Letter from Elizur Wright, Anti-Slavery Office, New York, [New York], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1837 Nov[ember] 6th

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Elizur Wright, Anti-Slavery Office, New York, [New York], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1837 Nov[ember] 6th
Description:
In this letter to William Lloyd Garrison, Elizur Wright, Jr. thanks him for agreeing to contribute to the quarterly magazine of the American Anti-Slavery Society. He answers Garrison's response to the criticisms he made in his last letter and urges Garrison to "let other subjects alone till slavery is finished, because ... it is the most pressing, and needs your whole energy." Wright insists that abolitionists carry diverse views on other subjects and so abolitionist writings "should confine themselves to subjects on which all agree, or rather on which they do not seriously differ." As an example, Wright points to Garrison's belief "that human government has no rightful authority" and how this "conflict[s] with our truths, as espoused in our Declaration of Sentiments" (of the American Anti-Slavery Society). He fears these ideas will suck Garrison "into a vortex of Spiritual Quixotism thus absorb energies which might have shaken down [the] citadel of oppression." He also discusses Garrison's "doctrine of 'perfect holiness'" and argues that "Gospel truth" alone does not free people from sin, indivudals can "be holy in character withouth being altogether sinless," Wright asserts.
Author:
Wright, Elizur, 1804-1885
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Date:
November 6, 1837
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Religious aspects--Christianity--United States--History--19th century
Christianity--United States--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Christianity
Christianity--United States
Social reformers--United States
Wright, Elizur, 1804-1885
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Extent:
1 leaf (4 p.) ; 25 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z10z937f
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Anti-Slavery Office, New York, [New York]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
On the fourth page the letter is addressed to Wm. Lloyd Garrison Esq. 25 Cornhill Boston."
Identifier:
5124023
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.6, p.83
Barcode:
39999085431300