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

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Now could you not edit a monthly paper devoted to the nonresistance cause, particularly if Mr. Johnson should remain in¹ Boston, without interfering with your duties as editor of the Liberator? Very many, I think, who do not wish to have the cause introduced into the Liberator, would be anxious to take a paper wholly devoted to it. I think in Weymouth twelve or fifteen subscribers might be obtained, and I presume that wherever Mr. Wright lectures he might obtain a large number,² as you would, of course, have the subscription as low as would consist with prudence.

Is this a visionary or impracticable plan, or is it founded on a principle you disapprove? The idea has originated wholly with myself, and I am uncertain whether it will be approved by any one; but I have felt so anxious that the cause of strife may be avoided that I would make any sacrifice, save one of principle, to prevent it. I know you will excuse the liberty I take in so freely bringing forward my views.

P. S. The above was written on Sunday evening. Since then Messrs. Phelps and St. Clair have been at Weymouth, and³ their incidental remarks have served to increase my fear that the Liberator will be seriously injured unless something be done to prevent it. I desire the Liberator, and the Liberator only, to be the organ of the anti-slavery party in Massachusetts. Many plans have been on foot for its subversion, but have failed because they had no basis. I fear you are furnishing one if the Liberator becomes a peace paper in part.

Such was the genesis of the Non-Resistant, a journal which the next year will introduce to us. Before the end of December its publication as a semi-monthly was determined on, and the last number but one in the Liberators volume contained an announcement to that effect⁴ by the Executive Committee of the Non-Resistance Society. Meanwhile the new organization had received the anathema of the religious press, with hardly an ⁵ exception, and been expressly repudiated by the American⁶ Peace Society (its executive committee embracing Amasa Walker, Henry Ware, Jr., J. P. Blanchard, and George C. Beckwith), and by the New York Peace Society.⁷

When one reviews the various manifestations of antislavery activity during the year 1838—in which, as has