Letter from American Anti-Slavery Society , New York [N.Y.], to the abolitionists of Great Britain, Sept. 25th, 1840

Item Information

Title:
Letter from American Anti-Slavery Society , New York [N.Y.], to the abolitionists of Great Britain, Sept. 25th, 1840
Description:
James Gibbons, writing on behalf of the American Anti-Slavery Society as the Chair of the Executive Committee, forwards the credentials of John A. Collins, whom the American Anti-Slavery Society has deputed to England in order to "obtain such pecuniary aid" for the abolitionist cause in America as its British allies possess within "their hearts and within [their] ability to bestow". Gibbons describes the situation in the United States as urgent, and relays the state of political affairs vis-à-vis slavery in noting that both Presidential candidates up for election have pledged their support for slavery. Gibbons laments those who are "abolitionists only in name", who shirk when they discover that they must "either sacrifice their sectarian or party prejudices, or compromise their anti-slavery principles". Gibbons notes that a prime source of their "present embarassment" lies in the division of the American Anti-Slavery Society, and the formation of the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, and charges that the primary goal of the latter is not the extermination of slavery, but that of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Gibbons cites the origins of this split as dating in 1839, when an "attempt was made for the first time to exclude persons from acting as members on account of their sex".
Author:
American Anti-Slavery Society
Contributor:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Date:
September 25, 1840
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Presidents--United States--Elections--1840
Sex discrimination--United States--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States
Presidents--United States--Election
Sex discrimination--United States
Women's rights--United States--History--19th century
Women--Political activity--United States
Women abolitionists--United States
American Anti-Slavery Society
American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society
Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society
Gibbons, J. S. (James Sloan), 1810-1892
Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862
Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841
Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874
Jackson, Francis, 1789-1861
Grimké, Angelina Emily, 1805-1879
Grimké, Sarah, 1792-1873
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Collins, John A. (John Anderson), 1810-1879
National anti-slavery standard
Extent:
4 leaves (12 p.) ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/5h73zq286
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
New York, [N.Y.]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Manuscript is accompanied by envelope addressed to "Mrssrs Murray & Smeal Secretaries to the Glasgow Emancipation Society". The verso of the envelope has a note which details the nature of the envelope's contents.
Included with manuscript and envelope is a separate, related manuscript, addressed from Boston, [Mass.], and dated Sept[emeber] 30, 1840, from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Signed by Francis Jackson, it recounts the resolution of the society to engage John A. Collins on a voyage to Great Britain to solicit aid and support for the American abolitionist cause.
Identifier:
4699002
Call #:
MS
Barcode:
39999066761402