Jonathan Walker, on slave produce

March 5, 1847

In a letter to Garrison, dated Feb 27, from Plymouth, Walker emphasizes the complicity involved as people use products of slave labor.  “But, as slave produce and taxation for slavery comes in so many forms, I think it is very difficult for me to avoid participating in it altogether.”  He than speaks of the several ways he depends on slavery-produced items, including the use of paper.  “I subscribe for an anti-slavery, or any other reformatory periodical.  It comes to me through a post office, managed by a slaveholder, printed on slave-grown cotton paper.  I write a letter to my wife, or to you, friend Garrison; and what do I write on, but paper manufactured from cotton raised by slave labor.”

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