Jan 3, 1835
With the title above, the article begins with, “Dear Sir”, and is signed only,
“A Citizen of the World” Here are excerpts:
“ To you , who have taken of the poor, the weak, and the unpopular, under your protection against the fiend PREJUDICE, I beg to say a few words in behalf of another class similarly situated. The poor Irish emigrant, who seeks refuge from such a lot, as Cobbett so well depicts in his letter contained in your paper; a lot not equal, in its comforts and decencies, to that of a swine in an English pig-sty; who seeks refuge in a land, where he is told that labor, which is all he has to offer, will purchase comfortable means of living, finds Prejudice armed against him — Prejudice, with its thousand means of annoyance, to countervail all the real benefits of his change of home. ……..Prejudice excites against him the city politician, because he fills more than his share of the county poor house; forgetting that the lowest class of society are, in their days of prosperity, the nearest to the almshouse door, and, of course, in adversity, naturally slide into it……..”
Jan 3, 1835
Lane Seminary
Important Anti-Slavery Document
Full exposure of the gagging system
Statement of the reasons which have induced the students of Lane Seminary to dissolve their connection with that institution. Cincinnati, 1834
“The above is the title of a pamphlet which we have just received from the West, the contents of which, we predict, are destined to create a mighty sensation through this land. It bears the signatures of fifty-one of the seceding students, and it is added —
‘Several of our brethren, who coincide with us in sentiment, are not able to affix their names to this document, in consequence of being several hundred miles from the Seminary.’”……..a final paragraph follows:
“Lane Seminary is now to be regarded strictly as a Bastile of Oppression — a Spiritual Inquistion. It will be the grave of the reputation of the Rev. Dr. Beecher, who throughout all the disgraceful proceedings of the trustees and faculty, has acted unworthy of his high character. “
Subsequent issues contain wide discussion of the controversy at Lane, including a statement by faculty and trustees.
Jan 31, 1835 —
Refers to three letters from Smith, addressed to Rev. Leonard Bacon, New Haven.
G indicates that the first vindicates the doctrine of immediatism, the second both condemns and praises the American Antislavery Society, and the third which, Garrison claims, defends the Colonization Society. Garrison reviews the first letter, (the others in later issues), and then appeals to Smith for a change in some of his views:
“Sir, I am anxious to see you a convert to anti-slavery doctrines, and a patron of the American Anti-Slavery Society, as my more prudent brethren; and my reasons are —because it is lamentable to see a good man in error – because you have done immense injury to our colored population, and are bound to make reparation,— and, because, when once enlisted under the genuine standard of liberation, you will make a brave and valuable soldier. But until you can come with clean hands and a clear vision, and without wincing at the charge of inconsistency, I hope you will stay just where you are — or rather, that you will be less equivocal in your conduct. I am offended to see you put an abolition cockade upon your cap, and still wear a colonization uniform: both sides of the combatants must necessarily suspect you.”
Feb 21, 1835
Remarks by Mr. Dickson, of New York on the presentation of petitions for the Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia, and discussions in House of Representatives.
March 14, 1835
A Notice dated Feb., 25, Boston, from David Child and S.E.Sewall, for the Trustees, of the opening of Noyes Academy, for “youth of good character, without distinction of color”. Announces the appointment of Mr. William Scales, of the Theological Institution of Andover, as instructor. Also includes a listing of courses of instruction.
March 21, 1835
Here are letters received from people who have heard George Thompson, one who comments that Thompson has lectured nine times in one week! High praise for Thompson’s witness through all.
March 28, 1835
A long letter, dated March 23, from Andover Seminary, addressed to Garrison, and signed “Quisquis”, includes:
“Abolitionists were often such questions as these: ‘Why can you not agree to form a Society in which ALL can unite?’ What is the necessity to having it an auxiliary
to the N.E. Anti-Slavery Society, or to any other existing institution? Why not call it the African Friends Society, or the Emancipation Society, or by some other name less offensive than Anti-Slavery?’” Then the writer goes on to suggest that perhaps some , who are good abolitionists, do not like the name “Anti-Slavery” because in reality that they do not want to identify with “Garrison and his imprudencies”.
April 11, 1835
An article from the N.Y. Courier & Enquirer, titled “Shall the Government be Preserved, or the Abolitionists Have Their Will” — a strong critique, ending with words which include: “….do you, fellow citizens, feel this disregard for the constitution of your country? Are you ready to do an act that from the very nature of things must plunge this great nation into confusion and disaster, and then stand with impious lips to charge the calamity upon your God! We trust not —- we will not suffer ourselves to entertain so foul a suspicion of our countrymen.”
May 30, 1835
An unsigned letter from Freedom Hall, Virginia, April 20, includes a letter from a “friend, a citizen of the state of Georgia”, invites an answer …. There is no answer in this edition of the paper.
The writer wonders how he might “turn into a blessing the circumstance of owning slaves” …. “all the experiments we try, privately of course, fail to do any good as far as we see. ……. Give them food enough and proper raiment and make them work, seems to be the only mercy we can safely extend to them. Invite them into your house, and read the scriptures to them, and exhort them to obedience, and they will not attend only when they are obliged to do so. I am very anxious to do these creatures good, so far as our laws permit, but I have tried everything that has occurred to me, except setting them free, and that I cannot do without sending them out of the country, do write me on this subject’”…..The writer, who has included the letter in his, believes that the above extract was written, by one who wants to do right, and invites comment, but is unsigned.
June 6, 1835
Notices from the Boston Commercial Gazette, the New York Times, and the N.Y. Courier & Enquirer, all commend the action of the Mayor and Alderman of Boston, for unanimously refusing permission for Abolitionist lecturers to speak at Fanueil Hall.
Here is part of what the Times says: “ The old temple of liberty must not be desecrated by admitting within its walls , the made fanatics, who if unchecked, will trample our freedome into the dust.”
