Right and wrong in MassachusettsChapman, Maria Weston
History
Right and wrong in Massachusetts
Chapman, Maria Weston
Antislavery movements -- Massachusetts -- Boston; Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society
Mr. Phelps, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Torrey, and Mr. St. Clair were hurrying
from meeting to meeting with the Fitchburg resolutions, or driving
the quill over quires of paper, urging the instant convocation of the
societies for the introduction of the new paper, saying that it was not
intended to be in opposition to the old, but only introduced because
nine out of ten of the abolitionists in the State _would not_ take the
Liberator,--that it would probably be adopted with great unanimity as
the organ of the State Society, at the Annual Meeting--and dwelling
strongly on the importance of sending up large delegations, instructed
to vote in its favor.
Mr. Garrison stood calmly watching the aspect of the times, and when
the signs were full, he raised the note of warning--
“WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?”
The annual meeting of the State Anti-Slavery Society will be held
in this city on the 23d inst. There are many indications which
lead us to regard it as pregnant with momentous consequences to
the abolition cause in this section of the country. Perhaps at
no period has there been so much cause for just alarm as at the
present. Strong foes are without, insidious plotters are within
the camp. A conflict is at hand,--if the signs of the times do not
deceive us,--which is to be more hotly contested, and which will
require more firmness of nerve and greater singleness of purpose,
(combined with sleepless vigilance and unswerving integrity,) than
any through which we have passed to victory. Once more, therefore,
we would speak trumpet-tongued--sound an alarm-bell--light up a
beacon-fire--give out a new watch-word--so that there may be a
general rallying of our early, intrepid, storm-proof, scarred and
veteran coadjutors, at the coming anniversary,--all panoplied as
of yore, and prepared to give battle to internal contrivers of
mischief, as readily as to external and avowed enemies.
The danger which now threatens all that is pure and vital in our
cause, is two-fold and complex. From the commencement of our
sacred struggle, we have been resisted by every religious sect,
and made by turns the foot-ball of every political party. As
among all sects and all parties, there are some who will never
bow the knee to Baal, but are resolved to follow RIGHT and TRUTH
through flood and fire, come what may--these, by the irresistible
affinity of principle, have come into our ranks, repudiating every
sectarian distinction, every party badge, and refusing to march
under any other banner than that of HUMANITY. Bravely have they
contended, cheerfully have they suffered, in the cause of their
enslaved countrymen; and nobly have they withstood a thousand wily
artifices to seduce them from their post. And they will persevere
unto the end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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