Letter from Lewis Tappan, New York, [New York], to William Lloyd Garrison, [18]37 Sept[ember] 21

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Lewis Tappan, New York, [New York], to William Lloyd Garrison, [18]37 Sept[ember] 21
Description:
Lewis Tappan writes to William Lloyd Garrison answering Garrison's last letter point by point. First, he says that he does not approve of the Clerical Appeal, calling it "very censurable in many respects. It is unkind towards you ..." He argues if that if the Emancipator made a comment about the Appeal "it would have censured the authors of the appeal & the Liberator also." Tappan also defends the course of New York abolitionists and says, "In our judgement, the Appeal is not fraught with so much evil as you seem to apprehend." He says as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society, he would prefer a resolution censuring abolitionists "who magnified the Appeal" rather than fight against the Appeal outright. Tappan quotes Garrison's own words that "True-hearted abolitionists never will quarrel with each other" and tells him that while "it is painful to differ" on this subject, he believes that Garrison will come to "view the matter differntly from what you now do, and approve the course we are determined on taking here." He then criticizes Garrison for his harsh treatment of "Messrs. Fitch, Towne and Woodbury" and defends his conduct with regard to the "Andover Appeal" as well. Tappn argues that the Executive Committee was not made to censure abolitionists for conflicting views, telling Garrison, "We are to charge the enemy and rout him, and not whip and spur our own comrades." He sympathizes with Garrison "being wounded at many things said of you in the Appeals, deeply wounded," but encourages him "to overlook it all for the sake of the cause." In the postscript, Tappan says that none of the signes of the Appeal corresponded with any members of the Executive Committee and he is sure they are "unanimous in thinking the Appeal ill-tempered & injudicious."
Author:
Tappan, Lewis, 1788-1873
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Date:
[September 21, 1837]
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Social reformers--United States
American Anti-Slavery Society. Executive Committee
Tappan, Lewis, 1788-1873
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Emancipator (New York, N.Y. : 1835)
Liberator (Boston, Mass. : 1831)
Extent:
1 leaf (4 p.) ; 25 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z1119165
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
New York, [New York]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Notes (date):
This date is inferred.
Identifier:
5724279
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.6, p.70
Barcode:
39999086048442