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

‘ [170] with the lowly spirit of the gospel. . . . May the Lord preserve you and bless you, and give you the sweet temper of John united to the intrepidity and ardor of Paul.’

I might make other extracts, but these must suffice. Have we not reason to feel disquieted at the New York policy? If persisted in, will it not inevitably divide the anti-slavery ranks? In the next Liberator I shall feel it to be an imperative duty to rebuke the Executive Committee and the Emancipator before the public.

How much, then, is depending upon the meeting of our State Society at Worcester! Whatever it does, will tell mightily for good or evil. Whether Fitch and Woodbury will try to rally their forces on that occasion, I do not know, but think it highly probable. Should you attend, let your soul speak out as God shall give it utterance—and think not of me as your brotherin-law, but only of our glorious cause. You are, happily, too well known to be charged with being swerved or biased by our connexion. Bro. May and Phelps will be there—the Grimkes —Alvan Stewart,¹ and perhaps Gerrit Smith, and many others. The meeting will probably hold two days, but perhaps only one. . . . The course of reasoning marked out in your letter, to be given at Worcester, is very good and conclusive. I have not time or room to suggest any points. As I shall not go to Worcester myself, perhaps I may find time to send you a few suggestions by bro. Phelps.

Mr. Garrison's scruples about attending the Worcester Convention were overcome by his friends, who naturally² desired that he should manage his own cause. He was, however, much engaged on the business committee,³ and did not hear the debates, and spoke only to the question of Texas. His appearance there was the signal for ‘some spontaneous rounds of approbation.’ ‘This⁴ strong burst,’ said the editorial notice of it in the Liberator, ‘was elicited, most evidently, not as an idle compliment, but as an expression of the sentiments of the audience in relation to the recent clerical attack ’