An apology for abolitionists addressed by the anti-slavery society of Meriden, Conn., to their fellow citizens

A fervent appeal from a mid‑19th‑century anti‑slavery society, this pamphlet opens with a direct address to fellow citizens, seeking to clear up misunderstandings and win support for the abolitionist cause. It lays out a concise “Declaration of Sentiments,” asserting that all people are born with inalienable rights and that slavery is a moral, religious, and constitutional wrong. The authors argue that the institution threatens both the nation’s republican ideals and its future stability.

The text then moves to practical arguments, urging the immediate end of slavery in the District of Columbia and calling on Congress to use its constitutional powers to halt the interstate slave trade. It stresses that only state legislatures can end slavery within their borders, while federal authority can act in territories and the capital. Written in a clear, persuasive style, the pamphlet offers a vivid snapshot of abolitionist rhetoric and strategy during a turbulent period of American history.