{"id":1581,"date":"2017-07-11T02:46:38","date_gmt":"2017-07-11T02:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ushistory1os\/chapter\/primary-source-the-liberator-1831\/"},"modified":"2017-07-11T02:46:38","modified_gmt":"2017-07-11T02:46:38","slug":"primary-source-the-liberator-1831","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-tc3-ushistory1os\/chapter\/primary-source-the-liberator-1831\/","title":{"raw":"Primary Source: The Liberator, 1831","rendered":"Primary Source: The Liberator, 1831"},"content":{"raw":"For the entire generation of people that grew up in the years that led to the Civil War, William Lloyd Garrison was the voice of Abolitionism. Originally a supporter of colonization, Garrison changed his position and became the leader of the emerging anti-slavery movement. His publication, The Liberator,<\/span>\u00a0reached thousands of individuals worldwide. His ceaseless, uncompromising position on the moral outrage that was slavery made him loved and hated by many Americans.<\/em>\n\n\u00a0\n

The Liberator<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inaugural Editorial by William Lloyd Garrison<\/span><\/p>\n

1 January 1831<\/span><\/p>\n

TO THE PUBLIC<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0 <\/span>-- than at the South.\u00a0<\/span>I found contempt more bitter, opposition more active, detraction more relentless, prejudice more stubborn, and apathy more frozen, than among slave-owners themselves.\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, there were individual exceptions to the contrary.\u00a0<\/span>This state of things afflicted, but did not dishearten me.\u00a0<\/span>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.\u00a0<\/span>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!\u00a0<\/span>Let Southern oppressors tremble -- let their secret abettors tremble -- let their Northern apologists tremble -- let all the enemies of the persecuted blacks tremble.<\/span><\/p>\n

I deem the publication of my original Prospectus unnecessary, as it has obtained a wide circulation.\u00a0<\/span>The principles therein inculcated will be steadily pursued in this paper, excepting that I shall not array myself as the political partisan of any man.\u00a0 <\/span>In defending the great cause of human rights, I wish to derive the assistance of all religions and of all parties.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span>In Park-Street Church, on the Fourth of July, 1829, I unreflectingly assented to the popular but pernicious doctrine of gradual\u00a0 <\/span>abolition.\u00a0<\/span>I seize this moment 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.\u00a0<\/span>A similar recantation, from my pen, was published in the Genius of Universal Emancipation at Baltimore, in September, 1829.\u00a0<\/span>My conscience is now satisfied.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity?\u00a0<\/span>I will be\u00a0 <\/span>as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice.\u00a0 <\/span>On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation.\u00a0<\/span>No!\u00a0 <\/span>no!\u00a0 <\/span>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.\u00a0 <\/span>I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD.\u00a0<\/span>The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is pretended, that I am retarding the cause of emancipation by the coarseness of my invective and the precipitancy of my measures.\u00a0The charge is not true.\u00a0<\/span>On this question of 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.\u00a0<\/span>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.\u00a0<\/span>And here I close with this fresh dedication:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Oppression!\u00a0 <\/span>I have seen thee, face to face,<\/span><\/p>\n

And met thy cruel eye and cloudy brow,<\/span><\/p>\n

But thy soul-withering glance I fear not now --<\/span><\/p>\n

For dread to prouder feelings doth give place<\/span><\/p>\n

Of deep abhorrence!\u00a0 <\/span>Scorning the disgrace<\/span><\/p>\n

Of slavish knees that at thy footstool bow,<\/span><\/p>\n

I also kneel -- but with far other vow<\/span><\/p>\n

Do hail thee and thy herd of hirelings base: --<\/span><\/p>\n

I swear, while life-blood warms my throbbing veins,<\/span><\/p>\n

Still to oppose and thwart, with heart and hand,<\/span><\/p>\n

Thy brutalising sway -- till Afric's chains<\/span><\/p>\n

Are burst, and Freedom rules the rescued land, --<\/span><\/p>\n

Trampling Oppression and his iron rod:<\/span><\/p>\n

Such is the vow I take -- SO HELP ME GOD!\"<\/span><\/p>\n

[by the Scottish poet Thomas Pringle]<\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/strong>:\u00a0Reprinted in Wendell Phillips Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879: The Story of His Life, Told by His Children, vol. I (New York:\u00a0 <\/span>The Century Company, 1885), pages 224-226.<\/span><\/p>\n

