Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 3

[477] eran of the thirties, like the foregoing, he had nevertheless fought the good fight for nearly two decades with unquenchable ardor and utter devotion. Quincy, whose character of him has already been quoted, renewed his¹ testimony to Webb in 1857: “Hovey is, on the whole, the best man I know—the most thoroughly conscientious and truly benevolent and rarely liberal” Ms. Nov. 24, 1857.; and Mr. Garrison bore witness: “What always impressed me was his moral courage. I think if there was ever a man delivered from ‘the fear of man,’ it was Charles F. Hovey.” Lib. 29.87. In his will he not only made specific bequests to certain² antislavery laborers, Mr. Garrison included, but devised about a quarter of his estate for the active promotion of the antislavery and other reforms. His trustees for this purpose, clothed with absolute discretion, were Phillips, Garrison, S. S. and Abby K. Foster, Parker Pillsbury, H. C. Wright, Francis Jackson, and C. K. Whipple. Seeing the strongest bond of the Union of the States in “the chains upon four millions of slaves, with tyrants at one end and hypocrites at the other,” Lib. 29.92. he desired the trustees to expend his bequest ‘by employing such agents as believe and practise the doctrine of “no union with slaveholders,” religiously or politically, and by the circulation of such publications as tend to destroy every pro-slavery institution.’

‘Our glorious cause,’ said Mr. Garrison at the New England³ Convention, ‘has been before this nation for thirty years, challenging the sympathy and aid of all classes. Many rich men have died during that time;—men of property are dying every day, and are making liberal bequests for charitable purposes. But, mark you! always for those purposes which will be sure to receive the approbation of everybody, but never to promote an unpopular movement. So calculating, timid, and conservative is wealth. Charles F. Hovey is the very first man of property who has died and left a large portion of his means, or any considerable amount, to the anti-slavery cause, or to other kindred enterprises. May he not be the last!’⁴