New-York tribune., 1879-05-24
A SKETCH OF HIS LEE.

A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
William Lloyd Garrison was born ia Newbury.
port Mass, December ~, 1904. His parents
natives of the province of New-Brunswlck His
mother is described as a woman of marked person.
atty who at the age of eighteen became devoted
member of the Baptist Church, for which she was
discarded by her parents. She found home under
the roof of uncle, until ber marriage with Abjah
Garrison. master of a vessel engaged in the West
India trade Abljah Garrison was a man OF somo
genus and many interesting traits of character,
but he became exceedingly incorporate, that his
wife left him with her family of little ones, to
struggle for herself and for them Being in utter
poverty, she became professional nurse, and in
1914 went to Lynn, Mass whore William,
her second son. was placed with Gamaliel Oil
yer TO learn the business OF shoe making. His
mother finding that the trade did not agree with HIM,
took him from the situation and sent him to school
at NewburypOrt. He is said even then to have bad
a great taste for learning and for books. At New
buryport he lived in the family of Deacon Ezekiel
Bartlett, and, as a compensation for his board, as
sisted the Deacon In his occupation of woodsawyer.
In 1915 he with his mother in Baltimore,
where he supported himself by his own labor and
had his first opportunity of practically studying
the institution of slavery. In 1918, he was again
apprenticed to Ephraim w. Allen, editor Of Tho
Ne,uJryport Herald to learn the art of printing He
was then between sixteen and seventeen years old;
and began his literary career by communicating
articles on political and other topics to The Herald
Allen was so pleased with these, that he sent tho
writer, through the post office, letter of thanks.
Thus encouraged, he transmitted series OF articles,
over the signature of "Aristides" to The Salem
Gazette which had the honor of being attributed by
Robert Walsh in The Philadelphia Gazette, to no less
parsonage than Timothy Pickering. Young
il,fa
to several other journals. In 1924, dur
ing a protracted absence of Mr.. Allen Tho
Herald was left in the sole charge Of young Garri
son, who both edited it and superntended the
printing 1t is said that at this time he became 50
much interested In the cause of the Greeks then
battling for national independence. that he was de-
srous of admission to West Point to learn the
military art. In 1926 he became proprietor and
editor of newspaper in Newburyport called Tho
Free Press He worked industriously, putting his
editorials into type without previously writing
them; he gave the newspaper high moral tone;
but all his efforts frutless to keep The freo
Press from failure. Going to Boston he resumed
| work as a iourneyman printer. and in 1927 he be-
came the editor of The National PhLanthropist the
first journal ever printed TO advocate the cause Of
Z" total abstinence" This publication changed
proprietors before the close of the year. Garrison
with friend printed and edited The Journal Of Tho
Times at Bennington, Vt. This newspaper sup
ported John Quincy Adams for the Presiden " and
was also devoted to the of peace. temperance.
anti-savery and similar reformatcry movements.
II failed also for want of adequate support.
In 1929 the subject of slavery had engrossed thu
mind of Mr. Garrison. AT Bennington he had pre-
pared aud circulated for signatures memorial to
| Congress against the institution On the fth OF
July, 1929, he delivered in Park Street Church, in
| II. l.
boldness and vigor attracted general attention. He
was then friend and supporter of the American
| Colonization Society. He had made the acquant-
ance of Benjamin Lundy, Quaker and Abohtionist,
| who was then printing in Baltimore an anti
slavery newspaper called The Genius Of URirersdI
| Emancipation. lie engaged Mr. Garrison 10 assist
in the editorial work Of The Genius Garrison said
afterward - wasn't much help TO him, for he had
been all for gradual emancipation, and as soon as
began to look into the matter, | became convinced
that immediate abolition was the doctrine 20 DO
preached, and / scattered his subscribers Ike
pigeons Each of the editors appended his initials
to his articles. Soon event occurred which
brought matters TO crisis. The ship Frances Itdd,
from Newburyport, came to Baltimore, and took
In a load of slaves for the New-0rleans market.
This Mr.. Garrison IN his newspaper denounced
as piracy" aud expressed the determination Of
In the transaction" The result was that he was
convicted in May, 1880, of gross and malicious
libel against the owner and master of the ship and
sentenced to pay fine Of $50 and costs of court.
Unable to discharge this he sent TO Jail. Mr..
Todd, the owner of the ship, brought civil suit
against him. and obtained a verdict for 81 900; but
| hisjudgment was never enforced In prison, Mr.
Garrison was frequently visited by Lundy and q
| few other Quaker friends. 1t is a curious fact
| that the Manumission Society of North Carolina
protested against his imprisonment aviolation Of
the liberty of the press. Mr.. Garrison was confined
for forty-nine days, when he was released by the
| generosity of Mr.. Arthur Tappan, a New-York
merchant who paid the fine and costs. 1t is stated
| that Henry Clay had determined to do the same
| good deed.
After his release Mr. Garrison determined TO start
an anti-slavery newspaper in Washington, Of which
he issued prospectus; but the plan was aban-
| doned IN favor of similar newspaper IN Boston.
| He prepared a course of lectures Slavery, which
ho delivered in Philadelphia, New-York, New