[S. A. Chamerovzow] to Richard Yates

To His Excellency

The Governor of the State of Illinois

Sir,

I have the honor on behalf of the Committee of the British & Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, to enclose, & to call your attention to, the copy of an Address which the Committee

have issued, with the object of evoking an expression of sympathy with those, in the United States of America, who are endeavouring to secure justice for the Slave I also beg to enclose the copy of a letter which the Committee have addressed to the President.

It would be gratifying to the Committee to learn, that you

had decided it desirable to bring this fact under the notice of your Council & the people of your State, and to assure them that the Sentiments expressed in the address, are those of the people of this country.

I am

Excellency,

Yours very Respectfully

L.A. Chamerovzow

Secy

27 New Broad St.

E.C.

London, 17th. Nov. 1862

The crisis in the United States.

Address of the Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.

The Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, having observed, with the deepest sorrow, the efforts which are being made to infuse into the minds of the people of this Country, sentiments friendly to Slavery, feel it to be their duty to reiterate, and to commend to the serious consideration of their fellow Countrymen, the fundamental principle of the anti-slavery movement in England; that "Slave holding is a Sin and a Crime before God"; and therefore, that unconditional Emancipation, wherever Slavery is maintained, is alone consistent with the Divine Law, and with the requirements of justice and humanity.

While the Committee believe that the efforts referred to, have not yet pervaded the

community at large, the tone and spirit of certain articles in a portion of the public press, the misrepresentation and perversion of facts, the biased addresses of many men of influence, all with the manifest tendency to bespeak favor for those who are contending for the extension and consolidation of Slavery, and to disparage and discourage efforts directed to its extinction, impress the Committee with the painful conviction, that in some quarters, a demoralizing effect has been produced.

The Committee deplore, and regard with profound grief, the fratricidal conflict between the two sections of the American Union, but, while anxious to avoid expressing any opinion likely to be construed into an approval of a War policy, they regard it as established beyond disproof, that the South was not only the aggressor, but designedly provoked an armed contest with the United States' Government,

with the express, sole object of founding a Confederacy to perpetuate Slavery. On the other hand, the United States Government, embracing the political anti-slavery party of the North, commonly called the Republican party, has initiated and carried into effect, measures in furtherance of Negro emancipation, which entitle it to the sympathy of all true friends of freedom. It has enforced the Statutes against Slave trading, which former administrations, being pro-slavery, had allowed to become inoperative, and has prosecuted Slave traders to conviction and punishment; it has entered into a new anti-slave trade treaty with Great Britain, conceding a right of search, which former Government, overruled by the Southern party, had steadfastly refused; to promote the speedy settlement of the Territories, by a non Slave-holding population, it has enacted a Homestead Bill, giving a hundred and sixty acres of land to every immigrant, irrespective of his national origin; and moreover, carrying into effect the policy of Jefferson, ratified by Act of Congress in

1789, it has prohibited slavery for ever, in those Territories, upon which issue alone, the Southern Candidate for the Presidency, was defeated at the election which immediately preceded the present rebellion; it has also abolished Slavery from the District of Columbia; it has virtually repealed the Fugitive Slave Act, by prohibiting the rendition of Slaves escaping from the rebel States, to the lines of the United States Army, providing compensation on account of such as may belong to loyal Citizens; it has recognized and entered into diplomatic relations with the Negro Republics of Liberia and Haiti; by the Confiscation Bill, considerably made non-retrospective, it, in effect, proclaimed emancipation to the Slaves in the rebel States, within a specified period; a majority in Congress has ratified the President's plan of compensated emancipation for such Slave States, as may elect to take advantage of it,

and only recently, the President has announced that the details of the measure will be submitted to the next Congress, with a view to its immediate practical application;

lastly, the President has lately issued a Proclamation, declaring absolutely and for ever free, all the Slaves in those States which shall be in rebellion on the 1st. of January next, and pointing to the measures in progress for the abolition of Slavery in the Loyal States, upon the principle of indemnification.

While the Committee deprecate a resort to Arms, even with the avowed purpose of promoting the extinction of Slavery, they reiterate the opinion that the friends of the Slave, in the United States, under whatsoever designation, have established a just claim upon the sympathy of the friends of freedom throughout Europe.

In this spirit, and with the object of evoking such an expression of sympathy as shall encourage the Emancipation party in the United States, in their most difficult position, to persevere in their endeavours to obtain justice for the Slave, the Committee issue the present address, earnestly commending it to the favorable consideration of their fellow Countrymen, and to the friends of humanity in all lands.

On behalf of the Committee.

Thomas Binns

Chairman

S.A. Chamerovzow.

Secretary.

27 New Broad St. E.C.

London, 17th November 1862.

To

His Excellency

Abraham Lincoln,

President of the United States of America

Sir

It has seemed desirable to the Committee of the British & Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, to issue as the present Crisis, an Address to the Friends of the Anti-Slavery Cause, of which a Copy is annexed.

In directing your attention to it, the Committee would take advantage of the opportunity to assure you of their personal respect and sympathy, & of their appreciation of the exceeding great difficulties of your position; - Since your accession to Office they have watched with deep interest, the progress of events, & especially the gradual development of a policy tending to promote Negro Emancipation. If certain measures in furtherance of that policy and some apparently inconsistent with it, have not recommended themselves to the approval of the Committee they have nevertheless recognized the majority of them with satisfaction as conducive, in the main, to the interests of the enslaved portion of the African race.

The Committee earnestly desire that the sanguinary conflict between the 2 Sections of the Union

may cease, and that with the removal of the sole cause of this strife, a way may open for a reconciliation upon the enduring basis of a community of interests, and a mutual forgiveness of injuries.

27 New Bond Street

E.C.

London

17th. November 1862.

Nov. 17, 1862

"The Crisis in the United States"

L.A. Chamerovzow

Secy. of the British & Foreign Anti Slavery Society. Enclosing an address entitled as above & letter to President.