Anti-slavery scholars ought to be grateful once again for the exceeding care and scholarship which have gone into this publication. It provides us with another perspective on America's sole genius of reform agitation, a truly noble figure for all his personal quirks and growing mellowness with the passage of time. Civil War History
Despite provocation, Garrison was a proponent of nonresistance during this period, though he continued to advocate the emancipation of slaves. Set against a background of wide-ranging travels throughout the western United States and of family affairs back home in Boston, Garrison's letters of this decade make a distinctive contribution to antebellum life and thought.
Louis Ruchames was Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Editorial Statement
Abbreviations and Short Titles
I. THE YEAR OF THE COMPROMISE--THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT AND ITS AFTERMATH: 1850-1851
To Samuel J. May, January 13, 1850
To Helen E. Garrison, May 7, 1850
To the Editor of the New York Tribune, May 13, 1850
To the Editor of the Boston Transcript, May 17, 1850
To the Editor of the Boston Transcript, May 31, 1850
To Sydney Howard Gay, June 21, 1850
To Sydney Howard Gay, June 24, 1850
To Sydney Howard Gay, July 2, 1850
To Samuel May, Jr., July 16, 1850
To Elizabeth Mountfort, July 19, 1850
To James Brown Syme, August 9, 1850
To Samuel May, Jr., September 6, 1850
To an Unidentified Correspondent, September 27, 1850
To Samuel J. May, October 7, 1850
To William Rathbone, October 17, 1850
To the Editor of the Times, November 1, 1850
To Francis Jackson, December 31, 1850
To Wendell Phillips, January, 1851
To Drs. William Clark and Porter, January 23, 1851
To George Thompson Garrison, February 18, 1851
To Whom It May Concern, March 4, 1851
To Abby Kelley Foster, March 25, 1851
To Abby Kelley Foster, April 6, 1851
To George Thompson Garrison, June 10, 1851
To Elizabeth Pease, June 23, 1851
To Samuel May, Jr., July 16, 1851
To Adin Ballou, July 24, 1851
To Abby Kelley Foster, August 12, 1851
To Samuel May, Jr., August 19, 1851
To an Unnamed Correspondent, August 23, 1851
To the Editor of the London Morning Advertiser, September 19, 1851
To Sydney Howard Gay, September 27, 1851
To Adeline Roberts, September 27, 1851
To J. Miller MeKim, October 4, 1851
II. KOSSUTH IN THE UNITED STATES: 1852
To Caroline C. Thayer, January 5, 1852
To Louis Kossuth, February, 1852
To Benjamin Fish, February 20, 1852
To Samuel J. May, March 23, 1852
To George Thompson Garrison, June 17, 1852
To J. Miller MeKim, July 18, 1852
To Samuel May, Jr., July 19, 1852
To Samuel May, Jr., July 22, 1852
To Anne W. Weston, August 14, 1852
To Samuel May, Jr., August 27, 1852
To Samuel J. May, September 7, 1852
To Adeline Roberts, September 14, 1852
To Samuel J. May, September 16, 1852
To Samuel J. May, September 27, 1852
To Joseph A. Dugdale, October 16, 1852
To D. P. Harmon, October 16, 1852
To Adeline Roberts, October 16, 1852
III. CONVENTIONS AND TRIPS WEST: 1853
To Lydia Maria Child, January 20, 1853
To Thomas Wentworth Higginson, February 1, 1853
To J. Miller MeKim, March 19, 1853
To Helen E. Garrison, April 18, 1853
To Joseph A. Dugdale, May 19, 1853
