The Liberator Files

December 23, 1842

Record of another meeting in Waltham, urging action against fugitive slave law.

December 9. 1842

Here are words from James Gray, proclaimed owner of Latimer, also accounts of meetings in Abington and Dedham, resolving for passage of state personal liberty laws.

December 2, 1842

A long article commenting on the legal case surrounding Latimer.

November 18, 1842

Here is a letter from Douglass, telling of a gathering in New Bedford, and commenting on the Latimer case.

November 11, 1842

From the New England (Catholic) Reporter, an article is titled, “The Liberator, alias, the Disorganizer”   It names the Liberator “that mighty advocate for the slave, whose puissant editor should be immediately transported to Ethiopia, there to dwell in all love and harmony with the wild negroes – the Liberator is the most factious and disorganizing journal that aims at the severance of the federal Union, the stake-burning of religion’s ministers, all of whom it stigmatizes ……”

November 11, 1842

Here is an account of the Faneuil Hall meeting, in which it becomes clear that the “darkey” who had not been “listened to” was Lenox Remond.

November 11, 1842

A letter from Adams, explains why he cannot become defender of Latimer, but offers his counsel to any who defend him.

November 4, 1842

From Boston Daily Bee, is an account of the Faneuil Hall meeting.  It includes a statement about a “darkey” who was not listened to, and then Phillips arose:  “His remarks were of the most outrageous character, disgraceful alike to the place, the evening, and to the speaker.  Never did we hear such a volley of blackguardism and shameless abuse as came from the lips of this fanatic madman……had the audacity , the
shameless self-degradation, to curse the constitution of the United States in the Cradle of American Liberty, before an assemblage of American citizens. —Our blood boiled in our veins, but we are proud to say that the words were almost immediately silenced upon his dastardly lips by the overwhelming hisses of the people.”

After this, is a comment by the editor:  “The Bee of Wednesday morning contains an editorial article on the same subject, equally scurrilous, profligate and diabolical with the foregoing. Shame on the vile print!”

November 4, 1842

Here are long accounts of the Faneuil Hall meeting, speeches made, of strong controversy, discussion on all sides, in which the Latimer case is lifted in the context of human rights, and appeals for personal liberty laws by the state.  There is also a copy of a notice which had invited people to the meeting, with this call to the meeting:  “A repeal of the union between northern liberty and southern slavery is essential to the abolition of the one, and the preservation of the other.”Resolutions at the Faneuil Hall meeting called for the state legislature to pass laws which should “apply to any person who willfully aids the return of fugitive slaves”, and such persons should be “incapacitated for holding any office of trust, honor or emolument, under the Constitution or laws of this State.”

October 28, 1842 

Latimer, a fugitive slave from Norfolk, Va., was pursued by his owner, James Gray, who had him arrested on a charge of larceny. A writ of habeas corpus brought Latimer before the court .Judgment of the Supreme Judicial Court is that he must remain in custody of owner’s agent, allowing time for said agent to  produce evidence necessary for Latimer to be returned to Norfolk as slave. The article is from the Atlas, and that paper comments:  “Thus is Boston made the slave-hunting ground of the South, and thus does the city consent to aid and abet the vilest of kidnapers!”   It has harsh criticism for the police, the city marshal, and all involved in the case .. “There should be but one determination among our citizens — and that is , that Latimer should never go back to the South.  Old Faneuil Hall is to speakout, on this matter, on Sunday evening next.”

 This issue also notes a meeting at the Belknap-Street church, at which Garrison, Remond, others spoke about the case, and the paper also includes an announcement of a “Grand Meeting at Faneuil Hall, For the Rescue of Liberty!”