Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 3

[432] far-reaching movement of the age, and cherishing for you the warmest regard and the highest appreciation as one of the earliest, most clear-sighted, uncompromising, and efficient advocates of the imbruted slave. The delight I feel in the anticipation of seeing you, face to face, in due season, is inexpressible; it will be almost like a resurrection from the dead, or a return from a higher plane of spiritual existence, so far as your bodily presence is concerned. From a particular standpoint, it seems a whole age since you left us. Seven years is, indeed, a long period to have been absent, considering the brevity of life; but, in the activity and tumult of a desperate campaign, where no time is left for leisure, meditation, or retirement, they seem reduced to a single point. How extraordinary and multitudinous have been the events directly connected with the anti-slavery cause within this term! What changes in sects, parties, and whole sections of country on the right side! What rapid strides, startling achievements, and boundless aims, on the part of the Slave Power! In what a close death-grapple are Liberty and Slavery found!

Though absent in body, we know you have been with us unceasingly in spirit since you left us; that nothing which has occurred, affecting either the integrity or success of our glorious cause, has escaped your observation; that you have not only improved, but created, opportunities to aid us, on British and¹ on French soil, by speech, testimony, personal influence, the press, the preparation of circulars and tracts, a generous pecuniary cooperation, multitudinous letters, and well-directed blows, struck at the right time and with irresistible force. For all these efforts and sacrifices we are immensely indebted to you, to say nothing of antecedent years of unequalled industry and labor at home, under the most trying circumstances, and in the midst of all-abounding obloquy, proscription, and danger. I will not put up the superfluous petition: ‘May the blessings of those who are ready to perish rest upon your head!’— because they do now rest upon it. I will not add: ‘God bless you!’—as it might seem to imply that he had been ‘slack concerning his promises,’ and was growing forgetful. ‘Blessed are,’ not shall be, ‘the merciful. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,’ etc., etc. The reward is ever in the performance of the deed.

Welcome home again—a thousand times welcome! Welcome to whatever of unpopularity yet attaches to inflexible and incorruptible abolitionism! Welcome to a still further participation