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

[236] who never harbors the one nor executes the other, is innocent of an undue compliance with the law of force.

Now, my dear friend, I felt that by signing those instruments —i. e., the Declaration and Constitution—cordially agreeing as I did with their spirit, I might lay a snare for my conscience, and find on consideration that the sentiments and principles to which I should subscribe were not my sentiments, and were principles by which I could not live. Now you may see so clearly through these matters that you may feel no scruple about these things, and may not hold that these are legitimate inferences from the principles laid down—but so do not I.

Now if the Declaration and Constitution can be so altered in phraseology as to say to this effect, that no man can innocently sue or defend a suit at law, or enter into any contract sanctioned by Government which rests ultimately on physical force, with the thought of violence in his heart, and can never resort to the power provided for him, I can sign them both with all my heart. Whether this can be consistently done or not, you will have my heart and prayers with you, and all that I can do by word or deed to assist you in your heavenly work.

I am ever, my dear Garrison,

Your affectionate friend and brother,

Edmund Quincy.

W. L. Garrison to Samuel J. May.

Boston, Sept. 24, 1838.

I need not say how anxious I feel, in common with many others, that you should join the Non-Resistance Society, and affix your name to the Declaration of Sentiments; but not, of course, until every scruple has been removed from your mind— for how can even two walk together except they be agreed? But I am certain that there is no difference in sentiment between us. Since you left us, we have had several private meetings (attended by our friends Quincy, Alcott, Wright, St. Clair, ¹ Johnson, Wallcut, myself, &c.), in order to make the language of these two instruments (the Declaration and Constitution) as plain, unambiguous, and unexceptionable as possible, consistent with the principles set forth. The verbal amendments that have been made,² I think will be very satisfactory to you. Mr. Alcott says he is now prepared to sign the Declaration; so