Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-13
$50 --A-r-- &.
From the T5ihFrnto'
From the Eberator, -
LETTER FROM VIII. LLOYD GARRISON.
To the Committee Of the
Boston Lectures on Slavery:

BosTos, Nov. IL, 1855.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of October LIST,
1855, inviting me to deliver one of the leo
lures on slavery, to be given at the fremont
Temple, was not received by me till to-day.
| hasten to reply to it, and to give you my
reasons for most respectfully declining your
courteous invitation.
In the first place, you state that "a large
number of gentlemen alias men-stealers]
from the South will be invited to favour C)
us with the views prevalent in their vicinity;
and perceive on the list of pledged lecturers
the names of " Hon. Henry W. billiard, of
Alabama" 4" Hon. Robert Toombs, of Geor-
gia," and, as probable substitutes, "Hon. A.
+. Butler Of South Carolina" and "Dr.
William A. Smith, of Virginia" | under
stand. moreover, that your invitation was al
so sent to that lawless rufian, the leader of
The Missouri-Kansas bandits, David r. Atch
ison--that desperate demagogue and Isca-
riot traitor to liberty, Stephen Arnold Doug
las, of Illinois-that unmitigated BLACKBOARD
and shameless bully, Henry A. Wise, of Vir-
ginia-and that monster in human form,
John NJ Mason, the infamous Trainer Of the
Fugitive Slave law, also Of Virginia. All
these stand committed before the world as the
most malignant enemies of the anti-slavery
cause, the most bitter contemners Of the
North especially Of Massachusetts,, and the
most ferocious defenders of the accurssd slave
system to the end Of time--as well as actual
y savehulders, whose souls are stepped in pol
1dtion, whose hands and garments are drip
ping with the blood of enslaved millions, and
who, instead of being politely invited and
handsomely paid by you to utter their bias
phemies against the God of freedom and the
rights of man, deserve to be capitally execu-
ted, without benefit of clergy (if capital
punishment be permissible in any case, winch
do not beieve), even under the law Of Con.
grsss which they themselves endorse making
it a piratical act, worthy of death, to snslavs
any nativeborn African, by bringing him to
this country for that purpose: for the crime
consists solely in the act Of enslavement, NO
matter on what pretense. That they are not
to lecture is simply owing to their refusal
their consistent refusal, will add, however
uncivil may have been the language used by
them. as in the case of Mr.. Wise. You in
vited them in good faith, and in the SAME
terms that you invited all the others.
Gentlemen, you are an Anti-Slavery Com
mittee. You profess to regard slavery al
the sum of all villainies," and seek its uttel
overthrow. Pardon me if express my as
constituent that you should so tar forget wha
is due to your selfrespcct, your moral eonsis
tsHcy. the dignity of the cause you have es
poused, and the common sense of mankind
as to extend to some Of tho most WORTHLESS
as we'll as most fendish supporters Of slavery
an offer to give them liberal remuneration
if they will come to Boston, and do what il
them lies to make this pro-slavcry communit
yet more hostile to freedom, and therefor
more jealous in the service of the Slav
Power.
l took occasion, in my public reply to Ger
l Houston, last year, to enter the same prote'
against q similar invitation extended to him
and I sincerely cherished the hope that W
Z should be spared the repetition Of an absu1
dity so glaring, and an act SO effective.
9 Gentlemen, l wish to do full justice to you
v motives. You doubtless reasoned in TIL
}. wise BY inviting the most inveterate slav'
= holders of the South to defend their sla,
: systefs befose Boston audience, additions
:, interest will be given to the course of lie
!. teresa .Ihore widespread discussion of ii
J. subject will DO the consequence-our eau
y has nothing to fear, but everything to gal
If from the closest scrutiny-it will be retur
ing good for evil-we shall exhibit true ma
}. nanimty, and set an example that will p
10 to shame tue whole South for their barba
n Gus treaement Of the Abolitionists.
N Gentlemen, it would mortfy me to belle
n that there lives the man who goes beyond I
"a in profound appreciation of what just
- pertains to noble, fearless and magnanimo
y. course Of condnct--to free discussion-to
Of untrapmeled platform. If there be Il jot
c. nal more free, Independent and impart
to than The Liberafor, know not of its ex
De tence. 1t there be an organization viii
" has more constantly maintained freedom
!. speech for all who attend its meetings tn
w w the American Anti-Slavery Society," ha
yet to learn its name.
to But, gentlemen, there is but one ST
n, from the sublime to the ridiculous" M,
rs nanimity generosity, good spirit, are
o. commeedabe virtues but so are sound d
n erection. moral pIopriety, fidelity to princir
err 1t is not required by the spirit of Christie
he ity, it is not in accordance with the eter
or fitness of things, to invite men guilty of -"
sc highest kind of theft" to come from rem
y part of the couutry, and accept our profile
st. civilities that they may show US the util
,c. aud excellence oil robbing millions OF
m: countrymen Of their inalenablc rights
dy turning them into perishabie property 6
re- articles oil mcrohandse--oi forcing them
ed live in a state of bcastly uncleanness,
- abolishing the sacred institution of marri
" of penetrating upon their bodies and 81
ves it all conceivable outrages; and then to
in. munern,o them literally, out Of the anti
very treasury, for this inexcusable and /
yis ribie act of villany! Why, gentlemen,
in is to run charity and good will into
Try ground 1t has no parallel among strai,
NY forward and earnest men. 1t almest g
'or an air 81 caricature to your entire procs
I'VE ings. 1t is not freedom of speech, but
in considerateness; it is not generosity, but
IN; providence; it's not overcoming evil v
re- good, but placing good and evil in tho ST
!, category, making them equally deservin,
90 oO- public courtesy, and equally dubious a
r. which should prevail!
ore What is particularly surprising is,
cen you should have selected from among
elf Shareholders, and defenders Of slavery,
'a az most insolent, depraved and desperate Of Il
not os all-Atchison, Wise, Douglas, Mason, Too
mn. aud Butler--the last men, even among sl'
its. holders flor there are grades among felo
too, deserving Of notice, much less of special
,by sideratioD. have already properly des