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[Typewritten pages]

Abolitionist Collection

Letters, a speech, and a photograph relating to abolition. Correspondent include: Theodore Dwight Weld (1803-1895) of Lane Seminary, Elizur Wright (1804-1885), Secretary of the American Anti-Slavery Society, Gerrit Smith (1797-1874), philanthropist and reformer, Henry Grew (1782-1862), Quaker abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879), prominent abolitionist, and Parker Pillsbury (1809-1898), abolitionist author. Subjects include abolition tactics and organizations, expressions of sympathy to Garrison on the dearth of his wife and publication of Pillsbury’s work. Also includes a photograph of Mary Grew (1813-1896), daughter of Henry Grew and abolitionist in her own right.

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Abolitionist Papers 95 Ab7

Manuscripts and Rare Books Department Swem Library The College of William and Mary in Virginia

Form of material and dates: 1834-1884. Letters, a speech, and a photograph relating to abolition. Correspondent include: Theodore Dwight Weld (1803- 1895) of Lane Seminary, Elizur Wright (1804-1885), Secretary of the American Anti-Slavery Society, Gerrit Smith (1797-1874),philanthropist and reformer, Henry Grew (1782-1862), Quaker abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison (1805- 1879), prominent abolitionist, and Parker Pillsbury (1809-1898), abolitionist author. Subjects include abolition tactics and organizations, expressions of sympathy to Garrison on the dearth of his wife and publication of Pillsbury’s work. Also includes a photograph of Mary Grew (1813-1896), daughter of Henry Grew and abolitionist in her own right. 9 items

Processed by: Mark Tueting, 1995. Cataloged by: Susan Riggs, 1996. Copyright information: Microfilms available: Other remarks:

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Abolitionist Papers 95 Ab7 Page 1

Abolitionist Papers

23 January 1834. T[heodore] D[wight] Weld, Walnut Hills, [Ohio] to Elizur Wright Jun[ior], Cor[esponding] Sec[retary] of the American anti-Slavery Society, New York City [New York]. Received EW’s letter; the decision that the letter requested was a heavy responsibility; has decided he serves the cause better where he is; has fought against slavery and colonization; colonization has able advocates; Brother Mehan and Professor Morgan have renounced colonization and come over to the abolitionist position; they are on the border of a slave state but within a year there will be 100 theological students at the institution [Lane Seminary in Walnut Hills, Ohio] – a strong abolitionist center that will influence the entire valley “more than a hundred societies in New York”; Beecher Stowe is dead set against their cause; believes the seminary would fold if he left; leads a bible class for colored adults; nominates Lewis Tappan as General Agent for the Society. [JDW has secured EW’s position of Corresponding Secretary in December of 1833]. 4 pp. ALS.

10 Oct[ober] 1839. Gerrit Smith, Peterboro, [New Hampshire} to “my dear Uncle”, Dan[ie]l Cady Esq[uire], Johnstown, Fulton County, [New York],. Received DC’s letter; hopes DC will be able to commerce the proceedings in the Case of the Delaware Lot[?]. Hopes a speedy settlement with the representatives of R.M. Campbell and John E. Smith; business in poor and GS has not had a paying customer in 8 days. 1 p ALS

23 Oct[Ober] 1861. Henry Grew, Phila[delphia], [Pennsylvania], “to the Friends of Righteousness and humanity to convene at West Chester on the 25th inst.” Regrets that he cannot attend the abolitionist meeting; hopes God will guide the convention; afraid that “the Temptor” will turn them from a [“right end”][underlined] and make them use [“wrong means”][underlined]; God may use the Civil War to bring about abolition, but he may allow wicked men to accomplish this; the faithful are obligated to not support the war if it is not a [“right measure to accomplish a right end”][underlined]; the war is not just because it seeks merely to restore the pre-war government that allowed slavery; support for a government that merely prevents the extension of slavery is not enough; even if the ends were right [i.e. total abolition], war is still wrong; God’s command of “Thou shalt not kill” a;;lies to soldiers as well; ministers who leave the pulpit and accept commissions are hypocrites; God’s weapons are sufficient to defeat slavery. 4 pp. AD.

March 1865. J[ames] M[iller] McKim. Penn[sylvani]a a Freedmen’s Relief Association, No. 424 Walnut Street, Philad[elphia], [Pennsylvania]. to”my

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Abolitionist Papers 95 Ab7 Page 2

dear May[?]. Relates establishment of the American Freedman Aid Commission; Judge Berd is president and Wendall Phillips Lawson is acting Secretary, a “grand” Anniversary will be marked by addresses by Phillip Brooks, H[enry] W[ard] Beecher, Gen[era]l Saxton and [?] Andrew; requests advice on choosing an editor. 4 pp. ALS

4 Feb[ruary] 1876. H.G. Stone, Framingham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts] to [William Lloyd] Garrison. thanks WLG for his memorial card; expresses sympathy for the loss of his wife; hopes that he is recovering from his illness because his services to the country are still needed; Southern rebels are finding cause with power hungry Northern partisans. 2 pp. ALS.

