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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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presented earlier in the week. 17 <strong>The</strong> resolution “recommended” abstention from slave-<br />

labor products “as far as practicable.” Several deleg<strong>at</strong>es deb<strong>at</strong>ed the meaning <strong>of</strong> “as far<br />

as practicable,” some arguing the phrase could be interpreted as promoting abstinence<br />

only to the extent th<strong>at</strong> it was convenient for the consumer. Deleg<strong>at</strong>es cited the<br />

inconsistency <strong>of</strong> abstainers, the impossibility <strong>of</strong> remaining entirely free <strong>of</strong> slave-labor,<br />

and the impact widespread abstinence would have on laborers in the American South and<br />

Lancashire, in particular. William Adam reiter<strong>at</strong>ed the need for reform<strong>at</strong>ion in India<br />

before relying upon the East for an increase in free-labor goods. After much deb<strong>at</strong>e, the<br />

deleg<strong>at</strong>es worked out a series <strong>of</strong> resolutions th<strong>at</strong> asserted the pr<strong>of</strong>itability <strong>of</strong> free labor<br />

and the view th<strong>at</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> free labor in the production <strong>of</strong> sugar and cotton would lead to<br />

the abolition <strong>of</strong> slavery in the United St<strong>at</strong>es. <strong>The</strong> deleg<strong>at</strong>es, however, were unable to<br />

obtain any resolution against the use <strong>of</strong> slave-labor products. In place <strong>of</strong> the resolution,<br />

the convention deleg<strong>at</strong>es instead called for a committee to compile a list <strong>of</strong> slave-grown<br />

products. 18 <strong>The</strong> free-produce resolutions adopted by the convention emphasized<br />

economic r<strong>at</strong>her than moral arguments for abstaining from slave-labor products. <strong>The</strong><br />

moral stance sought by Mott, Pugh and other members <strong>of</strong> the AFPA was ignored.<br />

17 Both <strong>of</strong> these reports were l<strong>at</strong>er issued as individual public<strong>at</strong>ions. See William Adam, Slavery<br />

in India: Paper Presented to the General Anti-Slavery Convention (London: Thomas Ward and Co., 1840);<br />

Joseph Sturge, Report on Free Labour, Presented to the General Anti-Slaver Convention (London:<br />

Johnston & Harrett, c. 1840).<br />

18 British and Foreign Anti-Slavery, Society, Proceedings <strong>of</strong> the General Anti-Slavery Convention<br />

Called by the Committee <strong>of</strong> the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society and Held in London from Friday,<br />

12th, to Tuesday, June 23rd, 1840 General Anti-Slavery Convention (London: British and Foreign Anti-<br />

Slavery Society, 1841), 437-454.<br />

195

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