Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-27

Mr.. Oliver johnson is writing for the
Tribune u series of articles on the early abo-
litionists and the progress of the cause, aud
in the first one occurs this mention of Mr..
Garrison's labor in Vermont
Some time in 1925 Mr.. Garrison ac-
cepted an invitation to go to Bennington,
Vermont, to establish apaper for the support
of John Quincy Adams, for the presidency.
The title of this paper was the journal of
the Times. As a boy, had greatly admired
the National Philanthropist, and had tried
my own apprentice hand as a writer in its
columns. But | found new cause for admir-
ing the journal Of the Times in the fact that
it was published in my native State. How
eagerly did | read and file away for preserya-
ton every number as it came to the office in
which | was serving my own apprenticeship
the Waterman office in Montpelier. 1t was
to me the ideal newspaper, and it stirred in
my youthful breast that ambition of editor
ship which springs up in the breast of every
boy who learns TO handle Il composing stick.
Mr.. Garrison did not neglect the purpose for
which his paper was established. He sup
ported Mr.. Adams with zeal and ability, but
he also discussed questions Of reform which
were quite distasteful to some of his readers.
He was the champion of temperance and
peace, and Lundys Genius of Universal
Emancipation, which was among his ex-
tuhukGht ldllutu HIS llhlluCllNt uulEtu VI
slavery to an intense heat He wrote petit
ton for the abolition of slavery in the district
of Columbia, which he sent to all the post
masters in the State of Vermont, begging
them to procure signatures thereto In that
day postmasters enjoyed the privilege of re-
ceiving and sending letters free of postage,
and Mr.. Garrison succeeded in getting large
number of signatures to his petition, which
caused quite a fiutter in Washington.
Mr.. Lundy's paper was a small, dingy-
looking sheet, published but once month.
He spent the greater portion Of his time in
travelling from place to place procuring sub
scribers and endcayoriug TO excite an inter
est in the subject by conversation and lectur-
ing, In some instances he carried the head
rules, column-r rules aud subscription book of
his paper with him, aud when he came to a
town where he found a printing office, he
would stop long enough to print and mail a
| number of the Genius. He travelled for the
most pant on foot, carrying n heavy pack.
| He was a man of slight figure though of a
wiry temperament, and these eXertions no
| doubt overtaxed his strength. In his boy
hood he had seen coffies of Virginia slaves
going down to Ohio ON their way to the far
South. and Quaker education had 80 intensi-
fed his hatred of the slave system that he
| counted no labor or sacrifice on his part too
| great to be endured in efforts for suppression.
No apostle of the Christian faith ever exhib-
tied more ardent and unselfsh devotion to
his work than that which characterized the
anti-slavery labors of this devoted but sim
ple-minded Quaker, who obeyed the rule of
bis sect in ''minding the light" of the Divine
| Spirit on his own soul. The torch of liberty
which Mr.. Garrison was holding aloft in the
| Green Mountains of Vermont naturally at
tracted his attention and kndled new hope
in his bosom. His heart yearned toward the
young champion of freedom, and he longed
to enlist him more fully in the cause-to
make him, if it were possible, his coadjutor,
| So, staff in hand, in the winter frost and
snow, he walked all the long and weary way
| from Baltimore to Bennington. The meet
ing of these two men under the shadows of
the Green Mountains, whose winds were ever
the swift messengers of freedom, may be re-
garded as the beginning of a movement that
was destined, under God, to work the over
throw of American slavery, From this fresh
mountain spring came forth the moral infu-
ences which, feeble at the first, became too
mighty to be resisted. The two men took
sweet and solemn counsel together, and
formed resolution whose final results were
| seen in the deliverance of their country from
slavery, and proclaimed in the exultant
shouts of millions of emancipated bondsmen