Letter from George Bourne, New York, [New York], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1839 March 2

Item Information

Title:
Letter from George Bourne, New York, [New York], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1839 March 2
Description:
George Bourne writes to William Lloyd Garrison discussing "the discord which has arisen among our Brethren in Massachusetts," saying it "is of an extensive and deeply-rooted character." He cites Joshua Leavitt's plan to publish a copy of the first number of the Liberator in his newspaper, the Emancipator, "to verify that there has been a departure from the primitive basis on which the Liberator was established." Bourne recalls his own warning to Garrison, years earlier, that giving space in the Liberator to topics not directly connected to abolitionism would create "disorganizing effects." He complains that "there is a caustic and contemptuous impeachment of each other's integrity and philanthropy which pierces me to the heart." Bourne references the "Clerical Appeal" in 1837 and assures Garrison that "whoever was the author of the [current] strife, and whoever may be most guilty, I think, there has been error all around." He then objects to "the inflexible pertinacity with which some of our professed Anti-Slavery men have attempted to drive the adoption of dogmas and measures altogether severed from the Abolition of Slavery." Bourne remarks that the strife is harmful to the movement and notes that A.A. "Phelps' sneers and insinuations against you, and the retorts upon him, are indescribably prejudicial to the holy warfare." He objects to the publication of the newspaper, "the [Massachusetts] Abolitionist," saying it "is mischievous and will end in evil" but repeats that many felt it was necessary "to issue another periodical which all Anti-Slavery men could read without reference to discordant themes." On verso, Bourne comments that "this scrawl is a memento of affection" and adds sarcastically that he "intended to have written you a long letter, but unexpected interruptions, have forced me to be short!"
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Author:
Bourne, George, 1780-1845
Date:
March 2, 1839
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--Newspapers--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Social reformers--United States
Leavitt, Joshua, 1794-1873
Phelps, Amos A. (Amos Augustus), 1805-1847
Bourne, George, 1780-1845
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Massachusetts abolitionist
Emancipator (New York, N.Y. : 1835)
Liberator (Boston, Mass. : 1831)
Extent:
1 leaf (6 p.) ; 32 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z110175h
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
New York, [New York]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
On verso, the letter is addressed to "Mr. W. Lloyd Garrison. 25 Cornhill. Boston. Massachusetts."
Identifier:
5827710
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.8, p.14
Barcode:
39999085838868