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

[296] Alleging a no-government attempt to force the Society into a crusade for abolishing government, he called upon the promoters of it to get out, and relieve the cause of an incubus.

This modest performance was considerably in advance of the position taken a few months before by the Executive Committee of the New York State Society, in a circular¹ addressed to its auxiliaries. The Committee, with no settled notions of its own, but moved by the recreancy of the abolition voters at the late elections, sought to procure uniformity of views in relation to political action. They believed it unwise as yet to organize an — anti-slavery party, deeming it unnecessary if abolitionists did their duty regardless of party ties. They would incorporate in the constitutions of future (and, in time, of all) local anti-slavery societies this clause: ‘No member of this society shall vote for any candidate for a law-maker who is not in favor of the immediate abolition of slavery and of those legal distinctions, grounded on color. which are at once a support and result of slavery.’

The flower of Massachusetts abolitionism went to New York as delegates to the anniversary meeting. Even Phelps was included in the official selection, though a² few days later he resigned his seat in the Board and the office of Recording Secretary of the Massachusetts Society, which was, he untruthfully asserted, no longer³ an anti-slavery society simply, but in its principles and modes of action had become ‘a woman's-rights, nongovernment anti-slavery society.’ The assembled body proved to be exceptionally strong and unexpectedly harmonious, its day and evening sessions lasting from Tuesday, May 7, to Friday, May 10. Speeches (on motion⁴ of Mr. Garrison, mindful of the long-winded tactics of his opponents) were limited to ten minutes, but there was no flagging. The question most discussed, and which occupied a day and a half, was as to allowing women delegates to sit and act with the Society. The opposition came chiefly from clergymen, and these