© 
 
 REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOARD OF iMANAGERS 
 
 FREE PRODUCE ASSOCIATION 
 
 OF FRIENDS, OF 
 NEW-YORK YEARLY MEETING. 
 
 # 1 852. 
 
 nOLLINS, BOWNE & CO. PRINTERS, 
 stationers' hall, 
 Xos. 174 and 176 Pearl Street. 
 
 OF THE 
 
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
REPORT, &c. 
 
 The managers of the Free Produce Association, 
 in a retrospect of the past year, feel that however 
 small the results of their action may appear, and 
 however slight the visible growth of the principles 
 of the Association, that the duty of individual 
 faithfulness is in nowise lessened ; and that how- 
 ever many, of whom better things might be ex- 
 pected, may fail to uphold a consistent testimony 
 against the ^oot and offspring of Slavery — the 
 refusal to partake of the fruits of unrequited toil 
 — such remissness can be no excuse for others ; 
 for " To him that knoweth to do good and doeth 
 not, to him it is sin." 
 
 In order to circulate correct information and 
 
E 
 
 revive an interest, a committee was appointed to 
 prepare tracts on the subject. One, entitled 
 "Slavery and the Slave Trade — Who is Responsi- 
 ble ?" was issued last winter, the free circulation 
 of which has, it is hoped, been doing a silent 
 work of good. 
 
 This would have been followed by others, had 
 not the attention of the managers been impera- 
 tively called in another direction. In our last 
 report, we alluded to the small patronage which 
 the Free Produce Store in this city was receiving, 
 and the necessity of a more active and efficient 
 support, to ensure its continuance. This has not 
 been realized. Our friend, R. L. Murray, in 
 second month last, informed us that that patron- 
 aire had not extended, and that the business of 
 the past year had not only yielded no remunera- 
 tion for his own time, but had not even been 
 sufficient to meet the expenses of the store, and 
 
3 
 
 that he would therefore be compelled to relinquish 
 it. He informed the meeting however, that his 
 foreman was desirous of conducting a general 
 grocery business, for wliich purpose he had 
 friends who would employ him, and supply him 
 with some capital, being himself without means ; 
 and that he would connect the Free Produce 
 business with it, if the managers would furnish 
 two thousand dollars, on interest, as assistance in 
 carrying on that branch. 
 
 Being a man of good qualifications, worthy of 
 entire confidence and well-fitted for the work, 
 acquainted a*iso with the sources of supply which 
 were open to R. L. Murray, the managers felt 
 satisfied that this was the best arrangement they 
 could make in order to secure a supply of Free 
 Labor goods ; the experience of R. L. Murray, 
 having demonstrated that a store for the exclu- 
 sive sale of these goods on a liberal scale, having 
 
4 
 
 a full assortment at low prices, cannot for the 
 present be maintained here. 
 
 Deeply regretting the necessity for this change 
 in the manner of conducting the business, the 
 managers appointed a committee who have raised 
 the requisite amount, and have concluded the 
 arrangement with the individual alluded to. The 
 managers are glad therefore to be able to report 
 that. a larg^ assortment of Free Labor articles, 
 both dry goods and groceries, may still be obtained 
 at the former place, No. 86 Pearl Street, of E. 
 Towne, Agent. It is due to E. Towne, also to 
 add, that the greater portion of his time will neces- 
 sarily be devoted to this branch of his business, 
 and riiuch more invested in it, than the amount fur- 
 nished him by the managers. We hope, there- 
 fore, he will be liberally sustained by all the 
 friends of the cause. The store will be well 
 supplied, as heretofore, with a choice selection 
 
5 
 
 of teas, coffee and other articles which have no 
 connection with slave labor. 
 
 The lively interest in this cause which has 
 been felt by our friends in England, appears to 
 spread. Tiie free cotton of our southern States is 
 still very much wanted by them. It is accessible 
 to us, and in increased quantities ; and they are 
 still looking to us for it. Sliall they in vain look to 
 us for assistance in this matter ? Shall we, 
 without an effort, allow the free cotton of small 
 proprietors to be mixed up and lost amongst the 
 vast produce of Slave labor ; or shall we not 
 rather lend our aid to select and keep distinct 
 this produce of free labor, and hold it up before 
 the world, and honor it by the marked preference 
 of freemen ? By so doing, we should be carry- 
 ing out our own principles, and at the same time 
 be giving that substantial encouragement to the 
 productions of free labor which would both insure 
 
6 
 
 an increase, and be a solace to the friends of 
 freedom in the regions of Slavery. 
 
 At one time in the history of this country 
 Slavery was unprofitable, because there was 
 comparatively little demand for the produce of 
 Slave labor ; and many, even in the southern 
 States, were looking to its early abolition. But sub- 
 sequent facilities in the preparation of cotton, ma- 
 terially lessened its cost, and it soon became the 
 cheapest article that could be had for human 
 clothing. Hence, a great demand has sprung up 
 for it. Its cultivation innnediately became profit- 
 able, and it opened a vast and unexpected field 
 for the employment of Slaves. A change has 
 consequently come over the people of the slave- 
 holding States, in relation to Slavery ; now they 
 cling to that which once they deplored ; and the 
 maintenance of every branch of this system — 
 hateful as it is, and so steeped in ignorance, de- 
 
gradation and cruelty — appears to be regarded 
 by them as of even greater importance than the 
 union of our common country. Like the noisy 
 worshippers of the silver shrine, who cried out, 
 '* Great is Diana of the Ephesians,'" politicians 
 of the present da}-, and others, " who by this 
 craft gain their wealth,'' shout, with pretended 
 patriotic zeal, " Union ! Union ! — Slavery ! Sla- 
 very !" as though Slavery were Union, and 
 Union Slavery ! 
 
