they were
launching upon the wide sea of national attention demanded of them an
expression altogether worthy of so momentous an undertaking. The
adoption of a constitution for this purpose was felt to be inadequate. A
constitution was indispensable, but some other expression was necessary
to give to their work its proper proportion and importance. Such a
manifestation it was deemed meet to make in the form of a declaration of
sentiments. A committee was accordingly appointed to draft the
declaration. This committee named three of its number, consisting of
Garrison, Whittier, and Samuel J. May to draw up the document. The
sub-committee in turn deputed Garrison to do the business.

Mr. May has told in his _Recollections of the Anti-Slavery Conflict_,
how he and Whittier left their friend at ten o'clock in the evening,
agreeing to call at eight the following morning and how on their return
at the appointed hour they found Garrison with shutters closed and lamps
burning, penning the last paragraph of the admirable document. He has
told how they three read it over together two or three times, making
some slight alterations in it, and how at nine o'clock the draft was
laid by them before the whole committee. The author of the recollections
has left a graphic account of its effect upon the convention. "Never in
my life," he says, "have I seen a deeper impression made by words than
was made by that admirable document upon all who were present. After the
voice of the reader had ceased there was silence for several minutes.
Our hearts were in perfect unison. There was but one thought with us
all. Either of the members could have told what the whole convention
felt. We felt that the word had just been uttered which would be mighty,
through God, to the pulling down of the strongholds of slavery." Such
was the scene at the first reading of the Declaration of Sentiments, Dr.
Atlee, the reader. The effect at its final reading was, if possible,
even more dramatic and eloquent. Whittier has depicted this closing and
thrilling scene. He has described how Samuel J. May read the declaration
for the last time. "His sweet, persuasive voice faltered with the
intensity of his emotions as he repeated the solemn pledges of the
concluding paragraphs. After a season of silence, David Thurston of
Maine, rose as his name was called by one of the secretaries and affixed
his name to the document. One after another passed up to the platform,
signed, a