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

[190] been delivered in the Liberator, and in the resolutions¹ (evidently from his hand) adopted by the Board of Managers. From his first editorial utterance some extracts must here be made. ‘The amiable, benevolent, intrepid Lovejoy,’ he exclaimed, ‘is no more! . . . In his martyrdom² he died as the representative of Philosophy, Justice, Liberty, and Christianity; well, therefore, may his fall agitate all heaven and earth! That his loss will be of incalculable gain to the noble cause which was so precious to his soul, is certain.’

We cannot, however, in conscience delay the expression of³ our regret that our martyred coadjutor and his unfaltering friends in Alton should have allowed any provocation, or personal danger, or hope of victory, or distrust of the protection of Heaven, to drive them to take up arms in self-defence. They were not required to do so either as philanthropists or Christians, and they have certainly set a dangerous precedent in the maintenance of our cause,—though the fact does not in the least palliate the bloodthirsty conduct of their assailants. Far be it from us to reproach our suffering brethren, or weaken the impression of sympathy which has been made on their behalf in the minds of the people—God forbid! Yet, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, who suffered himself to be unresistingly nailed to the cross, we solemnly protest against any of his professed followers resorting to carnal weapons under any pretext or in any extremity whatever.

The fifth and sixth resolutions issued in the name of the Board of Managers show the distinction which Mr. Garrison admitted between his own judgment and that of the public at large, and again of his fellowabolition-ists, upon the defence at Alton:

5. That in resorting to arms, in the last extremity, to put⁴ down the implacable, seditious, and desperate enemies of public order, liberty and humanity, and to defend his property and life rather than succumb to their “reign of terror,” —being cruelly deserted, as he was, by the civil and military authorities