 What has produced this wonderful change ? 
 What but the demand for the labor of slaves, and 
 
 9 
 
 the self-interest and covetousness growing out of 
 the vast traffic therein ? 
 
 Surely there can be no doubt that a general 
 rejection of the produce of Slavery, so as to 
 make the craft " unprofitable, would soon open 
 the eyes of its worshippers, and even of slave- 
 
8 
 
 holders, to its iniquity ; and instead of the pre- 
 sent disgraceful outcry in favor of slavery, he 
 would be regarded as the wisest and greatest 
 patriot who should be able to suggest the best 
 and most practical means for its extinction. 
 
 It appears to us, therefore, very important that 
 •every bale of free cotton which can be obtained, 
 should find a ready market, in preference to that 
 which is the product of Slavery. Were this the 
 case, the quantity would, doubtless, rapidh; in- 
 crease, until whole Counties, perhaps even States, 
 would be gradually transferred from tlie grasp 
 of Slavery to that of freedom. And did that love 
 to God and to our brother, which our holy re- 
 ligion enjoins, have full and free course in our 
 hearts, this, it is believed, would be realized. 
 But how many of us, "while hugging our own 
 rich blessings to our bosoms, forget those who 
 
9 
 
 have no such blessings, but are compelled to em- 
 brace misery and hopeless wretchedness." 
 
 Towards those who differ from us in sentiment, 
 we wish to exercise that charity which " suffereth 
 long and is kind;" and in conclusion, we have 
 only to desire that such may examine the subject 
 in the light of truth, in which case we believe they 
 would find a work to do, in clearing their own 
 hands from this enormous evil. " Happy is he 
 who condemneth not himself in that thing which 
 he alloweth."' 
 
 New-York, ^th month 24th, 1852. 
 
 Signed, by direction and on behalf 
 of the Board of Managers, 
 
 ISAAC H. ALLEN, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
10 
 
 LIST OF MEMBERS. 
 
 
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 JjAIIIOjNj JUblAH. 
 
 I; II:.LD, JOolAil. 
 
 Batty, Joel. 
 
 Haines, Jesse P. 
 
 R 17 A T WT I T T T A ■|\T 
 
 JDliiALj »> iLii-iLAi\l« 
 
 xxAlNlib, xvliUraJN. 
 
 Bear, Eliza Jane. 
 
 Hatch, Phebe W. 
 
 Carpenter, Richard. 
 
 Hawxhurst, Phebe W. 
 
 Chase, William H. 
 
 HoAG, Abigail R. 
 
 Collins, Mary F. 
 
 Hoag, Elethea. 
 
 Day, Mahlon. 
 
 HoAG, Jehu. 
 
 Day, Mary. 
 
 HoAG, Mary C. 
 
 Devol, Abner. 
 
 HoAG, Nathan C. 
 
 Devol, Hannah. 
 
 Howland, L. R.. 
 
11 
 
 HowLAND, Robert B. 
 Hull, Sarah C. 
 Keese, Elizabeth. 
 Keese, William. 
 Knowles, Benjamin R. 
 Marshall, Anna M. 
 Marshall, Edward. 
 Meads, Zenas. 
 Miles, Henry. 
 Miller, Charles. 
 Moore, Jonathan. 
 Moore, Lindley M. 
 Moore, Mary.^ 
 Murray, Mary. 
 murray,r0bert lindley 
 Murray, Ruth S. 
 Naramore, Samuel. 
 Page, Amelia. 
 Page, Pelatiah P. 
 
 Paxson, Samuel C. 
 Peet, Beers. 
 Post, Lydia. 
 Post, Stephen. 
 Sampson, Sarah T. 
 Sands, David. 
 Secor, Ann. 
 Shearman, Hefsa H. 
 Shotwell, Anna PI. 
 SissoN, Stephen. 
 Southwick, Jonathan J. 
 Spicer, Eber. 
 Sutton, Moses. 
 Sutton, Rebecca H. 
 Swift, Nathan G. 
 Talcott, Phebe. 
 Tatham, Benjabiin. 
 Tatham, Hannah. 
 Tatham, Mary Ann. 
 
12 
 
 Tatham, Rebecca C. 
 Tatham, William. 
 Titus, Daniel. 
 Titus, Robert W. 
 Tompkins, Elijah, 
 Underbill, Sarah F. 
 Wilbur, Joe, Jr. 
 VVillets, Ezra. 
 
 Woodward, 
 
 Willets, Jane E. 
 WiLLETS, John. 
 Willets, Lydia. 
 Willets, Maria. 
 Willets, Sarah. 
 Willis, Thomas. 
 Wills, Levi. 
 Wood, George. 
 Elizabeth.