, that your proneness to dissipation, your inattention to
your particular concerns, and your disregard of the interests of
each other, will ever produce your own wretchedness and lasting
mischief to those among whom you dwell: in what degree the
imputations may be just we leave to your own candour to decide;
but we cannot leave the subject without conjuring you to remove,
by the utmost circumspection of conduct, the causes that have
been and continue to be urged against you; and thereby contribute
your part towards the liberation of such of your fellow men as
yet remain in the shackles of slavery.

The education of your offspring is a subject of lasting
importance, and has obtained a large portion of our attention and
care. In this too we call upon you for your aid; many of you have
been favoured to acquire a comfortable portion of property, and
are consequently enabled to contribute in some measure to the
means of educating your offspring. While you thus benefit your
own, you will also confer a favor on the children of those who
are indigent; in as much as there will remain a large proportion
of other funds to be applied to their improvement.

Having thus fully communicated our sentiments on subjects the
most important to your present and eternal welfare, we beg you to
give them your close attention, and sincerely wish you that
happiness which is consistent with the will of an all-wise and
protecting Providence.[4]

TO THE FREE PEOPLE OF COLOUR AND DESCENDANTS OF THE AFRICAN
RACE, IN THE UNITED STATES

The American Convention composed of Delegates from several
Abolition and Manumission Societies in the United States, being
assembled in Philadelphia, for the purpose of promoting the great
cause of emancipation, and for the melioration of the condition
and the general improvement of the descendants of the African
race; have deemed it their duty to address you, on some subjects
intimately connected with your future welfare and prosperity.
They perform this duty the more willingly, from a conviction that
such counsel and advice as they may communicate, will be received
and listened to with attention, from the circumstance of its
proceeding from those who have long had your best interests at
heart.

Vain wi