To Friends of the American Anti-Slavery Society, May 30, 1853
To Samuel J. May, May 31, 1853
To Wendell Phillips, June 25, 1853
To Sydney Howard Gay?, July 25, 1853
To Adeline Roberts, August 26, 1853
To the Abolitionists of the United States, August 29, 1853
To Helen E. Garrison, September 5, 1853
To Samuel May, Jr., September 17, 1853
To Samuel J. May, September 17, 1853
To Sarah H. Earle, September 20, 1853
To Samuel J. May, September 23, 1853
To Caroline C. Thayer, October 3, 1853
To J. M. W. Yerrinton, October 3, 1853
To Helen E. Garrison, October 8, 1853
To Helen E. Garrison, October 10, 1853
To Helen E. Garrison, October 15, 1853
To Helen E. Garrison, October 17, 1853
To John P. Hale, November 10, 1853
To Samuel J. May, November 22, 1853
To Francis Jackson, November 27, 1853
To Wendell Phillips, November 27, 1853
To Harriet Beecher Stowe, November 30, 1853
IV. THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT--THE CONFLICT INTENSIFIES: 1854
To Henry Wigham, Jr., January 1, 1854
To Caroline C. Thayer, January 13, 1854
To Helen E. Garrison, February 16, 1854
To Parker Pillsbury, March 21, 1854
To Charlotte Newell, April 7, 1854
To Robert Purvis, April 9, 1854
To Sydney Howard Gay, April 21, 1854
To Robert Purvis, April 21, 1854
To an Unknown Correspondent, April 21, 1854
To Caroline C. Thayer, June 20, 1854
To Charles Sumner, June 27, 1854
To H. I. Bowditch, July 13, 1854
To Caroline C. Thayer, August 6, 1854
To Caroline C. Thayer, August 10, 1854
To Charlotte Newell, August 19, 1854
To Mary Estlin, August 27, 1854
To Samuel J. May, September 1, 1854
To Lucy Stone, September 1, 1854
To Samuel J. May, September 11, 1854
To Lucy Stone, September 11, 1854
To Samuel J. May, September 24, 1854
To Thomas Davis, October 6, 1854
To Francis Jackson, October 9, 1854
To Helen E. Garrison, October 19, 1854
To Caroline C. Thayer, December 25, 1854
V. THE RADICALIZATION OF MASSACHUSETTS--WARFARE IN KANSAS: 1855
To Edwin Barrows, January 1, 1855
To Oliver Johnson, February 7, 1855
To J. M. W. Yerrinton, February 20, 1855
To Oliver Johnson, February 23, 1855
To J. M. W. Yerrinton, March 22, 1855
To Joshua B. Smith, March 23, 1855
To James N. Buffum, May 18, 1855
To Oliver Johnson, June 4, 1855
To Helen E. Garrison, June 15, 1855
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., June 19, 1855
To Wendell Phillips, June 26, 1855
To Ellis Gray Loring, August 13, 1855
To Elizabeth Buffum Chace, September 6, 1855
To Charles F. 1-lovey, September 15, 1855
To E. A. Webb, September 25, 1855
To Francis Jackson, October 11, 1855
To Adeline Roberts, October 18, 1855
To Samuel J. May, October 26, 1855
To Eliza Frances Eddy, November 3, 1855
To Anne \V. Weston, November 3, 1855
To Francis Jackson, November 3, 1855
To Francis Jackson. November 4, 1855
To Anne W. Weston, November 6, 1855
To Dr. Samuel G. Howe, and Others, Committee, November 12, 1855
To Maria W. Chapman, November 24, 1855
To Harriet Martineau, December 4, 1855
To Samuel Aaron, December 7, 1855
VI. THE ATTACK UPON SUMNER AND THE CANDIDACY OF FRÉMONT: 1856
To Graceanna Lewis, January 4, 1856
To Samuel J. May, January 27, 1856
To Helen E. Garrison, February 10, 1856
To Helen E. Garrison, February 12, 1856
To Maria W. Chapman, March 11, 1856 [?]
