Ohio Anti-Slavery Society

The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society (1835–1845) was an abolitionist Anti-Slavery Society established in Zanesville, Ohio, by American activists such as Gamaliel Bailey, Asa Mahan, John Rankin, Charles Finney and Theordore Dwight Weld.^[1]

Background

Beginning

The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was originally created as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society.^[2] Its first meeting took place in Putnam, Ohio, in April of 1835,^[3] and gathered delegates from 25 counties, along with four corresponding members from other states, William T. Allan, James G. Birney, James A. Thome and Ebenezer Martin.^[4] Later, the society's headquarters moved to Cleveland, Ohio.^[2]

The Society

The society was created with the purpose of ending slavery in the United States. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society's constitution stated that its objective was the "abolition of slavery throughout the United States and the elevation of our colored brethren to their proper rank as men."^[5]

Along with sponsoring traveling lecturers, the Society made James G. Birney's newspaper The Philanthropist its official press.^[6]

During the Cincinnati riots of 1836, pro-slavery citizens protested against the activities of the society and destroyed Birney's printing press.^[7] A committee of citizens asked for the closure of the newspaper, but their request was declined by the Society's executive committee on the basis of "freedom of press".^[5]

In 1836 – during the Society's first anniversary – the members voted for a new executive board that included: Gamaliel Bailey, James G. Birney, Isaac Colby, C. Donaldson, James C. Ludlow, Thomas Maylin, John Melendy, and Rees E. Price.^[8]

Several abolitionists considered the participation of African-Americans in the society unimportant and unnecessary, but John Rankin and Gamaliel Bailey "slowly accepted African American involvement," and "Rankin declared racial prejudice criminal and a violation of the 'law of love.'"^[9]

Expansion

In 1836, the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society grew from 20 chapters to 120 chapters in every part of the state. By December of the same year, ten thousand Ohioans were part of the Society.^[6]^{[dead link‍]}

Division

During the 1840 anniversary of the society, its adherents passed a resolution that forbade it from becoming a political force. A portion of its members asked to cut their ties with the American Anti-Slavery Society and to keep a neutral approach in their abolitionist work.

In June 1841, a meeting was held at Mt. Pleasant, where several members vouched for independent political action. Some of the society's officials held a separate meeting exclusive for political abolitionists who eventually supported the Liberty Party.^[10]

Due to the post-panic economy, the Society and its official publication The Philanthropist started losing their prominence, and by September 1841 the presses were ravaged in a two-day riot.^[10]

Publications

Ohio Anti-slavery Society (1840). Report of the fifth anniversary of the Ohio State Anti-slavery Society : held in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio, May 27, 1840.
Ohio Anti-slavery Society (1839). Report of the fourth anniversary of the Ohio Anti-slavery Society : held in Putnam, Muskingum County, Ohio : on the 29th of May, 1839. Cincinnati.
Ohio Anti-slavery Society (1838). Memorial of the Ohio Anti-slavery Society : to the General Assembly of the state of Ohio. Cincinnati.
Ohio Anti-slavery Society; Rankin, John (1838). "Includes "An Address to the Churches on Prejudice Against People of Color", by John Rankin". Report of the third anniversary of the Ohio Anti-slavery Society : held in Granville, Licking County, Ohio, on the 30th of May, 1838.
Ohio Anti-Slavery Society (1837). Report of the second anniversary of the Ohio Anti-slavery Society : held in Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, Ohio, on the twenty-seventh of April, 1837. Cincinnati, Ohio: The Antislavery Society.
Ohio Anti-slavery Society (1836). Narrative of the late riotous proceedings against the liberty of the press, in Cincinnati : with remarks and historical notices, relating to emancipation : addressed to the people of Ohio.
Thome, James A. (April 1836). Address to the females of Ohio : delivered at the State Anti-slavery Anniversary. Cincinnati: Ohio Anti-Slavery Society.

References

^ "Borderlander of Light: Rev. John Rankin and Ripley, Ohio 1820-1850 - SOULS & SOLIDARITY: IMMEDIATE EMANCIPATION". www.reverendjohnrankin.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ ^a ^b "Ohio Anti-Slavery Society - Ohio History Central". www.ohiohistorycentral.org. Retrieved 2017-10-13.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Narrative of Riotous Proceedings". utc.iath.virginia.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ "Ohio Anti-Slavery Society". www.americanabolitionists.com. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ ^a ^b "Ohio Anti-slavery Society". Cincinnati History Library and Archives. 2004. Archived from the original on January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Oberlin College Library Special Collections. "Ohio Anti Slavery Society" (PDF). ugrr.thewright.org/. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ "1836 Cincinnati riots couldn't stop anti-slavery newspaper". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ "societies". americanabolitionist.liberalarts.iupui.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ "Ohio Anti-Slavery Society · The Underground Railroad · The Underground Railroad in the Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana Borderland". urrrborderland.omeka.net. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
^ ^a ^b Gamble, Douglas Andrew (1970). The Western Anti-Slavery Society: Garrisonian Abolitionism in Ohio (M.A. thesis). Ohio State University.