Details
WHITTIER, JOHN GREENLEAF. Autograph letter signed ("John G. Whittier"), to "My Dear Friend May," Boston, 13 [March] l837. 1 1/2 pages, 4to.
A very good, early letter, reflecting Whittier's close involvement with Cambridge anti-slavery circles, Edwin Stanton ( Lincoln's future Secretary of War) and the radical abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, who had published Whittier's early poems in his Newburyport Free Press. As DAB notes, "A reading of Garrison's Thoughts on Colonization (l832), and a meeting with the author in the spring of 1833 made Whittier an ablitionist." The young Whittier writes in a jocular vein: "I write to say that the Quarterly meeting of the Mass[chusett]s Anti-Slavery Society will be held at Lynn on the 28th of this month...It will be in many respects and important meeting: we shall probably adjourn to Boston, on the next evening. I wish thee to come - [Edwin M.] Stanton, [William Lloyd] Garrison, Loring, Sewall, everybody, wishes thee to be with us on the occasion. There must be no excuse - no denial. Allow me to suggest to thee a fitting topic for remarks at this time. 'The Decline of the Spirit of Liberty among us, The dangers resulting from it.' Now dear Brother pray don't say no to this. Come and help us. Stanton has turned the Legislature almost over. Come and jump on to the lever, & we'll take a long pull, a strong pull & a pull altogether and do the business at once. In order to show the decline of free principles -- look at our public men -- Van Buren, twenty years ago voting and in the N.Y. Legislature speaking in favor of the colored man, & against the admission of Missouri as a Slave State. And now -- What shall we say of him? [Daniel] Webster's Plymouth speech & Missouri Memorial, contrasted with his conduct in Congress! Oh, 'tis base! -- & scandalous - that to be popular in our country a man must crucify Liberty & shout hosannas to Slavery. Remember me to Mrs. May...."
A very good, early letter, reflecting Whittier's close involvement with Cambridge anti-slavery circles, Edwin Stanton ( Lincoln's future Secretary of War) and the radical abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, who had published Whittier's early poems in his Newburyport Free Press. As DAB notes, "A reading of Garrison's Thoughts on Colonization (l832), and a meeting with the author in the spring of 1833 made Whittier an ablitionist." The young Whittier writes in a jocular vein: "I write to say that the Quarterly meeting of the Mass[chusett]s Anti-Slavery Society will be held at Lynn on the 28th of this month...It will be in many respects and important meeting: we shall probably adjourn to Boston, on the next evening. I wish thee to come - [Edwin M.] Stanton, [William Lloyd] Garrison, Loring, Sewall, everybody, wishes thee to be with us on the occasion. There must be no excuse - no denial. Allow me to suggest to thee a fitting topic for remarks at this time. 'The Decline of the Spirit of Liberty among us, The dangers resulting from it.' Now dear Brother pray don't say no to this. Come and help us. Stanton has turned the Legislature almost over. Come and jump on to the lever, & we'll take a long pull, a strong pull & a pull altogether and do the business at once. In order to show the decline of free principles -- look at our public men -- Van Buren, twenty years ago voting and in the N.Y. Legislature speaking in favor of the colored man, & against the admission of Missouri as a Slave State. And now -- What shall we say of him? [Daniel] Webster's Plymouth speech & Missouri Memorial, contrasted with his conduct in Congress! Oh, 'tis base! -- & scandalous - that to be popular in our country a man must crucify Liberty & shout hosannas to Slavery. Remember me to Mrs. May...."