","rendered":"

For the entire generation of people that grew up in the years that led to the Civil War, William Lloyd Garrison was the voice of Abolitionism. Originally a supporter of colonization, Garrison changed his position and became the leader of the emerging anti-slavery movement. His publication, The Liberator,<\/span>\u00a0reached thousands of individuals worldwide. His ceaseless, uncompromising position on the moral outrage that was slavery made him loved and hated by many Americans.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Liberator<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inaugural Editorial by William Lloyd Garrison<\/span><\/p>\n

1 January 1831<\/span><\/p>\n

TO THE PUBLIC<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0 <\/span>— than at the South.\u00a0<\/span>I found contempt more bitter, opposition more active, detraction more relentless, prejudice more stubborn, and apathy more frozen, than among slave-owners themselves.\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, there were individual exceptions to the contrary.\u00a0<\/span>This state of things afflicted, but did not dishearten me.\u00a0<\/span>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.\u00a0<\/span>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!\u00a0<\/span>Let Southern oppressors tremble — let their secret abettors tremble — let their Northern apologists tremble — let all the enemies of the persecuted blacks tremble.<\/span><\/p>\n

I deem the publication of my original Prospectus unnecessary, as it has obtained a wide circulation.\u00a0<\/span>The principles therein inculcated will be steadily pursued in this paper, excepting that I shall not array myself as the political partisan of any man.\u00a0 <\/span>In defending the great cause of human rights, I wish to derive the assistance of all religions and of all parties.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span>In Park-Street Church, on the Fourth of July, 1829, I unreflectingly assented to the popular but pernicious doctrine of gradual\u00a0 <\/span>abolition.\u00a0<\/span>I seize this moment 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.\u00a0<\/span>A similar recantation, from my pen, was published in the Genius of Universal Emancipation at Baltimore, in September, 1829.\u00a0<\/span>My conscience is now satisfied.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity?\u00a0<\/span>I will be\u00a0 <\/span>as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice.\u00a0 <\/span>On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation.\u00a0<\/span>No!\u00a0 <\/span>no!\u00a0 <\/span>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.\u00a0 <\/span>I am in earnest — I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.\u00a0<\/span>The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is pretended, that I am retarding the cause of emancipation by the coarseness of my invective and the precipitancy of my measures.\u00a0The charge is not true.\u00a0<\/span>On this question of 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.\u00a0<\/span>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.\u00a0<\/span>And here I close with this fresh dedication:<\/span><\/p>\n

“Oppression!\u00a0 <\/span>I have seen thee, face to face,<\/span><\/p>\n

And met thy cruel eye and cloudy brow,<\/span><\/p>\n

But thy soul-withering glance I fear not now —<\/span><\/p>\n

For dread to prouder feelings doth give place<\/span><\/p>\n

Of deep abhorrence!\u00a0 <\/span>Scorning the disgrace<\/span><\/p>\n

Of slavish knees that at thy footstool bow,<\/span><\/p>\n

I also kneel — but with far other vow<\/span><\/p>\n

Do hail thee and thy herd of hirelings base: —<\/span><\/p>\n

I swear, while life-blood warms my throbbing veins,<\/span><\/p>\n

Still to oppose and thwart, with heart and hand,<\/span><\/p>\n

Thy brutalising sway — till Afric’s chains<\/span><\/p>\n

Are burst, and Freedom rules the rescued land, —<\/span><\/p>\n

Trampling Oppression and his iron rod:<\/span><\/p>\n

Such is the vow I take — SO HELP ME GOD!”<\/span><\/p>\n

[by the Scottish poet Thomas Pringle]<\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/strong>:\u00a0Reprinted in Wendell Phillips Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879: The Story of His Life, Told by His Children, vol. I (New York:\u00a0 <\/span>The Century Company, 1885), pages 224-226.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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