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

[252] blood, deliberately violating all the laws of God and man? It would have been just the wish of his enemies to have caught him thus—they would have crucified him without ceremony. We must remember, also, that those who sought to take his life under any pretence would of course take his character under any pretence. How extremely weak, or how excessively wicked, must be the man who prefers such an accusation.

His character is not only spotless, but has never been impeached. Those who would slander him do prudently in making their charges thus vague. Every vile epithet in the language has been heaped upon his devoted head; he heeds them not, but holds on his virtuous course without wavering. It is not Mr. Garrison that violates the laws of God; it is his opponents that do this, for which they are made to feel most keenly the scorching severity of his rebukes. Of him it has been aptly said, that he severs at a blow what others would be a great while in sawing off.

The justly celebrated and discriminating English lady, Miss Martineau, who travelled in our country in 1836, says that having heard every species of abuse of Mr. Garrison, she resolved to have an interview with him, which she thus describes. . . . ¹

These extracts are taken from the second volume of Miss Martineau's “Retrospect of Western Travel.” I recommend to your notice her whole description of the man, which I think remarkably just. As Mr. Garrison is now absent to spend the summer in Connecticut, I shall suggest to the pro tem. editor of the Liberator to publish in the next Liberator Miss Martineau's² whole description of Mr. Garrison.

I send also per mail the Prospectus to the 8th volume of the Liberator, and a poetical effusion entitled ‘True Rest,’ which will give you some idea of his religious opinions and views of human government.

‘New organization’ had, to all appearance, made no progress during the year. On February 15, the Rev. E.³ M. P. Wells had called the Boston Evangelical Anti-Slavery Society to order, his qualification for this function consisting in his avowedly not having seen or read the Liberator for two years past. Fitch was the chief speaker, but the membership was not enlarged beyond the original group of Appellants. A little later, their organ, the Spectator, died of inanition. Nevertheless, the⁴