Letter from Augustus William Hanson to William Lloyd Garrison, 1838 November 3rd

Augustus William Hanson writes to William Lloyd Garrison asking for his views "respecting the doctrine of 'no Civil Government.'" He apologizes for not following Garrison's advice and states his own views of self-defense, asserting that "the sin consists not merely in the application of physical force - but in the application thereof with a bad motive to gain a certain end at all hazard." He justifies his appeal "to the strong arm of the law for protection," arguing he was trying to save his own life and prevent a crime from occurring. Hanson then asks Garrison why he was "shut out of the proceedings of the two last Anti-Slavery Conventions," and challenges Wendell Phillips' claim that the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society does not recommend periodicals published outside of New England. Hanson also notes that his name had been left off the list of attendees published in the Liberator and that he was also not included in the published proceedings of one of the conventions. He tells Garrison it he will if he will "permit me one hour's interview wherever it may suit your convenience you will exceedingly oblige."

Courtesy of Boston Public Library

anti slavery collection boston public library rare books department abolitionists united states 19th century correspondence african american abolitionists history antislavery movements meetings nonviolence social reformers religious aspects christianity massachusetts anti slavery society garrison william lloyd 1805 1879 hanson augustus william phillips wendell 1811 1884 letters correspondence manuscripts english augustus william hanson william lloyd garrison ultra high resolution high resolution slavery

1838

Boston Public Library

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