Addressed to the Abolitionists of Massachusetts, signed by Francis Jackson, here is a recommendation to abolitionists in relation to the “exercise of political privileges”.
Here are pertinent excerpts: “There are those who disapprove of every form of political action, on the part of abolitionists…….We cannot yield to this reasoning. It proceeds, we think, upon a narrow view of the subject. Politics, rightly considered, is a branch of morals, and cannot be deserted innocently. …..We, however, view political action, chiefly as a means of agitating the subject……Is it then our purpose to recommend to abolitionists the formation of a distinct political party? So far from this, we think such a policy would be in the highest degree dangerous., if not fatal to the efficiency of our organization. ….. To conclude this part of the subject, our true policy is not to turn party politicians, but in politics as elsewhere to stand firm by our principles, and let the politicians come to us…..” The article then goes on to give advice how abolitionists might proceed in three forms of political action, petitioning, interrogating candidates, and suffrage.
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