Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Syracuse, [New York], to Mary Anne Estlin, 1863 Dec[ember] 13

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Syracuse, [New York], to Mary Anne Estlin, 1863 Dec[ember] 13
Description:
Samuel Joseph May writes to Mary Anne Estlin in regards to his times in England before the Civil War. He writes an analysis of the reasons for going to war and remarks, "The relation of the states to the Federal Head of our nation had never been clearly defined. Deference to the Constitution of the U.S. has always been the cherished loyalty of our citizens so that my many sincere opponents of slavery have refused to do any thing for its abolition, in violation of the provisions of our Magna Charta. But the emergency, created by the persistence of the rebels, has compelled our excellent President to resort to that power, which must be latent in every government, and, superior to all written constitutions. With that, he has struck the blow, which has severed the legal chains of three millions of bondmen, and which, if our armies triumph, will break every yoke, and give freedom in its glorious reality to all the bondmen in the land." He thanks her and other English abolitionists for their support in the cause. He writes that the American society will not disband until slavery has ended, and in the meantime, his fellow abolitionists are doing all they can to assist freedmen with the National Freedmen Relief Association. They have sent teachers to Florida, who have instituted an asylum for parentless children, and the association has contributed to it. He writes of Henry Ward Beecher's speech in England which relieved the English abolitionists. He is expecting the arrival of George Thompson. He writes of Mr. Reinan's "Life of Christ" book. He asks her to give his regards to his Bristol friends.
Author:
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Addressee:
Estlin, Mary Anne, 1820-1902
Date:
December 13, 1863
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--England--19th century--Correspondence
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
African Americans--Education--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Lectures and lecturing--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Meetings--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Newspapers--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Publishing--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Religious aspects--Christianity--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Societies, etc--United States--History--19th century
Fugitive slaves--United States--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--England--History--19th century
Women social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Women social reformers--England--History--19th century
Race relations--United States--History--19th century
Social justice--United States--History--19th century
Slavery--Political aspects--United States--History--19th century
Freedmen--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Lectures and lecturing--Great Britain--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Meetings--Great Britain--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Great Britain--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
African Americans--Civil rights--History--19th century
African Americans--Education--History
Antislavery movements--United States
Lectures and lecturing
Meetings
Publishers and publishing
Christianity
Societies
Fugitive slaves--United States
Women abolitionists--United States
Women abolitionists
Women social reformers--United States
Women social reformers
Race relations
Enslaved persons--Emancipation--United States
Social justice--United States
States' rights (American politics)
Freed persons--United States
Antislavery movements
Antislavery movements--Great Britain
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Foreign public opinion
United States--Race relations
Freedman's Relief Association
American Anti-Slavery Society
Estlin, Mary Anne, 1820-1902
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Thompson, George, 1804-1878
Beecher, Henry Ward, 1813-1887
Places:
United Kingdom
England
Extent:
2 leaves (8 p.) ; 21 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z10zd90k
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Syracuse, [New York]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Identifier:
5139412
Call #:
MS A.7.3 p.119
Barcode:
39999085505178