SURVEY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE ASSIGNMENT

AMH2092 OER: African American History and Culture Module 6: Primary Resource Document

William Lloyd Garrison Introduces The Liberator

Source Overview: William Lloyd Garrison participated in reform causes in Massachusetts from

a young age. In the 1820s he advocated black colonization in Africa and the gradual abolition of

slavery. Reading the work of black northerners like David Walker changed his mind. In 1831, he

created a newspaper, called The Liberator. The following is the opening essay that Garrison used

to explain the purpose of his paper. (1)

In the month of August, I issued proposals for publishing “THE LIBERATOR” in Washington

City; but the enterprise, though hailed in different sections of the country, was palsied by public

indifference. Since that time, the removal of the Genius of Universal Emancipation to the Seat of

Government has tendered less imperious the establishment of a similar periodical in that quarter.

During my recent tour for the purpose of exciting the minds of the people by a series of

discourses on the subject of slavery, every place that I visited gave fresh evidence of the fact,

that a greater revolution in public sentiment was to be effected in the free States–and particularly

in New-England–than at the South. I found contempt more bitter, opposition more active,

detraction more relentless, prejudice more stubborn, and apathy more frozen, than among slave-

owners themselves. Of course, there were individual exceptions to the contrary. This state of

things afflicted, but did not dishearten me. I determined, at every hazard, to lift up the standard

of emancipation in the eyes of the nation, within sight of Bunker Hill and in the birthplace of

liberty. That standard is now unfurled; and long may it float, unhurt by the spoliations of time or

the missiles of a desperate foe–yea, till every chain be broken, and every bondman set free! Let

Southern oppressors tremble–let their secret abettors tremble–let their Northern apologists

tremble–let all the enemies of the persecuted blacks tremble.

I deem the publication of my original Prospectus unnecessary, as it has obtained a wide

circulation. The principles therein inculcated will be steadily pursued in this paper, excepting

that I shall not array myself as the political partisan of any man. In defending the great cause of

human rights, I wish to derive the assistance of all religions and of all parties.

Assenting to the “self-evident truth” maintained in the American Declaration of Independence,

“that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights,

among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” I shall strenuously contend for the

immediate enfranchisement of our slave population. In Park-Street Church, on the Fourth of July,

1829, in an address on slavery, I unreflectingly assented to the popular but pernicious doctrine of

gradual abolition. I seize this opportunity to make a full and unequivocal recantation, and thus

publicly to ask pardon of my God, of my country, and of my brethren the poor slaves, for having

uttered a sentiment so full of timidity, injustice, and absurdity. A similar recantation, from my

pen, was published in the Genius of Universal Emancipation at Baltimore, in September, 1829.

My conscience is now satisfied.

AMH2092 OER: African American History and Culture Module 6: Primary Resource Document

I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I

will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to

think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a

moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the

mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen;–but urge me not to

use moderation in a cause like the present! I am in earnest–I will not equivocate I will not

excuse– I will not retreat a single inch–AND I WILL BE HEARD. The apathy of the people is

enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead.

It is pretended, that I am retarding the cause of emancipation by the coarseness of my invective

and the precipitancy of my measures. The charge is not true. On this question my influence,–

humble as it is,–is felt at this moment to a considerable extent, and shall be felt in coming years–

not perniciously, but beneficially–not as a curse, but as a blessing; and posterity will bear

testimony that I was right. I desire to thank God, that he enables me to disregard “the fear of man

which bringeth a snare,” and to speak his truth in its simplicity arid power. . . .

Oppression! I have seen thee, face to face,

And met thy cruel eye and cloudy brow;

But thy soul-withering glance I fear not now —

For dread to prouder feelings doth give place

Of deep abhorrence! Scorning the disgrace

Of slavish knees that at thy footstool bow,

I also kneel — but with far other vow

Do hail thee and thy hord of hirelings base: —

I swear, while life-blood warms my throbbing veins,

Still to oppose and thwart, with heart and hand,

Thy brutalising sway — till Afric’s chains

Are burst, and Freedom rules the rescued land, —

Trampling Oppression and his iron rod:

Such is the vow I take — SO HELP ME GOD! (14)

AMH2092 OER: African American History and Culture Module 6: Primary Resource Document

Attributions

(1) Content by Florida State College at Jacksonville is licensed under CC BY 4.0

(14) A Memorial of William Lloyd Garrison from the City of Boston by Boston (Mass.) City

Council is in the Public Domain.