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

[56] this, she is beset in private, incessantly, to give some explanation, which may be published. She quietly replies that the facts do not admit of explanation: that if any one wishes to know what she said, and how she said it, he must look at ‘the perfectly faithful report’ in the Liberator. She says she spoke¹ of her full agreement with the principles of the abolitionists, because she knew what they were; but that she did not know enough of their measures to venture to pronounce upon them. She feels evidently a very strong interest in the Anti-Slavery Society, though she has taken up Dr. Channing's notion (a mistaken one, I think) of the superiority of individual to associated action. On our corner-stone principles she is clear and strong. She believes in the propriety and duty of creating and exerting a moral influence against slavery, in the free States. She told me yesterday, that if she could control events in the U. S. she would emancipate immediately every slave in it. She goes even further than some of us, for she denies that the slaveholder has any right to claim compensation, if his slaves should be taken from him. (You know some of us think that he has a legal, not a moral right to regard the emancipation of his slaves as the taking away of property.) Respecting, as I do, Miss Martineau's profound judgment and wide information (second only to the truth and sweetness of her moral character), I am gratified at her adhering to immediate emancipation, as well in an economical as in a moral point of view.

Miss M. wishes to know you. She is to be at my house about Jan. 10th. I hope you will be in Boston at that time. What is the probable prospect?

W. L. Garrison to S. J. May, at Boston.

Brooklyn, Dec. 5, 1835.

I have just read the scandalous attack upon Miss Martineau, in Daily Advertiser, to which you refer in your letter. It will² confirm her in the faith, for it is too passionate to convince or alarm a steadfast and enlightened mind like hers. To think that the Advertiser has at last become so vulgar and malignant as to quote with deference and strong approval the vile slang of the Courier and Enquirer! Mr. Hale has lately had a failure in his pecuniary matters, and he now seems to be zealous to become a bankrupt in his editorial character as soon as possible.³