The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-11-13
BY OLIVER JOHNSON.

Soon after Ethe formation of the
New England Anti-Slavery Society it
became known to its managers that
the American Colonization Society
had sent an agent to England, who,
under the false pretence that that So
ciety favored or was calculated to pro-
mote the abolition Of American sla-
very, was collecting considerable sums
of money for its treasury from the too
credulous Abolitionists Of that coun-
try. To counteract the efforts of this
agent, and to establish cooperative
relations between British and Ameri-
can Abolitionists, Mr.. Garrison, in the
spring of 1888, was commissioned to
visit England. It was not without
difficulty that the funds to defray the
expenses of this mission were obtain
ed. The resources of the new society
were hardly adequate to such an en-
terprlse, but by persevering effort the
object was achieved, and Mr.. Garrison
took his departure for the Old World
with high hopes, followed by the
prayers and sympathies of his devoted
associates, and by the execrations of
the pro-slayery party. He arrived in
England at an opportune moment.
The anti-slavery struggle in that
country was approaching its consum-
nation. The leaders of the cause,
from all parts of the United Kingdom,
were holding a conference in London
to prepare for their anticipated tri-
umph in the passage of the Act of
Emancipation. Mr.. Garrison on pre-
senting his credentials was received
with open arms and invited to an hon
orary seat in conference embracing
such men as Clarkson, Wilberforce,
Brougham, Macaulay, Buxton and
O'Connen He was then but twenty
eight years Of age, but his modest
bearing, combined with his grave
earnestness and sound judgment, won
the confidence of these eminent men,
who were cheered by the hope that
America, under the influence of so
wise a leader, would be speedily re-
deemed from the curse of slavery.
Every desired facility was offered him
for fulfilling the objects of his mis-
sion. He put his work, Thoughts on
| A1IlCdH OOlUulLdGIOIl, 1IlGO CIlc IdlllS
of eminent men, some of whom had
been misled by the agent Of the Colo
nization Society, and in public and
private diligently explained the origin,
purpose and spirit of the colonization
scheme, citing official documents in
proof of his charges against it. The
anti-slavery feeling of Great Britain
was then at white heat, and the Abo-
litionists were indignant in view of
the attempt to dupe them into the
support of a society controlled by
Shareholders in the interest of slavery
The agent of the colonization scheme
found his position far from enviable:
his occupation was soon gone, and not
long afterward he returned to the
United States. Mr.. Garrison brought
home with him ''Protest" against
the colonization scheme, signed by
Wherefore, Macaulay, Buxton,
O'Connell, and others of scarcely less
weight, in which they declared that
its claims to anti-slavery support were
"wholly groundless," and expressed
their deliberate judgment and convic-
ton" that its professions were ''delu-
sive," its real effects of the most dan
gerous nature" This protest, as well
it might, had great weight with all
sincere opponents of slavery in Amer
lea, while it enraged the colonization-
lists. who charged Mr.. Garrison with