Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 1

[77] individual would be put in nomination, I went to the meeting with an expectation of no such result. Yet, sir, this belief did injustice to the wishes of a large majority of the electors present— they wanted Mr. Otis,—no other man could have been nominated. Disguise his feelings as he may, it was the strong evidence of this fact—it was the emphatic voice of a whole assembly, and not my feeble echo,—that alarmed the selfishness and roused the hostility of your querulous correspondent. . . .

The little, paltry sneers at my youth, by your correspondent, have long since become pointless. It is the privileged abuse of old age—the hackneyed allegation of a thousand centuries—the damning crime to which all men have been subjected. I leave it to metaphysicians to determine the precise moment when wisdom and experience leap into existence,— when, for the first time, the mind distinguishes truth from error, selfishness from patriotism, and passion from reason. It is sufficient for me that I am understood. . . .

If, sir, the gentleman will call on me in person, I will satisfy him that I have ‘paid taxes’ elsewhere, if not for a few months' residence in this city. I admire his industry in searching the books of the Treasurer—it speaks well for his patriotism; and, to relieve him from further inquiries, I promise to become a legal voter with all commendable haste.

The hours which should be devoted to labor, Mr. Editor, allow me little time to indulge in newspaper essays. Poverty and misfortune are hard masters, and cannot be bribed by the magic of words. However, I am willing to sacrifice one meal,¹ at least, in order that justice may be done to the “tariff and anti-tariff question,” which your correspondent has submitted to my consideration. It shall be done some time previous to the election. I do not pretend to much information on this subject; but, to my perception, there appears but one great interest to be involved, one straightforward liberal policy to be pursued, one cause to be maintained, one generous desire to be gratified.

G—N.

The promised article on the tariff followed a few days² later, and was a defence of the policy which was expected to make the republic independent of Great Britain and other nations, and able, by the development of its resources and industries, to supply all its own wants.

Although at first appalled by the size and apparent intricacy of the city, and confused by its turmoil, Mr.