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[196] warfare which He waged against the venerable sins and timehallowed iniquities which He found, at His advent, reigning in the high places of the earth—these considerations, among others, have satisfied me that I was wrong, and that they were right.

I have deferred too long enrolling my name on the list of that noble army which, for seven years past, has maintained the Right, and gallantly defended the cause of our common Humanity, undismayed by danger and undeterred by obloquy; but I hope that in whatever fields yet remain to be fought, you will find me in the thickest of the fray, at the side of our veteran chiefs, whether the warfare is directed against the open hostility of professed foes, or the more dangerous attacks of hollow friends.

I am, dear sir, with sentiments of the truest respect and friendship, very truly yours,


On the national stage the anti-slavery contest was marked by the resistance offered in Congress to the gag1 upon the right of petition and to the rapid progress of the movement to annex Texas. In both these assaults upon the liberties of the North, John Quincy Adams was the conspicuous hero of the defence, though for the public sentiment—even in his own district—which backed and cheered him, he was indebted mainly to the unceasing efforts of the abolitionists, between whom and himself there began to be privately as near an approximation as his repugnance to some of their objects and methods, his great caution, and the strenuous opposition of his household, permitted.2 Lundy, in particular, had

1 Ante, p. 127.

2 See his Diary for April 19, July 29, Aug. 23, Sept. 1, 1837. Mr. Garrison writes to G. W. Benson, on June 14: ‘Whittier has just gone to New York, to relieve Stanton from the drudgery of epistolary correspondence, and enable him to come to Massachusetts for a few weeks, in order to complete the victory commenced last year—revolutionize John Quincy Adams's district—drive the Texas question, etc. Stanton is the Napoleon of our cause. Mr. Adams is now at Quincy. He has lately had quite a “ visitation” from several abolition fanatics, and received them all with respect and cordiality. First, James G. Birney and Francis Jackson had a long interview with him—then John G. Whittier and W. L. Garrison—then Angelina E. and Sarah M. Grimke—and then Wm. Goodell. I will tell you something about these visits hereafter.’ For Mr. Adams's own drafts on the abolitionists for support, see p. 77 of the pamphlet edition of H. B. Stanton's Remarks in the Representatives' Hall, Feb. 23, 24, 1837.

The Century Company. , 1885-1889.

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