To the Editor of the Anti-Slavery Advocate, March 18, 1856
To Samuel Aaron, March 21, 1856
To Samuel J. May, March 21, 1856
To Austin Steward, June, 1856
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., June, 1856
To the Editor of the Boston Evening Transcript, June 17, 1856
To Theodore Parker, July 2, 1856
To Samuel May, Jr., July 15, 1856
To Samuel May, Jr., August 1, 1856
To Ann R. Bramhall, August 8, 1856
To Theodore Parker, September 5, 1856
To an Unknown Correspondent, October 11, 1856
To J. Miller McKim, October 14, 1856
To Elmina K. Roberts, November 4, 1856
To Elizabeth Buffum Chace, November 7, 1856
To Miss Roberts, November 18, 1856
To Ralph Waldo Emerson, November 20, 1856
To Helen E. Garrison, December 17, 1856
VII. INTENSIFIED CALLS FOR DISUNION: 1857
To Theodore Tilton, January 17, 1857
To Francis Jackson, February, 1857
To Lydia Maria Child, February 6, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, February 8, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, February 9, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, February 12, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, February 17, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, February 18, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, February 19, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, February 21, 1857
To John Burt, February 26, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, May 13, 1857
To Helen E. Garrison, May 18, 1857
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., May 23, 1857
To Several Friends, June 18, 1857
To Susan B. Anthony, June 19, 1857
To M. J. Sheehy, June-July, 1857
To the Antislavery Men and Women of the North, July 8, 1857
To Elizabeth Buffum Chace, July 13, 1857
To Elizabeth Buffum Chace, July 15, 1857
To an Unknown Correspondent, July 20, 1857
To Maria W. Chapman, July 23, 1857
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, July 23, 1857
To J. M. Hawks, July 24, 1857
To F. F. Burnham, August 5, 1857
To Francis Jackson Garrison, August 8, 1857
To the Editor of the Boston Transcript, August 13, 1857
To Francis Jackson Garrison, August 13, 1857
To Fanny Garrison, August 14, 1857
To John Needles, August 14, 1857
To Francis Jackson Garrison, August 17, 1857
To Fanny Garrison, August 19, 1857
To J. M. Hawks, August 20, 1857
To the Editor of the Boston Transcript, September 8, 1857
To Samuel May, Jr., September 10, 1857
To Samuel J. May, September 14, 1857
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, September 15, 1857
To John Needles, September 22, 1857
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, October 2, 1857
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., October 2, 1857
To Caroline C. Thayer, October 2, 1857
To Theodore Parker, October 3, 1857
To Adeline Roberts, October 12, 1857
To Wendell Phillips, October 18, 1857
To Samuel J. May, October 18, 1857
To the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, October 20, 1857
To a Friend in New Bedford, November 1, 1857
To Theodore Parker, November 8, 1857
To Sarah H. Earle, December 25, 1857
VIII. THE REMOVAL OF JUDGE LORING: 1858
To John Adams Jackson, beginning of 1858
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., January 7, 1858
To Samuel J. May, January 8, 1858
To Sydney Howard Gay, January 15, 1858
To Nathan R. Johnston, January 25, 1858
To an Unknown Correspondent, February 6, 1858
To Susan B. Anthony, February 9, 1858
To the Joint Special Committee of the Legislature March 5, 1858
To Samuel J. May, March 6, 1858
To Susan B. Anthony, April 14, 1858
To Adeline Roberts, April 14, 1858
To John W. Le Barnes, April 29, 1858
To Oliver Johnson, May 1, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, May 12, 1858
To Louisa Loring, May 24, 1858
To Francis Jackson, May 25, 1858
To Theodore Parker, May 26, 1858
To the Sixth Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends, May 28, 1858
To Theodore Parker, June 3, 1858
To Theodore Parker, June 17, 1858
To Samuel May, Jr., July 20, 1858
To Aaron M. Powell, July 25, 1858
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., July 27, 1858
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, July 28, 1858
To Aaron M. Powell, August 9, 1858
