Letter from William Lloyd Garrison, Utica, [NY], to Helen Eliza Garrison, Tuesday noon, Feb. 17, 1857

Item Information

Place of origin:
Utica, [NY]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed with initials.
This letter was written in pencil.
William Lloyd Garrison expresses his devotion to his children Fanny and Franky. The meetings in Syracuse were a failure numerically, but "deeply interesting." In the debates, there were sharp collisions of an unpleasant nature between Garrison and Gerrit Smith. Garrison comments about Gerrit Smith: "I was made sad by some of the developments of his mind and nature on that occasion. His moral philosophy is shambling, and he is as slippery as an eel in discussion." Frederick Douglass was present at the meetings, but he was silent. Garrison would not speak to Frederick Douglass. Stephen Symonds Foster advocated the formation of a new political party, but made no converts. Mr. Samuel Joseph May presided over the deliberations. May seems prepared to accept their disunion views, but it will surely cost him his pulpit in Syracuse. Garrison stayed with spiritualists and attended several sittings. This confirmed his faith in spiritual agency. In Utica, since Mr. May and Mr. Pillsbury did not come, the labor of speaking devolved on Charles Remond and Garrison. Garrison is weary but well. Garrison tells of his next travel plans.
Notes (citation):
Merrill, Walter M. Letters of William Lloyd Garrison, v.4, no.160.
Identifier:
3134828
Call #:
Ms.A.1.1 v.5, p.38
Barcode:
39999066752187
mq8875985