Feb 12, 1831
“Prejudice may be compared to a misty morning in October . A man goes forth to an eminence, and sees at the summit of a neighboring hill, a figure of apparently gigantic stature, for such the imperfect medium through which he is viewed would make him appear; he goes forward a few steps, and the figure advances towards him; his size lessens as they approach; they draw still nearer –and the extraordinary appearance is gradually, but sensibly diminishing; at last they meet – and, perhaps, the person he had taken for a monster, proves to be his own brother.”
Feb 19, 1831
Garrison recites some of the History of Slavery in Mass, , citing the 4th volume of Collections of Mass Historical Society….including the visit of John Josselyn, 1638, lodging at the house of Samuel Maverick, including story of a slave woman who had been a Queen in her own country, who refused to bed with a man Maverick was hopeful would breed with her.
Mar 4, 1831
Refers to attempt in 1767 by legislature to “discourage the slave trade”; both houses could not concur, and it failed to pass. A similar attempt failed in 1774.
Refers to a 1770 case in which local negro gains freedom through courts; does not give a name, but I suspect it must have been the slave to Richard Lechmere, of Cambridge, who did gain his freedom that year.
“During the revolution-war, the “public opinion was strongly in favor of the abolition of slavery, that in some of the country towns, votes were cast in town meetings that they would have no slaves among them……”
Refers to a 1781 court in Worcester County which fines a white man for assaulting and beating a black slave.
Mar 12, 1831
Anti-Colonization Meeting — Feb 15th at the school house …
Robert Roberts is Chairman, James Barbadoes, Samuel Snowden, Hosea Easton, John Hilton, Thomas Dalton, Thomas Cole are prominently mentioned.
Mar 19, 1831
In answer to a query about harmony between black and white citizens, there is a discussion about Prince Hall Masons. A “white gentleman of craft and good nature” is
quoted: “The African Lodge….meet by themselves …and white masons will not acknowledge them ….” “The reason given is, that the blacks were made clandestinely in the first place, which if known, would have prevented them receiving a charter …..The truth is they are ashamed of being on equality with blacks…..These on the other hand, …think themselves better masons in other respects than the whites, because masonry considers all men equal who are free, and our laws admit no kind of slavery ..It is evident from this, that neither avowedly nor tacitly do blacks admit the pre-eminence of whites; but it is evident, that a pre-eminence is claimed by the whites.”
April 9, 1831
Death of Bishop Allen is noted, with this comment: “The usefulness of his life was inestimable .. we hope some of our friends in Philadelphia will write a sketch of his life for publication in the Liberator.”
Sat., April 30, 1831
Reference to discussions of Walker, includes something from “the pen of a gentleman of talents whose opinion we solicited of his criticism.” G adds his own notes to this gentleman’s words. The writer is signed “V”:
“I have often heard, and constantly believed, that Walker’s Appeal was the incoherent rhapsody of a blood-thirsty, but vulgar and very ignorant fanatic …..I have now read the book and my opinions are changed.” … That Walker was a fanatic cannot be denied: strong indications of religious delusions may be found in his every page. …..It cannot be disputed that Walker was ignorant, even of the English language ….However, this fault is by no means so glaring as might have been expected in one of his race. I doubt if more than one in three of the white population could have written better English or so good. His fanaticism and want of education nevertheless do not affect the force of his argument, or the strength of his thoughts. There is a truth and boldness in what he advances, an honest indignation, and a powerful though homely eloquence in his manner, that the crust of ignorance and vulgarity cannot hinder from finding their way to the head and heart…..I am convinced that he was a brave, just, good man, endowed with talents of no mean order, deeply and properly persuaded of the wrongs of his race: one, in short, who would, had time and circumstances permitted, have been the apostle and champion of blacks. ….It is vain to call him incendiary, ruffian, or exciter of sedition……I, who say this, am, as you know, a free white man, without personal interest in the question of slavery, in one way or the other, and can have no motive other than the love of truth…….”
May 7, 1831
“Mr. Russwurm’s character, as an intelligent and moral man, has never been impeached by us. If his vanity had not been superior to his judgment, and his love of distinction greater than his regard for consistency, he would never have been seduced away to Liberia. Nobody supposes that he was openly bribed; but many believed that the Colonization Society held out extraordinary inducements to secure his conversion. It must be remembered that Mr. R., as Editor of Freedom’s Journal, was bitterly opposed to the Society; but all at once, when his pecuniary affairs were desperate at home, he mysteriously altered his mind, and went to Liberia.”
May 14, 1831
“V” quotes from Walker, and comments on specific arguments Walker makes. Here are some excerpts from “V”: “Well done, David Walker! I like your spirit, for it will work out the salvation of your brethren. Verily, David Walker was a man! ….. “Here let us pause to reflect. What is to be the end of the American system of oppression? Will it, can it last for ever? And if it does not, how is it to be terminated? — by the consent of the whites, or by the hands of the blacks? ….. Three ways occur to me by which the blacks may possibly be emancipated without bloodshed, viz. by colonizing them elsewhere, by gradual abolition, or by free labor becoming more profitable than that of thralls. ….As to the prospect of their liberation by some means or other, I consider it certain. There are now about as many colored persons within the limits of the union as there were whites at the commencement of our revolution, and it seems to me impossible that they can be prevented from discovering their wrongs. All the laws that can be made cannot wholly exclude the rudiments of learning from among them. …..Negroes have showed their mental capacity in St. Domingue ….That example of bloodshed and misery is before the eyes of our slaves; that tragedy, it seems to me, will soon be enacted on an American stage, with new scenery, unless something is speedily done to prevent it. The actors are now studying their parts, and there will be more such prompters as Walker. At present, they only want a manager. I fear, very much fear, that retribution predicted in the book in question is at hand. ……But — when the slaves shall have attained even the limited degree of knowledge possessed by the free blacks, if they do not rise up and strike for freedom, if they do not settle the account that has been scored for two centuries, Mr.Jefferson will have been proved right in his opinion. When they shall no longer have the excuse of ignorance, and shall not avail themselves of their strength, they will indeed be proved to be baboons, unworthy of the name or privileges of men. (“V” then speaks of a white lawyer he knows who is certain that the condition of the slaves is well enough …and preferable to that of the poor whites in the north. He then asks if such a white would change “conditions” with a slave. “No: but the slaves are black, and that argument oversets all the rules of logic — it is unanswerable.”
May 14, 1831
Includes an item from the African Sentinel, A Tribute to Bishop Allen., after his death
