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

[256] interest as a Briton, as the most glorious recorded on the page of British history.

In extending to you an invitation to attend an anti-slavery celebration, the friends of the slave evinced the same courtesy to you as they had shown to other distinguished transatlantic visitors. They acted neither invidiously nor singularly in this respect. Religious deputations have been repeatedly sent to this country from England, for various objects; and these have all been tested in a similar manner as to their anti-slavery principles, and in every instance they have exhibited a treacherous and cowardly spirit. At home, where it was reputable to be an abolitionist, they could declaim with zeal and fervor against slavery and all its abettors. As soon as they landed on these shores, where it is highly disreputable to be an abolitionist, they united with the traducers and persecutors of the uncompromising advocates of emancipation. Thus they were proved to be men destitute of principle, guided by a selfish expediency, “loving the praises of men more than the praise of God.”

By way of illustration, Mr. Garrison cited the case of¹ Drs. Cox and Hoby, in 1835, whose attempted neutrality, in the interest of the ‘paramount’ purpose of their mission, ‘amounted to positive hostility to the American Anti-Slavery Society,’ and directly imperilled the life of George Thompson. ‘The year 1835 was the most memorable of any that has occurred for pro-slavery violence and lawlessness; and that was the year made equally memorable by the presence and recreancy of those English delegates. How much of this violence and lawlessness will be manifested during your sojourn here,’ wrote the² victim of the Boston mob to Father Mathew, ‘remains to be seen; but no small amount, if “ coming events cast their shadows before.” ’

The second letter introduced a personal comparison:

To shield you from censure, your defenders declare that you³ have a specific object in view—the promotion of temperance, especially among your own countrymen—from which it is quite outrageous to ask you to be diverted, even for a moment, to aid the noblest cause that ever enlisted the sympathies of the human soul. You are complimented, on all sides, for resolving to know nothing, say nothing, do nothing, except on the subject of temperance,