[Letter to] Dearest Deborah
Contributors: Weston, Deborah, b.1814 recipient
Series: Anne Warren Weston Correspondence (1834-1886)
Published: 1839
Place of publication: Boston
Language: eng
Format: [manuscript]
Subjects: Correspondence; Women abolitionists; Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society; Antislavery movements; History
Notes: Holograph, signed.

Anne Warren Weston gives family news. Mrs. Maria W. Chapman has proposed that Lucia Weston come to town as teacher for Elizabeth B. Chapman. Tells of numerous callers, a social evening, and of John A. Collin's preparations for printing the Cradle of Liberty. Gerrit Smith has given $100 to the Non-Resistance Society. Anne describes the sermons at the Free Church, given by Amos A. Phelps and Nathaniel Colver. The Rev. Adin Ballou wrote "avowing himself a non-resistant, but yet he cannot join us because we petition governments." Anne regrets that "the plan about Caroline failed." Describes the excitement and proceedings of the meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society on Tuesday, March 26, at which the Board confronted its opponents siding with the New York Executive Committee. Resolutions were offered by Ellis Gray Loring and Wendell in respect to the Society's payment of its pledges to the parent society. "Edwin Tompson made hits at [Alanson] St. Clair & [Gilbert H.] Durfee was ready through the whole meeting to kill everybody." At the afternoon meeting Lewis Tappan, James G. Birney, Amos A. Phelps spoke. "[Wendell] Phillips tore [Henry B.] Stanton all to bits." Garrison "stood his guns ... George Allen spoke for the peelers with great bitterness. [Charles T.] Torrey gave hits right and left more specially at Henry [G. Chapman]." Anne reviews the speech by Rodney French, which "was sweet to our souls." Henry B. Stanton and James G. Birney "fully avowed that voting should be a test of membership." The vote at the meeting shows 143 to 23 (in favor of the Massachusetts Board). Lewis Tappan declared for a division of the Massachusetts Society, whereupon Wendell Phillips withdrew a previous resolution and refused anything to the New York Committee. Anne Warren Weston and Mrs. Maria W. Chapman called on Abby Kelley, who had also spoken very well at the meeting.