The Liberator Files

December 18, 1840

Henry Grew, from Philadelphia, sends a long explanation of why he wants the editor to “erase my name from your list of subscribers”.

December 11, 1840

After reflecting on his life and the abolition cause, Garrison appeals for people to exert themselves on behalf of the paper, if they have found it helpful, and then ends with, “Those who are indebted to us are kindly but earnestly requested to make immediate payment, or they will force us to exclaim —’Save us from our friends, and we will take care of our enemies!’”

October 9, 1840

Here Garrison includes a note from Lundy , May 18, 1838, in which Lundy describes that his papers, books, everything is gone.  “They have not yet got my conscience  — they have not taken my heart — and until, they rob me of these, they cannot prevent me from pleading the cause of the suffering slave ….I am not disheartened; though every thing of earthly nature is lost.  Let us persevere in this good cause. We shall assuredly triumph yet.”

October 2, 1840

From the American Wesleyan Observer, signed by Orange Scott.  ‘ Till within the last two years we have had unlimited confidence in Mr. Garrison. We have defended him in private and in public.  But we must say, we lost our confidence, in great measure, even in his moral integrity! We can no longer view him as an honorable, high-minded man  — not even as a man of true moral principle!……Look at the mean, underhanded course taken by Mr. Garrison to instill his peculiar and disorganizing notions upon the community!”   It goes on to claim that he wants to rule all the abolitionists of the country, who oppose his notions of perfectionism , his desire to “crowd forward the women into all public stations and duties”

September 25, 1840

A note from Pease, Liverpool, England, to William Bassett of Lynn, noted here because the Garrison’s named one child for Elizabeth.  The note “is in all respects worthy of the head and heart of the noble woman from whom it emanates”.

September 11, 1840

Here us a brief article which notes that women have been induced to “get up” a fair for the completion of the Monument.  “We lament to see them engaged in a work which is so repugnant to humanity and the spirit of our holy religion.”   There is reference to a pamphlet, in which the necessity of strife is admonished, and which speaks of fears that the erection of the Monument seems to glorify war…”It may not prevent completion of the Bunker Hill Monument, but it will aid in the dissemination of principles that shall ultimately induce mankind to learn war no more.”

September 4, 1840

Here Mott, from London, June 17 requests O’Connell’s views on the question of women in the Convention.   O’Connell’s response includes that at first he was against the inclusion of women delegates, but, due to her inquiry he has examined his views on the subject, and now changes them.  His first view, he says, was “founded on no better grounds than on apprehension of the ridicule it might excite, if the convention were to do what is so unusual in England  — to admit women to an equal share and right of discussion.  I also, without difficulty, recognized that this was an unworthy, and indeed a cowardly motive, and I easily overcame its influence.  …. My mature consideration of  the entire subject convinces me of the right of the female delegates to take their seats in the convention, and of the injustice of excluding them. ….. that exclusion being unjust, it ought not to have taken place, even if it could also be politic.”…… He goes on to cite his reasons, including, “Mind has no sex; and in the peaceable struggle to abolish slavery, all over the world …. we rely entirely on both reason and persuasion common to both sexes, and on he emotions of benevolence and charity, which are more lovely and permanent amongst women, than amongst men.”

August 21, 1840

A letter appears from Garrison, upon his return from London:

“On the London Convention I shall speak without reserve in future numbers of The Liberator.  It was anything but a free anti-slavery meeting.  It was a body in London, who having invited  the abolitionists of America to meet the abolitionists of all the world in convention, most unjustly decreed that a portion of their delegates should not be recognized on that occasion.  In excluding any one of the delegates of the American Anti- Slavery Society from a seat in the convention, the credentials of all of them were virtually dishonored; for they all stood on the same ground,  and all acted by the same authority…..If there be any one act of my life of which I am particularly proud, it is in refusing to join such a body, on terms which were manifestly reproachful to my constituents, and unjust to the cause of liberty…..”   Then he goes on to recognize his friends Rogers, Adams, and Remond, who  “nobly refused to let their names be placed upon the roll of the convention, although strongly importuned to join it.”

August 14, 1840

Account of an August 3rd gathering at the Belknap Street Church.   “Owing to the insufficiency of the building to accommodate all who would have gladly been present, but few, save the colored citizens, attended; but there was no exclusiveness in the celebration.   There was not house room, but there was heart room, as was proved by the graceful courtesy by which strangers of all complexion were welcomed.  White men would have done well to take a lesson in the humanities of this congregation.”
Speakers include Nell, Hilton, Weeden.

July 31, 1840 

Here is a brief item which speaks of Garrison’s disdain for political action by ministers:
“Ministers of Christ Becoming Political Demagogues.”   It mentions an “eloquent” Methodist preacher, in Kentucky, who has become the editor of a political paper….

“… he is not the only minister who has descended from his holy station to wallow in the mire.”