Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 2, Chapter 2: Germs of contention among brethren.

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[95] met for the first time, drawn to one place by a common interest in preserving liberty of speech in Massachusetts. The Southern legislative entreaties for repression of the abolitionists, together with that portion of Governor Everett's message which intimated that the common law would serve the purpose, had been referred by the Massachusetts Legislature to a joint committee of five, of¹ which Senator George Lunt (from Essex County) was chairman. Before this committee, on the 4th of March, 1836, the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society was, on its own request, granted a hearing, less in self-exculpation than in order to defeat the Southern and pro-Southern design on a common right. Mr. Garrison, summoned by the Board of Managers for the occasion, left his wife and infant on Wednesday, the 2d of March, and, in company with S. J. May, proceeded on that day as far as Providence.

W. L. Garrison to his Wife, at Brooklyn.

Boston, March 5, 1836.
² . . . At 8 o'clock, next morning, we left for Boston in the stage-coach, (on runners), the rail-cars being obstructed by the ice. Arrived safely at 3 o'clock P. M. Mr. May was delighted to find his wife and his little one in prosperous health. A very kind reception was given to me by all the friends at Miss Parker's. Called immediately upon Mrs. Chapman, who was exceedingly glad to see me again in the city, especially at this crisis. In the course of the afternoon, our Board of Managers held a meeting at Mr. Sewall's office, with reference to the defence that we should make the next day before the Legislative Committee. It was finally arranged that Mr. May should open the defence by stating the prominent facts respecting the rise and progress of the abolition cause, and the object and motives of those who were united together in the anti-slavery societies; and also by showing the moral obligations which rested upon us, as men, as patriots, and as Christians, to plead for the suffering and the dumb. It was then proposed that I should next follow, vindicating ourselves from the charge of endeavoring to excite the slaves to revolt, by quoting from our official documents

1 Account of the Interviews, etc.; Lib. 6.43, 46, 49; May's Recollections, pp. 185-202.

2 Ms.

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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