‘About three hours were occupied in discussing the merits1 of the Liberator and its editor. The Sabbath question was also taken up. I dare not tell you, dear Anna, what fine things were said about me. To my surprise, notwithstanding that “ delicate” subject, the Sabbath, was alluded to in connexion with my review of Dr. Beecher's speech, there was but one feeling manifested toward me, and that of the most enthusiastic kind. What was peculiarly pleasing was to find men of various sects joining in one common panegyric. Among the speakers were Rev. Mr. Norris, Methodist; Isaac 2 Winslow, Friend; Rev. Mr. Hall, Congregationalist; Rev. Mr. St. Clair, Unitarian, etc., etc.3 Bro. May poured out his soul as usual, and said that the same ball which laid Garrison low, would carry him down also. Stanton spoke nobly and generously. Well, does bro. George ask what was done as well as said? Something that will delight him! It was unanimously voted, that the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society should henceforth assume the responsibility of printing and editing4 the Liberator, and that the abolitionism of the Commonwealth should be pledged to sustain it.5 The paper, however, is not to be the organ of our Society, nor is anybody to control my pen. This arrangement will relieve friend Knapp and myself of a heavy burden, which has long ’
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up. Another crisis had arisen with the new year, and it was scarcely less urgent (so vast had become the antislavery literature of the day) to enlarge the paper than to maintain it, and it was still far from being selfsup-porting.
Mr. Garrison wrote from Boston on February 4, 1837, to Anna Benson:
1 Ms.
2 Samuel Norris. R. B. Hall. Alanson St. Clair. S. J. May. Henry B. Stanton. George W. Benson.
3 Amasa Walker said that the success of the Liberator was identified with that of the cause. Even now the enemy was exultant because the Liberator was languishing for want of support. It ought to be adopted as the centre, the organ of the Society. ‘We do not all feel perfectly pleased with all Mr. Garrison says. Like Martin Luther, his language is rough and sometimes violent. But Mr. Birney has said, “My anti-slavery trumpet would never have roused the country—Garrison alone could do it.” ’ The Liberator's fault and merit was that ‘it is always a little ahead of public sentiment,’—i. e., ultra (Lib. 7.26).
4 The context seems to show that this was a slip of the pen for ‘publishing.’ ‘The editorial responsibility rests, as heretofore, with Mr. Garrison’ (Official circular, March 8, 1837).
5 “Our sole reliance is now on the prompt action of auxiliary and other societies” (Official circular).
The Century Company. , 1885-1889.
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