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

[446] much as to promote their temporal and eternal welfare, and to exalt the character of the United States. “This is my own, my native land” —and I shall ever be ready—ay, a thousand times more ready—to vindicate its reputation from the aspersions of its enemies, than to defend my own. I acknowledge no boundaries to my patriotism or love, but still I have my local attachment, and prefer the land of my birth to every other.

Thompson, as we say, had arrived. His coming had been well advertised in the Liberator, and the New York colonization dailies prepared to incite the rabble to do violence on him. The uncertainty and postponement of his departure happily saved him from such a reception as had been contrived for Mr. Garrison a year before. He was to have taken passage in the United¹ States, which brought over Harriet Martineau a little in advance of him, and of which the captain was admonshed by the pilot to hide Mr. Thompson for his life if he had him on board. This precaution might have been justified. Toward the close of September, however, there was a temporary lull in the mob energy which for two months had displayed itself in every part of the North, beginning with New York; and the efforts of the Courier and Enquirer to revive it for Mr. Thompson's benefit² failed of success.

On the 6th of May the American Anti-Slavery Society³ had held unmolested its first anniversary in the same Chatham-Street Chapel in which, the year before, the New York City Anti-Slavery Society had been forced to organize by stealth, and to adjourn precipitately in⁴ advance of the mob at the gates. Arthur Tappan presided. Mr. Garrison was present, and spoke, though but little, on account of a severe cold. Charles Stuart likewise addressed the Society, and pointed the contrast between October, 1833, and May, 1834, by defending his friend against the charge of having slandered his country⁵ abroad. Still another church was found in which to protract the meeting, which in all occupied four days. The