Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 2, Chapter 1: the Boston mob (second stage).

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19th-Century American

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[28] morning I awoke quite refreshed, and, after eating an excellent breakfast furnished by the kindness of my keeper, I inscribed upon the walls of my cell the following items:

Wm. Lloyd Garrison was put into this cell on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21, 1835, to save him from the violence of a “respectable and influential” mob, who sought to destroy him for preaching the abominable and dangerous doctrine, that “all men are created equal,” and that all oppression is odious in the sight of God. “ Hail, Columbia!” Cheers for the Autocrat of Russia and the Sultan of Turkey!
Reader, let this inscription remain till the last slave in this despotic land be loosed from his fetters.¹
When peace within the bosom reigns,
     And conscience gives th' approving voice;
Though bound the human form in chains,
     Yet can the soul aloud rejoice.
'Tis true, my footsteps are confined—
     I cannot range beyond this cell;—
But what can circumscribe my mind?
     To chain the winds attempt as well!

Confine me as a prisoner—but bind me not as a slave.
Punish me as a criminal—but hold me not as a chattel.
Torture me as a man—but drive me not like a beast.
Doubt my sanity—but acknowledge my immortality.

In the course of the forenoon, after passing through the mockery of an examination, for form's sake, before Judge Whitman,² I was released from prison; but at the earnest solici-

1 Leverett-Street jail was demolished in 1852.

2 At the jail itself: the authorities were afraid to have it take place in court. The original complaint and warrant are here given as copied from the files, and published in Vol. 18 of the Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, p. 343, by Mr. Ellis Ames:

To Edward G. Prescott, Esquire, one of the Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Suffolk.

Daniel Parkman, of said Boston, Esquire, complains and gives the said Justice to understand and be informed that William Lloyd Garrison, of Boston, in said county, printer, together with divers other persons to the number of thirty or more to your complainant unknown, on the twentyfirst of October, instant, at Boston, aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, did, as your complainant verily believes and has no doubt, unlawfully, riotously and routously assemble, and then and there did disturb and break the peace of the Commonwealth, and a riot did cause and make, to the terror of the good people of the Commonwealth, and against the peace and dignity of the same.

Therefore, your complainant prays that the said William Lloyd Garrison may be apprehended and dealt with as to law and justice shall appertain.

Dated at Boston, this twenty-first of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.

Daniel Parkman. Suffolk, Ss. Boston, Oct. 21, 1835.

Sworn to before me: Edward G. Prescott, Jus. Pacis.

Suffolk, Ss.
To the Sheriff of our County of Suffolk, or his Deputies, or any of the Constables of the City of Boston.

In pursuance of the foregoing complaint you are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to apprehend the within-named William Lloyd Garrison forthwith, and have his body before me, the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace of said county, or the Justices of the Police Court of said city, then and there to be dealt with according to law.

Dated at Boston, the twenty-first of October, A. D. 1835.

Edward G. Prescott, Jus. Pacis. Suffolk, Ss. October 21, 1835.

I have committed the aforesaid Garrison to jail by virtue hereof.

Daniel Parkman, Dep. Sheriff.

The Century Company. , 1885-1889.

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Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 2

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