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THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT - The University of Texas at Arlington

THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT - The University of Texas at Arlington

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At the 1838 convention, women passed similar resolutions. For example, the<br />

deleg<strong>at</strong>es resolved th<strong>at</strong> “one <strong>of</strong> the most appropri<strong>at</strong>e fields <strong>of</strong> exertion <strong>of</strong> the influence <strong>of</strong><br />

woman” was abolitionism. Additional resolutions by Abigail Ordway and Mary Grew<br />

affirmed th<strong>at</strong> woman’s responsibility to act against slavery was rooted in her role as<br />

mother and Christian. <strong>The</strong> resolutions tapped into gender-specific ideas about women’s<br />

appropri<strong>at</strong>e role and, as a result, gener<strong>at</strong>ed little discussion. In contrast, Sarah Grimké’s<br />

resolution against race prejudice sparked strong opinions on either side <strong>of</strong> the deb<strong>at</strong>e.<br />

Grimké resolved th<strong>at</strong> abolitionists had a duty to “identify themselves with these<br />

oppressed Americans by sitting with them in places <strong>of</strong> worship, by appearing with them<br />

in our streets, by giving them our countenance in steam-bo<strong>at</strong>s and stages, by visiting them<br />

<strong>at</strong> their homes and encouraging them to visit us, receiving them as we do our white<br />

fellow citizens.” Several deleg<strong>at</strong>es voted against the resolution claiming it would hinder<br />

r<strong>at</strong>her than help the abolitionist cause. After the convention, several deleg<strong>at</strong>es <strong>at</strong>tempted<br />

to remove the resolution from the convention transcription. Although the convention<br />

proceedings do not provide an explan<strong>at</strong>ion for these actions, the women may have acted<br />

out <strong>of</strong> racial prejudice, or fear <strong>of</strong> anti-abolitionist mobs like those th<strong>at</strong> burned<br />

Pennsylvania Hall during the second convention. 58<br />

As they did in 1837, the women who <strong>at</strong>tended the 1838 and 1839 conventions<br />

passed free-produce resolutions. In 1838, Thankful Southwick resolved it was the duty<br />

<strong>of</strong> female abolitionists “to make the most vigorous efforts to procure for the use <strong>of</strong> their<br />

58 Anti-Slavery Convention <strong>of</strong> Women, Proceedings <strong>of</strong> the Anti-Slavery Convention <strong>of</strong> American<br />

Women: Held in Philadelphia, May 15 th , 16 th , 17 th , and 18th, 1838 (Philadelphia: Merrihew and Gunn,<br />

1838), 6, 8, http://digital.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=mayantislavery;idno=10842210 (accessed<br />

April 2, 2010); Salerno, Sister Societies, 82-85.<br />

159

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