The Liberator Files

January 4, 1834

“It is not three years since I lifted up the banner of emancipation in this city, for the rescue of perishing millions,  whose hire is kept back by fraud, whose servitude is that of brutes, whose wrongs disquiet the earth, and are as the sands upon the seashore innumerable, and whose cries have entered into the ears of the Lord Sabaoth……………It is an appalling fact that since I first had the privilege of telling, in the columns of the Liberator the piteous tale of the suffering and the dumb, not less than TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND NEW VICTIMS OF SLAVERY (in addition to a stock of two millions) have been born in our Southern states, and seized by human flesh mongers as their lawful prey!………………..What is able to overthrow the present system of slavery?  An enlightened, consolidated, and wisely directed  PUBLIC OPINION.  How shall this be secured?  By disseminating light, by preaching the truth.  For this purpose we established the Liberator.”

Announcing a new “Department”, called Refuge of Oppression, into which we intend to copy some of the choicest specimens of abolitionist morality, decency,  and humanity, generally without  note or comment.

February 1, 1834        

46,OOO!

“American Colonization Society    It appears that this old handmaiden of slavery, by her profligacy and extravagance is now involved to the amount of forty-six thousand dollars!
This is the society which boasts of having been so essentially benefited by the opposition of Abolitionists!  Fresh benefits will be conferred as fast as we can issue The Liberator.  This is advancing backwards, and getting the Irishman’s hoist, a peg lower with a vengeance. Now down with your mites….. there is a ‘dead horse’ to be taken out of the way which is to cost only $46,000!“

February 15, 1834

FACTS
An abolitionist sent Mrs. Child’s ‘Appeal’  to a colonizationist family of this city for their perusal. A few days after, the head of that family (a leading manager of the American Bible Society), on meeting the person who sent the interesting volume, exclaimed—You do not know how much mischief you have done, by sending that book on slavery, for my wife and daughters to read.  Why they are all converted over to be abolitionists.’  “Ay”. Said the other.  I am glad of it and the father too will become an abolitionist, if he will only read that book candidly and prayerfully.’  ‘What!, said man, ‘me?’ —-I do not mean to be an abolitionist; I will not read the book.’

Remark:  An impenitent sinner once said ‘ I am afraid to repent; because if I become a Christian , I shall have to give away a good deal of money.’

The head of another family, who is an officer in a Missionary Society, to whom the ‘Appeal’ was sent for a similar purpose, after the lapse of a week or two, returned the book.  ‘What do your ladies think of it?’, asked the lender  ‘Why’ said the other,  ‘ it relates such shocking things, that they do not like to read it; they do not wish to have anything to do with such a book.’

Remark:  This is like a surgeon refusing to amputate a limb, because it was so shockingly lacerated.  ‘Oh sensibility  — oh, la!’

A slaveholder returned a pamphlet that was sent to him, in which the sin and impolicy of slavery was set forth in a calm and argumentative manner,  with the following words upon the envelope:  ‘ Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife,  nor his man-servant, not his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his.’

Remark: ‘Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.’
                                                                                          Emancipator

Feb 22, 1834 

Under Juvenile Dept., notice of a recent Juvenile Concert, at Bowdoin Street Church, with high commendation of conductor, the daughter of Rev. Thomas Paul

April 12, 1834

Garrison acknowledges that the letter was written to Lewis Tappan, who has given permission for its use in the paper.  Here are some excerpts:

“Dear Brother,  You have seen by the Evangelist and Emancipator, what we have done here on the subject of slavery. The preamble and constitution of our anti-slavery society will be published this week: I will send you one.  The Lord has done great things for us here.  Eight months ago there was not a single immediate abolitionist in this seminary. Many student were from slave states, and some of them the most influential and intelligent in the institution.  A large colonization  society existed, and abolitionism was regarded as the climax of absurdity, fanaticism, and blood. 

“The first change was brought about in some of  the first minds, and especially in an individual of great sway among the students, who was from Alabama, born, bred, and educated in the midst of slavery; his father an owner or slaves, and himself heir to a slave inheritance.  After some weeks of inquiry, and struggling with conscience, his noble soul broke loose from its shackles.  He is now President of our Anti-Slavery Society.”

The letter also describes the efforts of the students to form organizations “for the elevation of the colored people of Cincinnati”…… and appeals to Tappan that the ladies of New York might send money to help the cause.

May 3, 1834

“A few months after the organization of the society in 1817, the colored citizens of Philadelphia, with James Forten in the chair, protested against its principles, predicted its unhappy influence; and appealed to the community on behalf of their rights. Besides, the first public Journal ever issued by the colored citizens of this republic, (with which Journal I had the honor of being connected), entered its equal protest against colonization; showing what we deemed the injustice of legislating away our rights —our claims to a country we had bled to redeem and sweated to cultivate, without making us a party, or allowing us a voice in the legislation, or giving us any proper representation in the discussions.”      —- then the letter refers to “accompanying documents “, which support the claim of colored opposition to the colonizationist movement.

May 10, 1834  

There is a notice of the first anniversary meeting of the Garrison Juvenile Society, to be on May 12, at the Belknap-street church.

June 14, 1834

Anonymous letter about Cresson
This letter, simply from “Observer” indicates that in a recent speech Cresson has implied that when Wilberforce signed a statement critical of colonization, that he was on his deathbed and incompetent in mental faculties.  Observer strongly criticizes Cresson, and wants to inform Garrison of what Cresson is saying.

Letter from C. Stuart
Same issue of paper includes a letter from C. Stuart, Boston, June 13, giving assurance that when Wilberforce signed the protest he was in a better than usual state of health, and that he signed it deliberately.

June 21, 1834

Garrison denies that abolitionists will agree for any remuneration to be given to slave owners who free their slaves  .    “…..this I know that all genuine abolitionists will scout any proposition to pay the thief for becoming an honest man., and the oppressor for ceasing to trample upon his fellow-creatures……”

August 2, 1834  

From Charleston Mercury editor

In the context of articles on the New York riots, here are excerpts from the Charleston editor:  “Our northern brethren may hence learn that it is high time TO LET THE SOUTH ALONE.  Leave us our property and institutions without attempting directly or indirectly to interfere with them. Let no more attempts be made to seduce our colored population to leave those ‘fair fields’ !! where their labor is so eminently beneficial to themselves, and the whole country, and where, and where a system of discipline prevails , admirably adapted to their character and habits.  …………”