Letter from Richard Plumer, Newburyport, [Mass.], to William Lloyd Garrison, Oct[ober] 26th 1851
Description:
Richard Plumer inquires of William Lloyd Garrison his views concerning the morality of voting for government officials, and the reasons for why doing so would constitute a sin. Plumer inquires if the degree of sinfulness in voting would be equivalent if one were to vote for Charles Sumner as opposed to voting for Daniel Webster. Plumer inquires of the moral distinction in voting and in paying taxes, and inquires if it is not "better to speak by our votes that it is to keep silence". Plumer proposes an anti-slavery meeting to be held in Newburyport, and invites Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Daniel Foster, and Stephen S. Foster to attend.