Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-03-02
Wendell Phillips Speech.

An-Savery Society in taneun Hall, on the Zh Janua-
ry At these meetings Ralph Waldo Emerson said good
while ago. in all sincerity too that eoquence was dog
cheap" OF all the who have there uttered 'tho IS
that breathe and words that burn probably unite
many of the highest qualities of the orator as Mr. Phil
lips. The reading of of his speeches is of course
very different thing from hearing it pronounced in his
melliAuous tones with almost of inspirations
as he is reused this topic, which fills his whole soul
But simply read his speech in fair type, is pleasure
enough for one hours and having enjoyed that feel i'm
PEELED to speak of it.
have read the reports of many of the speeches on
like occasions, but of one thought equal to this in
its force of statement rich in thought and expression,
full of the highest eloqucnce 1t has Completeness and
unity and while evincing the greatest elaboration in its
matter is free from all undue marks thereof in its style
am aware that to one used to anti-savery outpour
ngs much of the speech might appear NADIA did the
words of Paul Festus To others they the words
of truth and soberness There few exceptions not
affecting the main issue, which shall refer hereafter
The speech processes to review in rapid manner of
course the progress of the antsavery agitation from its
commencement in 1881 to the present time 1t defends
the men who then began it, and who have been its I'M
dauned and foremost advocates ever since, William Lloyd
Garrison their head from the oft repeated charges that
they have ''submitted to discipline, formed plan,
been guided by foresight, but hurried in childish,
reckless blind and ho-headed zeal-bgots in the mar
rowness of our views, and fanatics in blind fury of
invective and malignant Judgment of other mems mo-
tiycs ," ~ He takes for his text article in late
number of the London Leader, signed Ion in which,
while recognizing high merits in Mr. Garrison, the writer
charges him and his associates with going to work in
manner that has reused opposition ncedlcssy kept cool
and wise counseor aloof and ths hndered rather than
helped the they had at heart To all this Mr. Phil
lips gives broad and unequiyocal denial He says:
sI claim for the ant-savery movement with which this
Society is Identified that; looking back its whole
course and considering the connected with it in the
mass has been marked by the sounest Judgment the
unerrng foresight the most sagacious adaptation of
means ends the stricest selfdscpne the most thor
ough research and amount of patient and manly ar
gument addressed to the conscience and intellect OF the
naton such other of the kind, in England or
! this country has ever offered"
every statement have made has been doubted; ev
cry principle have laid down has been denied by over
wheming maiOrtes against us. No one step has ever
been gained but by the most aborous research and the
most exhausting arguments and no question has ever
since Revolutionary days, been thoroughly nvestga-
cd and argued here's that of slavery OF that research
and that argument, of the whole of it, the odashoned
fanacal crazy Garrsonian anti-savery movement has
beef the author From this band of has proceeded
every important argument idea that has been preached
OH the ant-slavcry question from 1890 to the present time
am well aware of the extent of the claim make. re-
cognize fully any can the ability Of the new Ia
borers-the eodence and genius with which they have
recommended this to the naOn and flashed convic
ton home the conscience of the community do not
mean either assert that they have in every instance
borrowed from treasury their facts and arguments
Left themselves, they would probably have looked up
the one and originated the other. As matter of fact
however, they have generally made of the materials
collected to their hands, MY claim then
this that neither the charity of the most tmd of secs
the sagacty of wisest CONVERTS the culture of the
rpes scholars, though all have been aided by twenty
ynpripn has ct
reaching the public mind or originated any new ag-
ment train of thought or discovered any new fact
the struggle they have found it necessary adopt the
same means to rely the same arguments to hold up
the and the to the public repro
bation with the same bold rebuke and unsparing nvcc-
tive that have used. All their concatory bearing
their nsakng moderation their constant and anxious
cndeavor to draw broad line between their camp and
ours, have been thrown away Just far they have
been effective aborers they have found have THEN
hands against every man, and every mans hand against
them"
Now these large claims but in my belief Mr. Phil
lips is borne out in them by facts. The exclusion
Messrs Hale Chase and Sumner from all the standing
committees of the U. s. Senate, this winter, is striking
commentary the last assertion. And the last named
person has it is sa found his social position home
much affected by his course, Wendell Phillips or Ed
mund Quincy have theirs. Probably the is true o.
Mr. Palfrey.
MI IlS SHOWS tnilt inc present position OF Mr. Gar-
rson and his associates not taken hastily OF Nh
Garrison he says that beginning in 1922 ''hc sounded
his way warily forward.'' He proceeds
Brought up in the stricest reverence for church or
ganizations his first effort to enlist the cergymen
Boston in the support of his views On their aid he
counted confidently in his effort to preach immediate
pentance of all SIM He did not co. with malice prepenSe
to imagine up to that attic where Mayor
Otis with difficulty found him. He did not court HOSTILE
y seek exile lie did not sedulousy endeavor to cut
himself off from the sympathy and councnance of the
community about him. Oh, no! fervid disciple of the
American Church. he conferred with of the leading
clergy of the city, and laid before them his convictions
the subject of slavery. lie painted their responsibility
and tried induce them to take from his shoulders the
burden of mighty movement. lie laid himself al
their feet He recognized the colossal strength of the
Church; he knew that against their opposition it would
be almost desperate to attempt to relieve the slave It
entreated them, therefore, TO take the cIse But thu
Church turned away from him. they shut their doors
him. They babe him compromise his cOnvctions-smo
ther half of hem and support the Colonization
ment, making his auxiliary to that, they would
have of him. Like Luther, he said, Here stand
God help me; can no othern"
In 1881 he started the Libcrator with boy heI
him. His tone high, his language severe. "But,'
he said els there not for severity wW be al
\ harsh truth and as uncOmpromsng justice an
I'M earnest--I will not equivocate-I will not excuse
y will not retreat single inch-and 0iH be heard"
. He has kept his word Is it asked to what purpose
Mr. P. must
'If all have said to you is untrue, if have exagge
rated, explain to me this fact In 1881, Mr.. Garrison
commenced paper advocating the doctrine of mmedat
emancipation He had against him the thirty thousan
l. churches and all the clergy of the country-s wealth
its commerce, its press. In 1881, what was the state
things There the most entire Ignorance and apath
d the slave question. If knew of the existence
n