Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-22
From the Liberator.
LETTER FROM WILLIAM c. NELL.


DNSiNNt W. lCvOs
RESPECTED FRIEND This is the seAi.centennial
anniversary Of William Lloyd Garrison's birthday.
Ills leaving to attend an onti.slavcry meeting in
Philadelphia, while it depriyes the Garrison Assoc
ciatien Of the satisfaction Uf n proposed commem-
orative gathering, permits my cullinG for the read
ers of the Liberator q few "reminiscences Of its Ed
itor,-showiDg that, from his first advocacy Of an
ti.slayery 30 the present pc%iod, he has made the
standpoint of the slave his own. And this, 10y
the way, has become the distinctive feature of those
rtd'cals known as 'Garrisouian Ahulitiorists.' In
the Liberator Of January lst, 1881, lie thus dedi-
cates his powers TO the cause, %--apoStlo plizing the
dark spirit Of slavery
Il swear, while life-blood warns my throbjing
veins.
Still to opp SC and thwnrt, with heart and hand,
Thy brulalizing sway, till Afric's chains
Arc burst, and Freedom rIlcs the rescued land
Trampling Oppression and his iron rod =:
Such is tie vow | takc-so help me Godp
Soon afterwards he declared,-'N danger or re-
proach shall deter me from the cause wherever
l @, at the East or the West, the North or the
South, there shall my voice lie heard in behalf of
the suffering bondman and against the claims Of
his oppressor. II | Prove Il recreant to my pledge,
if | swerve for n moment from the path Of duty,
60 avoid reproach or conciliate the ill-will of any
living being, I shall deserve the curse of mankind,
MS | surely shall receive the punishment Of llcay-
en-
Baltimore Jail in 1920, and Levcrctt Street Jail
Cd ,ston) in 1885, bore testimony to the redemption
of his pledge thus far.
In 1881, he also addressed the colored citizens
Of Boston, commencing as follows: L never rise
to address n coloured audience without feeling
ashamed of my own color; ashamed Of being iden-
titled with Il race of men who have done you so
much injustice, and who yet retain SO large u pos.
ton of your brethren in servile chains
In May. 1888, Pennsylvania Hall was dedicated.
Mr.. Garrison felt moved to speak as follow -
.S;r I bava olsarraA With aorat sinna tho Open-
ing Of this Hall, that not n single colored brother
has occupied a seat upon your platform. Why is
this? 1t cannot be because there is no one pres.
ent, who. on the score Of Intellectual and moral
worth, is entitled to such respectful treatment. Is
it, then. the result Of accident or design / fear
this exclusion may be traced to a wicked prejudice
or the fear of giving public offence. 1t i'll becomes
US to rebuke others for cherisbing the hateful spir-
it of caste, if zee are disposed to give it any quar-
ter
Another remark | may be permitted to make; it
has appeared TO meas well as to others. that there
is a squcamishness with regard to coming out bold
" in favor of the doctrine Of immediate emancipa-
ton, and letting the public understand distinctly
the object of our assembling together \ y
This Iill, Mr.. Chairman, needs a new dedica-
tion. The eloquent gentleman David Paul Brown
Esq J who yesterday stood as the priest at the al
tar, and performed solemn dedicatory services,
exhibited the Goddess Of Liberty in all her beau
ty and attraction; but as every eye was kindling
with a radiant flame, and every heart was leaping
exultingly, and every knee bent in homage, he
then, amazing infatuation! seized the dagger Of
expediency, and plunged it to her heart! For one,
l wondered and shuddered at the unnatural deed.
The orator considered it blasphemy to say that
slavery was right, and in accordance with the
Scriptures; and yet, in the very next breath, he
talked about legislatiug for its future overthrow,
and declared that he was opposed to its immediate
abolition Sir, if there be a neck to that discourse
l would say, let a stone be tied around it, and let
i, be sunk in the depths of the sea- = \
1t gives me pain, sir, to make these remarks
The speech was-at least, the greater part of it
an admirable speech. j. handled the subject in a
mastery and eloquent manner. But the latter
part Of it neutralized all the good that had been
said, it contained poison enough to kill all the col
ored men on earth. All that the Shareholders re-
quire to enable them to hold their slaves in inter
minabie bondage was to be found in that speech.
For what more do they want than an admission
that immediate and unconditional emancipation is
not dae to every one of their slaves, and that the
Withholding of liberty from them for a moment is
not robbery Sir, that gentleman talked Of free
ing the children as they arrived at u certain age,
and leaving the parents in slavery-at least until
they can be educated and prepared for freedom :
Is this the dictate of humanity or religion ? No,
sir. 1t deserves our unmingled adherence, as I'M
natural and monstrous. Sir, this Hall must sure
" be re-baptized. Let us, during the meetings of
this week, wash out this stain of reproach.'
In 1910, when the Worlds Anti-Slavery Con-
vention was held in London, Hayden the artist
was employed to paint portraits Of the members.
His journal refers to several delegates who were
not willing to be represented on canvass in iuxta-
position with colored men. This he regarded as
u test of the commences of their anti-slavery. lie
says-'Garrison comes to-day. I'll Try him, and
this shall be my method of ascertaining the true
hear $. Garrison sat and l succeeded; and he
met me at once, directly
These will suffice, | trust, TO convince Abolition.
lists Of recent growth, as well as those who, at this
the 6ftieth year Of Mr.. Garrison's life, and the
twenty-sixth of bis active anti-slavery usefulness,
can discharge at him poisoned arrows from their
quivers of distrGst and selGshness, that his course
has been true to the slave as the needle to the pole
and that every effort to injure him in the estima-
ton of the good and the true will be fruitless.
The following Sonnet was written by Mr.. Gar
rison on completing his thirty-ffth year.
If. to the age of three score years and ten,
God of my life thou shalt my term prolong,
Still be it mine to r~eprobate all wrong,
And save from wo my suffering fellow-men.
Whether. in Freedoms cause, my voice or pen
BE used by thee. who art my JOY and song,
To vindicate the weak against the strong,
Upon my labors rest thy benison!
o. not for Afric's sons alone | plead,
Or her descendants; but for all who sigh
In servile chains, whate'er their caste or creed:
They not in vain to Heaven send up their cry;
For all mankind from bondage shall be freed.
And from the earth be chased all forms of tyr
amy
That be may live to behold the jubilee in pro-
motion of which all his powers have been so nobly
and consistently dedicated, | remain,
Hopefully yours,