Letter from Oliver Johnson, New York, [N.Y.], to William Lloyd Garrison, 13 April, 1861
Description:
Oliver Johnson writes William Lloyd Garrison to reassure him concerning his (and that of their Boston friends) anxiety concerning the likelihood of society meetings being "broken up or disturbed by mobs". Johnson states that he ran into John Jay, who expressed similar concerns, and who had written a letter to Gov. Morgan requesting that he do all possible to ensure the preservation of freedom of speech. Johnson states that he and Jay paid a visit to the Superintendent of Police, who provided them with ample assurances (which Johnson advises Garrison to refrain from publicizing.) Johnson notes that the Superintendent, Kennedy, informed him that he was a former Secretary of the Anti-Slavery Society while in Baltimore, and had assisted Benjamin Lundy with the publication of the Genius of Universal Emancipation, as well as having conducted "U.G.R.R. business" in Baltimore.