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[250] —and offered to prove it from his writings. Mr. Dickey even went so far as to call him a Hicksite Quaker—no1 anti-climax in Cresson's orthodox connection, and quite the equivalent of calling a man an ‘infidel.’ This latter form had now become the favorite one in the mouths of those clergymen who were seeking to make it a pretext2 for driving Mr. Garrison from the management of the cause. Such an one, in Vermont, in the early summer, had denounced him from the pulpit as a Sabbathbreaker, an enemy to the Christian religion, a disturber of the peace of society, a violator of all law, both human and divine. Language like this, which might well have been reserved for arch-criminals, could not fail to inculcate a lamentably false idea of Mr. Garrison's moral character among the public at large, and even to disquiet distant friends. In the present instance the following private vindication seemed called for:

Francis Jackson to Jesse Stedman, at Chester, Vt.

Boston, June 20, 1838.
3 Yours of the 13th inst. was duly received, relative to the charges brought against Wm. Lloyd Garrison by a minister of the gospel. I reply to them with pleasure from my long personal knowledge of Mr. Garrison.

I would remark in the outset, that I believe the overthrow of slavery to be the greatest moral question of the age; that it is the undoubted right and the conscientious duty of all to unite their efforts for its immediate extermination; and that, in order to insure unity of action, it is proper for each so far to respect the religious and political views of all as to move forward with harmony and energy in one unbroken rank. As a humble member of this great body of the true friends of the slave, I have endeavored, I trust, to adhere to this rule in good faith. I do not, therefore, know, except incidentally or accidentally, what are the religious or political opinions of those with whom I am proud to be associated. Nor do I know what Mr. Garrison's religious views are; but I do verily believe him to be a meek and humble follower of Christ, sincerely desiring to know and endeavoring to do the will of God. In short, I do not know a more thorough and consistent Christian.


1 Lib. 8.46.

2 Lib. 8.169.

3 Ms.

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