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

‘ [319] white lady), of Canterbury, Conn., for a High School for young colored Ladies and Misses. This is,’ he continued, ‘a seasonable auxiliary to the contemplated Manual Labor School for Colored Youth. An interview with Miss C. has satisfied us that she richly deserves the patronage and confidence of the people of color; and we doubt not they will give her both.’

Already, however, the town of Canterbury had been thrown into an uproar by the news not only that Miss Crandall would not dismiss Sarah Harris, but would practically dismiss her white pupils instead, and make Canterbury the seat of the higher education of ‘niggers.’ ‘The good people of Canterbury,’ writes Arnold¹ Buffum from Providence, on March 4, ‘I learn, have had three town meetings last week to devise ways and means to suppress P. Crandall's school, and I am informed that the excitement is so great that it would not be safe for me to appear there. George [W.] Benson, however, has ventured and gone there on Saturday afternoon last, to see what can be done in the case.’ Mr. Benson found that Miss Crandall had already been visited by a committee of gentlemen, who represented ‘that by ² putting her design into execution she would bring disgrace and ruin upon them all.’ They ‘professed to feel a real regard for the colored people, and were perfectly willing they should be educated, provided it could be effected in some other place!—a sentiment,’ adds Mr. Benson, ‘you will say, worthy of a true colonizationist.’ He also learned of the calling of another town meeting for the 9th instant, at which S. J. May, of the adjacent village of Brooklyn, had promised to be present as Miss Crandall's attorney,³ and his own services in the same capacity were gladly accepted. They were subsequently reinforced by Arnold Buffum. On the eve of the meeting, Mr. Garrison wrote from Boston to Mr. Benson: