Letter from Louis O. Cowan, Augusta, [Maine], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1834 June 21

Louis O. Cowan writes to William Lloyd Garrison sending him five dollars to pay for his Liberator subscription and for copies of Garrison's "Thoughts on African Colonization." Cowan celebrates "the unexampled success which has attended our cause for a year past" and calls their successes "a bright harbinger of the ultimate accomplishment of the end which abolitionists have in prospect for the elevation of their colored countrymen." He then comments on the published address of Amos Augustus Phelps, saying "there is no escape from the arguments of Mr. Phelps, he maintains every position he takes with a strength which cannot be shaken." Cowan laments that people in Augusta are "not aroused to the importance" of ending slavery and states that "A death like torpor seems to pervade the minds of most people here upon this question." He suggests that having "a powerful and interesting lecturer come among us .. would have a good effect" and encourage people to think about slavery. Cowan also comments on the arrival of George Thompson in the country, saying that while many people "will raise the cry of foreigners interfering in our domestic concerns" he believes that philanthropy is not "confined by the boundaries of countries." In the postscript, he adds that the letter "is not inteneded for insertion in the Liberator."

Courtesy of Boston Public Library

anti slavery collection boston public library rare books department abolitionists united states 19th century correspondence antislavery movements history 19th century social reformers 19th century abolitionists 19th century antislavery movements united states social reformers united states garrison william lloyd 1805 1879 cowan louis o 1812 1863 phelps amos a amos augustus 1805 1847 thompson george 1804 1878 letters correspondence manuscripts english louis o cowan 1812 1863 william lloyd garrison ultra high resolution high resolution slavery

1834

Boston Public Library

https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/

Public Domain