To Samuel May, Jr., August 11, 1858
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, August 20, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, August 20, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, August 28, 1858
To Stephen S. and Abby K. Foster, September 7, 1858
To J. Miller McKim, September 11, 1858
To J. Miller McKim, September 25, 1858
To William H. Fish, September 30, 1858
To Helen K Garrison, October 6, 1858
To Helen F. Garrison, October 9, 1858
To Samuel J. May, October 9, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, October 13, 1858
To Helen F. Garrison, October 14, 1858
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., October 15, 1858
To The Liberator, October 15, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, October 18, 1858
To Samuel J. May, October 19, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, October 20, 1858
To Helen F. Garrison, October 22, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, October 25, 1858
To The Liberator, October 25, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, October 26, 1858
To Oliver Johnson, October 26, 1858
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., October 28, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, October 28, 1858
To Helen E. Garrison, October 29, 1858
To Theodore-Bourne, November 18, 1858
To Oliver Johnson, November 18, 1858
To the Editor of the Anti-Slavery Advocate, December 28, 1858
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., December 31, 1858
IX. DEATH, MARRIAGE, AND DIVISION AMONG THE GARRISONIANS: 1859
To Francis Jackson, January 2, 1859
To Elias Richards, January 11, 1859
To Theodore Parker, January 15, 1859
To John Greenleaf Whittier, February 12, 1859
To Several American Friends of George Thompson, February 15, 1859
To Maria W. Chapman, February 18, 1859
To Susan B. Anthony, February 21, 1859
To Joseph A. Dugdale, February 21, 1859
To James Freeman Clarke, March 5, 1859
To John W. Hutchinson, March 15, 1859
To Oliver Johnson, April 16, 1859
To William H. Furness, April 21, 1859
To James Monroe, April 22, 1859
To Helen F. Garrison, May 12, 1859
To C. F. Geist, May 23, 1859
To Parker Pillsbury, June 3, 1859
To C. Lyman Dwight, June 12, 1859
To Lydia Maria Child, June 14, 1859
To Mr. and Mrs. John Jay, June 21, 1859
To Henry C. Wright, June 27, 1859
To Aaron Cooley, July 12, 1859
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, July 18, 1859
To Abby Kelley Foster, July 22, 1859
To Abby Kelley Foster, July 25, 1859
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, August 23, 1859
To Fanny Garrison, September 6, 1859
To Abby Kelley Foster, September 8, 1859
To Samuel J. May, September 19, 1859
To Miss Roberts, October 10, 1859
To Elizabeth Buffum Chace, October 17, 1859
To an Unknown Correspondent, October 17, 1859
To Elizabeth Pease Nichol, October 18, 1859
To Henry C. Wright, October 19, 1859
To Oliver Johnson, November 1, 1859
To William H. Furness, December 17, 1859
To J. Miller McKim, December 17, 1859
To an Unknown Correspondent, December 18, 1859
X. ILLNESS, MORE CONVENTIONS, AND GARRISONIAN ANTISLAVERY REDEFINED: 1860
To Samuel J. May, January 14, 1860
To Elizabeth Pease Nichol, February 22, 1860
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, March 21, 1860
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, March 22, 1860
To Thomas Wentworth Higginson, April 6, 1860
To Caroline C. Thayer, May 19, 1860
To Henry I. Bowditch, June 18, 1860
To Wendell Phillips, July 5, 1860
To Charles Sumner, July 16, 1860
To Lydia D. Parker, July 20, 1860
To Ezra Hervey Heywood, July 30, 1860
To George W. Stacy, July 31, 1860
To William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., August 1, 1860
To Oliver Johnson, August 9, 1860
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, August 9, 1860
To J. Miller MeKim, September 1, 1860
To the Publishers of the World, September 18, 1860
To George L. Stearns, September 23, 1860
To Samuel J. May, September 28, 1860
To Nathan H. Johnston, October 15, 1860
To J. Miller MeKim, October 21, 1860
To Wendell Phillips Garrison, November 2, 1860
To J. Miller MeKim, November 5, 1860
To James Redpath, December 1, 1860
Index of Recipients
Index