Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 1

‘ [70] aware,’ he added, referring to the inception of the paper, ‘of the difficulty of satisfactorily conducting a weekly journal—of infusing into its columns a lively and continued interest—and of presenting a full and accurate view of passing events; but he was not discouraged. Independent of political feelings, he has the vanity to believe that his selections have generally given satisfaction, and that the paper has proved an equivalent for its price.’ In another column, however, he advertised that, ‘influenced by considerations of importance only to himself, and wishing to alter his present line of business,’ he offered his establishment, with its attending privileges, at a reasonable price, if purchase be made immediately; and the following week he announced the sale and transfer of the paper to Mr. John H. Harris. This gentleman, who was encouraged to come from another town and embark in the enterprise, hoped, by reversing the polities of the paper once more, to recover the support of the Republican subscribers whom Mr. Garrison had lost. An immediate change of front took place, and instead of the Hon. John Varnum, whom Mr. Garrison had urged, in his last number, for election to Congress from that district, the Free Press now ardently advocated the claims of Caleb Cushing, his opponent. But this attempt to galvanize and keep the paper alive utterly failed, and at the end of three months its publication ceased. Mr. Garrison's valedictory, on surrendering the paper, was as follows:

The establishment of a free press in Newburyport—one¹ open to all parties and bound down to none—was an event which could not fail to offend and to surprise. This is a timeserving age; and he who attempts to walk uprightly or speak honestly, cannot rationally calculate upon speedy wealth or preferment. Men had rather be flattered than reproved— compliments are palatable, but plain, homely truths cannot be digested. The Editor who lashes public follies and vices, who strips deception of its borrowed garb, and aims his shafts at corruption, may be accused of arrogance and unchastened zeal —of hatred, and malice, and envy—of an unforgiving, uncharitable,