Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from An Account of the Interviews Which Took Place on the Fourth and Eighth of March, Between a Committee of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, and the Committee of the Legislature
His Excellency, the Governor of this Commonwealth, saw fit to introduce into his inaugural speech, a severe censure of the Abolitionists, and to intimate his belief that they were guilty of an offence, punishable at common law. This part of the speech was referred to a joint committee of five, of which Hon. George Lunt was chairman. To the same committee were also referred communications, which had been received by our Governor, from several of the Legislatures of the slaveholding states, requesting our General Court to enact laws, making it penal for the citizens of this state to form societies for the abolition of slavery, or to speak or publish sentiments, such as have been uttered in anti-slavery meetings, and published in anti-slavery tracts and papers.
By order of the Managers of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, the Corresponding Secretary addressed the following letter to the Committee of the Legislature.
Boston, Feb. 16, 1836.
'Honorable George Lunt -
Sir, - Formerly it would have been deemed by us unnecessary and impertinent, to have taken any measures to avert any act of the Legislature of Massachusetts, tending to destroy the liberties of speech, and of the press; and to perpetuate oppression and slavery in our land. But the events of the past year have revealed to us a frightful diminution, even in New England, of that reverence for liberty, which is the vital principle of our republic.' The outrages, to which we allude, have been produced, and to a great extent we fear, are excused in the public estimation, by the gross misrepresentations that are prevalent, of the sentiments and purposes of the abolitionists. Not knowing how far the members of your Committee may have been misinformed on this subject, we beg leave to assure you, that we have not done any thing, which the Legislature can either righteously or constitutionally fin-bid us to do. In support of this declaration, we appeal to all our publications, and to all the publications of all the societies, with which we are connected. Any or all of these publications we shall be happy, at any time, to submit to the examination of your Committee. Besides which, sir, before you make a report to the Legislature concerning our course of measures, we ask to be permitted to appear before you, to explain and justify that course. We request you to appoint any time and place for this interview, which may be convenient to yourselves.
By order of the Board of Managers of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society.
Samuel J. May, Cor. Secretary.
'N. B. I send herewith a parcel containing a copy of our late Annual Report, tor each of the Members of your Committte.'
[We request the reader to notice particularly the tenor of this letter - that we sought an interview with the Committee, not so much to exculpate ourselves from the charges alleged against us, as to avert any action of the Legislature, that might infringe the liberty of speech, or of the press.]
The request was granted, and on the 4th of March, the proposed interview took place, in the chamber of the Representatives. There were present, on the part of the Legislature, Messrs. Lunt and Chapin of the Senate, and Messrs Moseley and Lucas of the House. On the part of the Anti-Slavery Society, Messrs. Southwick, May, Loring, Sewall, Garrison, Follen, Farnsworth, Jackson and Goodell.
Mr. Lucas, one of the Legislative Committee, objected to the proceeding - thought the gentlemen, who had sought this interview, were premature. They had no reason to pre-suppose the Legislature would do any thing prejudicial to them. They ought to have waited, he said, until the Committee had reported, before they proceeded on the supposition, that they were to be inju
