The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-22
From he Beston Transcript.
The Peace and Dignity OF the Common
vvealth-Uo. Nv.

wealth-uo. XIV.
10 | have shown, by the testimony of the Rev,
Mr.. Phelps. in his Lectures ON Slavery
that moral and constitutional means alone were
contemplated, in 1884, for the accomplishment
of what he is pleased 10 call s'imnediate ema,s-
cipdtiOn."
CIergymen of almost every denomination,
and to a considerable extent, united with Mr..
Phelps, and were abolitionists, as he toas an
ab0litionist. One hundred and twenty -four
ministers of the Gospel, in 1884, subscribed
a paper entitled ga Declaration of Sentiment"
which is prefxed to the lectures of Mr.. Phelps.
Some of these clergymen, in Garrison's opin-
ion, fall within his category of hypocrites and
knaves. Because they have gone back? No.
Because they will not go forward, and toe the
line of anarchy and treason, with these incen-
diaries. What was the doctrine of these clergy
men in 1892 After declaring that "the peo-
pie of the nom slaveholding States haze not the
right Of physical or legal iiterposition IN the
case" they say ''they have right, and it is
their solemn duty to do what they can, by
light and love- to enlighten the public mind,
arouse the public conscience, and change and
elevate the tone of public sentiment" &c.;
page vi. They also propose 10 change the will
Of the stakeholder. Howe ''By the power Of
by means of kind, candid, and thorough dis
c,lssion with the shareholders themselves"
With what profound contempt those thirty
tender-hearted creatures who announced the
late anti-slavery fair must look upon the short
comings of these one hundred and twenty four
clergymen! A fig for their light and lore, say
these benevolent amazons. Listen, gentle
reader, to the cooling of these lionesses:
"Hardly could it occur to the most ignorant
and thoughtless mind, that the abolition OF
American slavery would take place, but by an
agitation that should convulse the whole ma
tion-up0n the earth distress of nations with
perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
mems hearts failing them for fear, and for look
ing after those things that are coming upon the
EARTH"
What would good Parson Phelps have said
to this2 In 1888, one year before the publica-
ton of his lectures, an anti-slavery convention
was held in Philadelphia, December A, 1888.
After speaking of the belligerent principles
which led to independence, ours" said the
members of this convention, "forbid the doing
of evil, that good may come, and lead US to re-
ject and to entreat the oppressed to reject the
use of all carnal weapons of deliverance from
bondage; relying solely upon those which are
spiritual and mighty, through God, to the pull
ing down of stronghold" They propose no.
thing beyond the Opposition of moral purity to
moral corruption, the destruction Of error by
the potency of truth, the overthrow of prejudice
by the power Of love, and the abolition of slavery
by the spirit of repentance" All this may be
found in the appendix, No. ILL.,, to Bourne's
Picture Of Slavery. Where was Garrison ?
He was there! HIS name is appended to this
document. He was not then the Hector that he
is-guantson mutatus alb lilo!
In this very document, signed by this very
Garrison, ] find the following passages: eve
concede that Congress, under the present ma
tiOnat compact, has no right to interfere with
any of the slave States in relation to this mo-
mentous subject" Again: "But we maintain
that Congress has a right, and is solemnly
bound, to suppress the domestic slave trade be-
tween the several States, and to abolish slavery
in those portions of our territory which the
Constitution has placed under its exclusive ju-
risdiction." Really! This is the very Con
stitution, then, so amply recognised, and now
to be "tramplsd under foot"
sour trust for uictory," said the consistent
"Christlike' Garrison, under his sign manual,
then, is "solely in God"
In May, 1888, Garrison's language is mani
testify altered for the worse. On page II of the
History of Pennsylvania Hall, he says: ''These
are your men of caution, and prudence, and iu-
diciousness. Sir, have learned to hate these
words" Again: "Sir, slavery will not be over
thrown without excitement, most tremendous
excitement. And let me say, there is too much
quietude in this city," Again: "Your cause
will not prosper here-the philosophy of reform
forbids you to expect it-uniil it excites popular
tumult, and brings down upon it shower Of
brick-ba and rotten eggs, and is threatened
with coat of tar and feathers" This is light
and lore and trusting solely in God
Upon this very occasion Garrison berates Mr..
Sleigh, the colonizationist, as foreign adven-
turer, who comes here to interfere with Ameri-
can citizens-how readily the line occurs
m,itato nomine de te domino Thompson) fab
uLa nayratur.
The Nsw England Anti Slavery Society was
formed in 1882. Of this society Garrison was
the corresponding secretary. A copy of the
constitution, now upon my table, contains this
passage in the preamble: ssWe declare that we
will not operate on the existing relations of So
ciety by other than peaceful and lawful means,
and that we will give no countenance to vio-
lence or Instruction" The second article
states that "The objects of the society shall
be to endeavor, by all means sanctioned by la,c,
humanity, and religion, to effect the abolition
Of slavery" Sc. An address was published and
circulated by this society in 1882. "Thc OBJ
jcct Of this society Is neither var nor sedition"
eve hope ever to imbibe the spirit of Him
who says Resist not evil'-'they that take
the sword shall perish by the sword Gov
erned by such spirit, the weapons of our war
fare can never be carnal. The only influence
we can exert must be that of moral suasion,
and not of coercion"