In the afternoon of the day appointed for this meeting, November 18, Mr. Garrison took the cars for Providence to rejoin his wife at Brooklyn. On the day following Thanksgiving he wrote to G. W. Benson:
A letter from friend Burleigh, at the Anti-Slavery Rooms,4 informs me that letters had just been received from Henry and Thompson. Both arrived safely, and had good passages . . .5 What a mighty void is created by the return of G. T.! It is6 like the loss of a general to an army, whose presence gave inspiration and courage to the humblest soldier. Who now shall go forth to argue our cause in public with subtle sophists and insolent scoffers? It is true, we have the lion-hearted, invincible Weld, at the West, and our strong and indefatigable7 brother Stanton in Rhode Island; but the withdrawal of8 Thompson seems like the loss of many agents. . . . By the way—looking at the thing in its true light, this custom of appointing one day in the year to be specially thankful for the good gifts of God is an absurdity, tending, I think, to keep up the notion that it is not very material whether we are particularly thankful, or not, during the remainder of the year. The appointment, too, of a thanksgiving by a civil officer is strictly a union of Church and State. I am growing more and more hostile to outward forms and ceremonies and observances, as a religious duty, and trust I am more and more appreciating the nature and enjoying the privileges of that liberty wherewith the obedient soul is made free. How can a people fast or be thankful at the bidding or request of any man or body of men?
