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In the 1830s, American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison became one of the
most influential and outspoken opponents of slavery in the United States. His
public campaign against slavery spanned nearly four decades. At first, Garrison
had supported a gradual end to slavery. Garrison renounced his
"gradualism," however, and in 1831 he called for the immediate and
total emancipation of all slaves. He published his new position, which was
considered radical at the time, in this 1831 editorial from the inaugural
edition of his newspaper, The Liberator. This publication became the
leading voice of the abolitionist movement.
From The Liberator
By William Lloyd Garrison
To The Public
In the month of August, I issued proposals for publishing "THE
LIBERATOR" in Washington City; but the enterprise, though hailed in
different sections of the country, was palsied by public indifference. Since
that time, the removal of the Genius of Universal Emancipation to the
Seat of Government has rendered less imperious the establishment of a similar
periodical in that quarter.
During my recent tour for the purpose of exciting the minds of the people by
a series of discourses on the subject of slavery, every place that I visited
gave fresh evidence of the fact, that a greater revolution in public sentiment
was to be effected in the free States?and particularly in New-England?than at
the South. I found contempt more bitter, opposition more active, detraction more
relentless, prejudice more stubborn, and apathy more frozen, than among
slave-owners themselves. Of course, there were individual exceptions to the
contrary. This state of things afflicted, but did not dishearten me. I
determined, at every hazard, to lift up the standard of emancipation in the eyes
of the nation, within sight of Bunker Hill and in the birthplace of liberty.
That standard is now unfurled; and long may it float, unhurt by the spoliations
of time or the missiles of a desperate foe?yea, till every chain be broken, and
every bondman set free! Let Southern oppressors tremble?let their secret
abettors tremble?let their Northern apologists tremble?let all the enemies of
the persecuted blacks tremble.
…I shall not array myself as the political partisan of any man. In
defending the great cause of human rights, I wish to derive the assistance of
all religions and of all parties.
Assenting to the "self-evident truth" maintained in the American
Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal, and endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienable rights?among which are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness," I shall strenuously contend for the
immediate enfranchisement of our slave population. In Park-Street Church, on the
Fourth of July, 1829, in an address on slavery, I unreflectingly assented to the
popular but pernicious doctrine of gradual abolition. I seize this opportunity
to make a full and unequivocal recantation, and thus publicly to ask pardon of
my God, of my country, and of my brethren the poor slaves, for having uttered a
sentiment so full of timidity, injustice, and absurdity… My conscience is now
satisfied.
I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not
cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as
justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with
moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm;
tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the
mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has
fallen;?but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in
earnest?I will not equivocate?I will not excuse?I will not retreat a single
inch?AND I WILL BE HEARD. The apathy of the people is enough to make every
statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead.
It is pretended, that I am retarding the cause of emancipation by the
coarseness of my invective and the precipitancy of my measures. The charge is
not true. On this question my influence,?humble as it is,?is felt at this moment
to a considerable extent, and shall be felt in coming years?not perniciously,
but beneficially?not as a curse, but as a blessing; and posterity will bear
testimony that I was right. I desire to thank God, that he enables me to
disregard "the fear of man which bringeth a snare," and
to speak his truth in its simplicity and power. And here I close with this fresh
dedication:
Oppression! I have seen thee, face to face,
And met thy cruel eye and cloudy brow;
But thy soul-withering glance I fear not now?}
For dread to prouder feelings doth give place
Of deep abhorrence! Scorning the disgrace
Of slavish knees that at thy footstool bow,
I also kneel?but with far other vow
Do hail thee and thy herd of hirelings base:?}
I swear, while life-blood warms my throbbing veins,
Still to oppose and thwart, with heart and hand,
Thy brutalising sway?till Afric's chains
Are burst, and Freedom rules the rescued land,?}
Trampling Oppression and his iron rod:
Such is the vow I take?so HELP ME GOD!
Boston, January 1, 1831.
Source: Articles from Bibliobase edited by Michael A. Bellesiles. Copyright
ⓒ 1998 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.
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