Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-14
Garrison and His Times.

the anti-slavery movement in America, and
of the man who was its founder and moral
leader. II is an attractive 12mo volume Of
four hundred and thirty-two pages, pub
lished by B. b. Russell, Boston, and sold at
sl50. An introduction is furnished by
John G. Whittier, who did almost as efficient
work for freedom with his charming songs
as did Mr.. Garrison with his plain and un-
answerably logical prose. The work pos
sesses an additional charm for us from the
fact that the author is graduate Of the
office of the WATouMAN & JOURNAL, and
also that he dedicates his book to the sur
viving veterans of the anti-slavery struggle,
among whom we are proud to be reckoned.
While the book of Mr.. johnson is finely
written, its chief merit consists in the faith
full record which it gives of the greatest
moral struggle and triumph which our coun-
try has ever known, and of him who was
indeed its founder and leader We can in
no way 80 well commend the book as by
giving few of the leading events in that
marvellous revolution which is already so
rapidly being transferred from the memories
of living men to the pages of history.
Mr.. johnson thus describes the formal Or
ganization of the first anti-slavery society:
On the 18th of November, 1881. fifteen persons
assembled in the office of Samuel L. Sewall,
Boston, to consider the subject or course all
there were known 10 he favorable to the object,
and II was agreed In advance that would form
n society II the apostolic number Of twelve should
be found ready for the movement. OF this little
company Mr.. Garrison was of course, the central
dgure. He unfoded his purposes and plans with
out reserve telling us what the abolitionists Of
Great Britain had done, under the inspiration OF
Elizabeth lleyrick: they had put their movement
'on the ground OF Immediate in distinction from
gradual, emancipation. lie wanted societies
formed in America upon the same principle, and
could not be satisfied with any scheme of gradual
ism. After full discussion, a vote upon the
question showed that nine were in favor of organ
izng upon his plan, while six were opposed.
Another meeting was held at the same place
December 10th. Ten gentlemen were present.
and after considerable discussion. Messrs. David
Lee Child, Samuel L. Sewall, William Lloyd Gar
rison, Ellis Gray Loring and Oliver johnson were
appointed a committee to draft constitution for
an anti-slavery society, to be reported January
1, 1882. The body Of the constitution
reported by the committee was adopted but the
preamble referred for revision to another
committee, to be reported to an adjourned meet
ing to be held January 6, in the school-room UNI
DER the African Baptlst church, IN BelknAp street.
OF that adjourned meeting my recollectons are
very vivid. fierce northeast storm, combining
snow, rain and hail 10 about equal proportions,
raging, and the streets were full of slush.
They were dark, too, for the city, of Boston in
those days was very economical OF light on
" Niger HILL" 1t almost seemed as If nature
was frowniDg upon the new effort to abolish
slavery. But the spirits of the little company rose
superior to all external circumstances. They knew
that their cause was just, and that God and truth
were on their side, and therefore nothing could
discourage them. On that dismal night, and in
the face Of public opinion fiercer far than the
tempest of wind and hail that beat upon the win
dows OF that "nigger school.h house." were laid
the foundations of AN organized movement against
American slavery that at once became too mighty
to be resisted, and that drew into its wake the
thropv of the country David Lee Child, editor OF
The Massachusetts, journal, presided The COM
mittee on the preamble to the constitution made
its report. This preamble, as drawn by William
j Smelling, was in the following words
We undersigned hold that every person. full age
and sane mind has right 10 immediate freedom from per
i"ne OF the law for Se S Of some crime We
hold that man cannot consistently with reason RELIGION and
eriy Of men We hold that whoeyer retains his eow-iaan
IN % no eno why S Sy mani
sou be deprived Of any o. his natural rights or subjected
AS the principles which we intend to act we declare that
we VIII not operate on he existing relations Of society by
no countenance to vioence OF instruction.
The preamble was the subject of earnest dis |
cussion in the meeting. II remember Alright no |
one denied its truth, but further doubts were ex-
pressed as to the expediency of putting the new |
society openly the basis Of immediate emanci- |
patton. Among those who took this view OF the |
matter were David Lee Child, Samuel l.. Sewall |
and Ellis Gray Loring, than whom there were no |
more earnest and devoted friends OF the cause. |
The majority, however, adopted the preamble, |
and then the constitution was presented for sigma
lures. Twelve persons GALL whitel signed it, as
fpl 1nvh Car Inbn
Robert b. Hall, Arnold Buffum, William J. Smell |
ling, John f. Fuller, Moses Thacher, Joshua |
Coffin, Stillman b, Newcomb, Benjamin c. Bacon, |
lsaac Knapp, Henry X. Stockton. OF these |
twelve men was the youngest, and am prob |
ably the only one now living. Messrs. Child, |
Sewall and Loring refused their names at that |
time s", they Joined the society shortly after
entail members. OF the twelve original slgners |
believe there were not more than one or two who
could have put hundred dollars into the treasury
without bankrupting themselves. The society |
was called The New England Ant-Slavery So
ciety." 1t was the first association ever organized
IN this country upon the principle OF immediate
abolition, and the parent of the numerous other |
affiliated associations which in the next few years
created an anti-slavery agitation that shook the
land from end to end. The preamble, sound as |
it was in principle, did not prove quite satisfac- |
tory, and its form was changed at the end of the |
first year The first officers of the society were:
Arnold Bnffum Ia Quaker, president; first vice. |
president George C. Odiorne, Boston merchant |
second yce-president, Alonzo Lewis, the Lynn |
Bard; corresponding secretary, William Lloyd |
Garrison; recording secretary, Joshua Collin, an
tquaran (Whittiers schoolmaster); treasurer,
Michael IL. simpson, counseors, Moses Thacher, |
John L, Fuller Oliver johnson, Robert b. Hall, |
Benjamin e, Bacon and Samuel L Sewall. These |
were respectable, but neither eminent nor popular
names, and remember how their insignficance |
was often rasted with the long list of states
men and divnes that constituted the official board |
OF the Colonization Society. As the |
little company that formed the new society were |
stepping out into the storm and darkness from the |
African schoo-house, where their work was ac- |
complished, Mr.. Garrison impressvely remarked |
We have met tonight in this obscure school, |
house; our numbers are few and influence |
limited; but mark my prediction, Faneuil Hall |
shall ere long echo with the principles have set |
forth. We shall shake the nation by their mighty
power well remember those words they |
fell from the lips of our great leader, but | am
Indebted for their preservation to my friend, the
late benjamin C. Bacon, among whose private |
memoranda they were found after his DEATH and
who doubtless wrote them down shortly after they
we're uttered How well the prophecy they con- |
tain has been fulfilled need not say.
We shall resume these extracts hereafter
The book may be had of Phinney, aud thou
sands of copies ought to be sold in Vermont,
the banner state in the dark days of anti
slavery persecution