20 Feb[ruary] 1876. Elizabeth L. Miller, 7 Fifty Avenue, New York, [New York], to “my dear friend” [William Lloyd Garrison]. Sends sympathy for his great loss of Mrs. Garrison. 1 p. ALS.

11 May 1876. Mary S. Stetson for her father, Brooklyn County [New York], to “Dear Friend” [William Lloyd Garrison]. Written for her father, who expresses sympathy for Mrs. Garrison’s death; he knew her as a child in 1825. Bears a short personal condolence from Mary herself. 4 pp. ALS.

2 July 1884. P[arker] P[illsbury], Concord, N[ew] H[ampshire], to “My dear friend May”. Mr. Phillips and the Wallcots have passed away and PP feels that there is nothing left that is dear to him; W[illiam] [Lloyd] Garrison is hospitable; one thousand of his books have sold and he still has one thousand left that he cannot sell; he is in relatively good health. Stationary is an advertisement for PP’s book, [Acts of the Anti-slavery apostles.[underlined] 4 pp. ALS.

[n.d.] Photograph, 2 1/4", 3 5/8”, black and white, head and shoulders view, of Mary Grew (1813-1896). 1 item. Ph.

[Handwritten Pages]

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[Gerrit Smith Letter]

Peterboro Oct 10th [?]

My Dear Uncle, [Saturday’s?] mail brought me your letter. I hope you will be able to commence proceed ings in some shape in the case of the Delaware Lot. I hope that you will be able to effact a speedy settlement of our affair’s with R.M Camp bell & John E. Smith’s representatives We are in [our good?] health.. [Your?] Elizabeth is very well

[Y. aff. nephew?] Gerrit Smith Danl. Cady Esq.

P.S. [lending ?] has never been so [s...?] in my business. There has not been a [man?] at my office for eight-days to pay money.

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[Postmark] Peterboro N.Y. Oct 11

[Below postmark]

[Single Paid?]

  7

8 – 11 inches

      5 inches
     21- inches

11 - 1 -

[address]

Daniel Cady Esq Johns Town Fulton County

[Below address]

Gerrit Smith 10 Oct..39 Keirsted 2 Leonard[underlined]

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[Henry Grew manuscript]

Phila Oct 23d 1861

To the friends of righteousness and humanity to convene at West Chester on the 25th inst to [r]emember those in bonds as bound with them.” [th]eir aged fellow laborer, Henry Grew, sendeth [g]reeting.

Providentially prevented from being personally [pr]esent with you, to “ plead for him that had no [he]lper,” my heart’s desire and prayer to God for you ... that that the wisdom which cometh from above, which [is] both pure and peaceable, may guide all your [de]liberations, in this solemn Crisis, when “the Lord [cometh] out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the [earth] for their iniquity” Isa 26:21.

Let us, beloved friends, beware of the subtle desires ... the Tempter, who, if unsuccessful in effort to learn ... from seeking [a right end,][underlined] will endeavor to induce ... to seek it [by wrong means.][underlined]

It is important to distinguish between God’s eternal ... of righteousness and love, and what he permits ...cked men to do (who are his sword) when he punishes [na]tions for their sins. The former only is our rule ... action. We may rejoice that the Almighty Governor [of] the universe will overrule evil for good, but we are [no]t allowed to do evil that good may come.

We may hope that the great Arbiter of nations may [ov]errule the present war of carnage, blood, and slaughter, [and] accomplish the ultimatum of our desires and ...bons, in the deliverance of the slaves throughout

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the entire land from that vile yoke of oppression which he himself hates with a perfect hatred; but this gives us no authority to sanction the war, if the war itself is not in accordance with that law of righteousness and love which is our [only][underlined] rule of duty. God overruled the crucifixion of his Son for high and benevolent purposes, but it was done [“with wicked hands,”][underlined] and brought down divine wrath on the perpetrators.

The question is, [Is this war a right measure to accomplish a right end?][underlined]

What is its avowed object? Is it to okey God’s law, to break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free? Is it to do justice to the outraged captive, and to proclaim Liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof? No verily! It is to re-establish ` the very same general governments; the same political

                         the

state, which existed before ^ secession of any state from the Union. What was that Government? It was one which ignored the rights of millions of our fellow men, made in the image of God, and cast them down to the level of the heath of the earth, and creeping things to be sold in the market place! It was a Government which violated God’s law of justice, and love, and mercy; which forbids us to return to his master and cruel Deut 23:15 ^ the poor fugitive from vile ^ oppression. [?][crossed out]

This system of Government involving the at[t][crossed out]rocious violation of moral principles, [ought not to be re-established.][underlined] As righteousness [only][underlined] exalteth a nation, every true patriot, or lover of his Country, ought to oppose it by moral means.

Some imagine, that although the purpose of the