"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 it 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 truth in its simplicity and power; and I
here close with this dedication:

* * * * *

"Oppression! I have seen thee, face to face,
And met thy cruel eye and cloudy brow;
By 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 herd of hirelings base;
I swear, while life-blood warms my throbbing veins,
Still to oppose and thwart, with heart and hand,
Thy brutalizing 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!"

There never was a grander declaration of war against slavery. There
never was a more intrepid leader than William Lloyd Garrison. Words
more prophetic were never uttered by human voice. His paper did indeed
make "Southern oppression tremble," while its high resolves and
sublime sentiments found a response in the hearts of many people. It
is pleasant to record that this first impression of "The Liberator"
brought a list of twenty-five subscribers from Philadelphia, backed by
$50 in cash, sent by James Forten, a Colored man!

One year from the day he issued the first number of his paper, William
Lloyd Garrison, at the head of eleven others, organized _The American
Anti-Slavery Society_. It has been indicated already that he was in
favor of immediate emancipation; but, in addition to that principle,
he took the ground that slavery was supported by the Constitution;
that it was "a covenant with death and an agreement wi