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

[299] that a steady perseverance in them will secure an ultimate triumph.

3. Resolved, That in the original formation of this Society it was not contemplated, nor is it now desired, to exclude from its membership any persons, on account of their being prevented by conscientious scruples from participating in all the measures which the mass of the Society, either originally or subsequently, may have contemplated as proper for the advancement of the anti-slavery cause.

Mr. Birney was the leading opponent of these resolves, but failed distinctly to substitute one of his own to this effect: ‘That to maintain that the elective franchise ought not to be used by abolitionists to advance the cause of emancipation, is inconsistent with the duty of abolitionists under the Constitution.’ This was a disingenuous implication that such a doctrine was advocated by the non-resistant abolitionists; but the Society was not deceived by it. John G. Whittier had better success with a resolution reported through the business committee, which the Massachusetts delegation endeavored to modify in such a way as to leave nothing to be read between the lines; but it was adopted by a small majority (84 to 77). Thus it ran: ‘Resolved, That this Society still holds, as it has from the beginning, that the employment of the political franchises, as established by the Constitution and laws of the country, so as to promote the abolition of slavery, is of high obligation—a duty which, as abolitionists, we owe to our enslaved fellow-countrymen, groaning under legal oppression.’

On the whole, Mr. Garrison was able to return home with as light a heart as he brought. The Parent Society remained loyal to his liberal original principles; and if Birney and Stanton did not feel it their duty, as overruled expounders of the Constitution, to withdraw, he would not grudge them their election (along with ¹ Theodore D. Weld) as corresponding secretaries for the ensuing year. Elizur Wright's place was filled by Joshua Leavitt, who had ‘behaved in an honorable manner’²