mpromising band of men and
women. Nothing can be said to their credit which they do not
deserve. With apostolic zeal, they counted nothing dear to them
for the sake of the slave, and him dehumanized. But whatever has
been achieved through them is all of God, to whom alone is the
glory due. Thankful are we all that we have been permitted to
live to see this day, for our country's sake, and for the sake
of mankind. Of course, we are glad that our reproach is at last
taken away; for it is very desirable, if possible, to have the
good opinions of our fellow-men; but if, to secure these, we
must sell our manhood and sully our souls, then their bad
opinions of us are to be coveted instead.

Sir, my special part in this grand struggle was in first
unfurling the banner of immediate and unconditional
emancipation, and attempting to make a common rally under it.
This I did, not in a free State, but in the city of Baltimore,
in the slave-holding State of Maryland. It was not long before I
was arrested, tried, condemned by a packed jury, and
incarcerated in prison for my anti-slavery sentiments. This was
in 1830. In 1864 I went to Baltimore for the first time since my
imprisonment. I do not think that I could have gone at an
earlier period, except at the peril of my life; and then only
because the American Government was there in force, holding the
rebel elements in subserviency. I was naturally curious to see
the old prison again, and, if possible, to get into my old cell;
but when I went to the spot, behold! the prison had vanished;
and so I was greatly disappointed, (Laughter.) On going to
Washington, I mentioned to President Lincoln, the disappointment
I had met with. With a smiling countenance and a ready wit, he
replied, "So, Mr. Garrison, the difference between 1830 and 1864
appears to be this: in 1830 you could not get out, and in 1864
you could not get in!" (Great laughter.) This was not only
wittily said, but it truthfully indicated the wonderful
revolution that had taken place in Maryland; for she had adopted
the very doctrine for which she imprisoned me, and given
immediate and unconditional emancipation to her eighty thousand
slaves. (Cheers.)

I commenced the publication of the "_Liberator_" in Boston, on
the 1st of January, 1831. At that time I was very little know