were published in Cazenovia. Peterboro is now home to the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.
Why the Convention Was Called
An announcement for the convention appeared in newspapers in August 1850. It invited people who had escaped slavery and their supporters to meet. The goal was to share ideas and encourage each other.
The announcement said: "Fugitives from the prison-house of Southern despotism with their friends and protectors in council! Such persons as have escaped from Slavery, and those who are resolved to stand by them, are invited to meet for mutual counsel and encouragement at Cazenovia, Madison County, New York, on Wednesday, 21st of August, 1850."
It promised a "most cordial welcome" from the people of Cazenovia, with "friends, hospitalities, meeting houses, and beautiful groves there!" This invitation was reprinted in many anti-slavery newspapers like Frederick Douglass's North Star and William Garrison's Liberator. It also angered pro-slavery newspapers.
What Happened at the Convention?
The convention discussed important topics related to slavery and freedom.
Helping William Chaplin
A key discussion was about William L. Chaplin. Chaplin was an abolitionist who had tried to help many enslaved people escape from Washington, D.C.. He was arrested when he was caught helping two freedom seekers. His fiancée, Theodosia Gilbert, attended the convention.
The attendees decided to create a committee to raise money to help free Chaplin. They aimed to collect $20,000 in 30 days. They also asked the Liberty Party, a political group against slavery, to nominate Chaplin as their candidate for president in the 1852 election.
A Letter to Enslaved People
An important part of the convention was an open letter titled "To American Slaves from Those Who Have Fled from American Slavery." It is believed that Gerrit Smith wrote this letter. It was meant to be read by those still enslaved.
The letter explained the benefits of escaping and exposed the lies told by slave owners. It even suggested that those escaping should take their owners' money and fastest horse. It used strong language, saying that enslaved people were like "prisoners of war" and had the right to do what was needed to escape.
Important Decisions
The convention adopted several resolutions. These were formal statements of their beliefs and goals. They also formally recommended that the Liberty Party nominate Chaplin for president.
On the first day, Samuel Joseph May was chosen as temporary president. Later, Frederick Douglass was appointed as the official president of the convention. Other important roles were filled by people like Joseph C. Hathaway and Charles Bennett Ray.
A group of women, including Mrs. F. Rice and Phebe Hathaway, were chosen to arrange for a silver pitcher and two silver goblets to be given to William C. Chaplin. This was to honor his "distinguished services in the cause of humanity."
Who Attended the Convention?
The Cazenovia Convention was special because it brought together a very diverse group of people. Both Black and white participants attended, and women were welcomed and played active roles. One person wrote that people "of every sect in religion, of every party in politics, and every shade of complexion" met there.
Some of the notable attendees included:
- Black Attendees:
* Frederick Douglass: A famous formerly enslaved person, writer, and speaker. He was elected president of the convention. * The Edmonson sisters (Mary and Emily): Two young women, 15 and 17, who had escaped slavery. They sang at the opening of the convention. * Samuel Ringgold Ward: An escaped slave who became a preacher and activist. * Rev. Jermain Wesley Loguen: An escaped slave who became a bishop and ran a station on the Underground Railroad. * Charles Bennett Ray: Born free, he was a publisher of an important Black newspaper. * About thirty other formerly enslaved people were present. Some even shared their escape stories.
- White Attendees:
* Gerrit Smith: A wealthy landowner and supporter of abolition. * Theodore Dwight Weld: A leading abolitionist organizer. * Angelina Grimké: Weld's wife and a prominent abolitionist woman. * Samuel Joseph May: An abolitionist clergyman. * Ezra Greenleaf Weld: Theodore's brother, who owned a photography studio and took the famous picture of the convention. * Theodosia Gilbert: William L. Chaplin's fiancée. * John Greenleaf Whittier: An abolitionist poet and newspaper editor. * Joshua Reed Giddings: An attorney and one of the founders of the Republican Party.
About 500 people traveled through Utica to reach the convention, and total attendance was estimated at 2,000 people.
The Famous Photo
There is only one known photograph of this important meeting. It is a daguerreotype, an early type of photograph, held by the Madison County Historical Society. It was taken by Ezra Greenleaf Weld, who had a photography studio in Cazenovia.
Taking a daguerreotype was difficult; people had to stay very still for several seconds. This photo is a formal group picture, taken outdoors to use the sunlight. It was meant to be sent to William L. Chaplin, who was in jail at the time. Chaplin's fiancée, Theodosia Gilbert Chaplin, is seen at the table with a pen and paper. Next to her are Frederick Douglass and Joseph Hathaway. Behind her stands Gerrit Smith, with the Edmonson sisters on either side. One of the sisters spoke to the crowd, described as a "young and noble-hearted girl" with "words of simple and touching eloquence."
