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

[237] does Mr. Wallcut; so does Mr. Quincy. The two latter will also join our Society. Bro. St. Clair is not yet quite clear in his mind, but will doubtless soon be heartily with us. The Declaration closes in the following strain. . . .

This instrument contemplates nothing, repudiates nothing, but the spirit of violence in thought, word and deed. Whatever, therefore, may be done without provoking that spirit, and in accordance with the spirit of disinterested benevolence, is not touched or alluded to in the instrument. The sum total of affirmation is this—that, the Lord helping us, we are resolved, come what may, as Christians, to have long-suffering toward those who may despitefully use and persecute us—to pray for them—to forgive them, in all cases. This is ‘the head and front of our offending’—nothing more, nothing less.

W. L. Garrison to George W. Benson.

Boston, Sept. 29, 1838.

You will have seen by yesterday's Liberator, that the list of officers of the new ‘jacobinical,’ ‘no-government’ society was not published. The list is not yet completed; and the truth is, we do not know of any persons in the city whom we [can] elect to fill up the vacancies. After you left, our friend Edmund Quincy changed his views respecting the Declaration of Sentiments, and expressed his readiness to sign it, but has once more vacillated, and thinks he is not prepared at present to endorse the entire instrument. At least, there are some doubts and difficulties that he feels, and which must be removed before he can commit himself publicly. I feel very tenderly toward him, and do not regard him any the less for his conscientious scruples. He will doubtless come out right. Bro. May says he shall write to me at length on the subject next week. I have not much hope that he will get his mind relieved in season to start with us. Indeed, we shall not have a great and sudden rush into our ranks! There are very few in this land, in this world, who will be able to abide by the principles we have enunciated; though there may be many whose consciences must assent to their correctness. I see before us many trials through which we shall doubtless be called upon to pass, if we are faithful to our testimony. But let none of these things move us, or deter us from going forward. The Lord God is our sun and shield—our strength and our defence.