Letter from Sumner Lincoln, Gardner, [Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1839 Dec[ember] 2
Description:
Sumner Lincoln writes to William Lloyd Garrison suggesting that he "issue & circulate a distinct petition to Congress for the repeal of the law licensing the traffic in slaves in the District of Columbia." Lincoln cites a law passed by Congress in 1831 that allowed the trade and asserts, "No person can doubt the power of Congress to repeal this law as they made it." He then asks Garrison if he would publish his own views "of Christian perfection, what it is, how, & when obtained," stating that he believes Garrison's "personal enemies" are misrepresenting his beliefs. Lincoln relates that, "For the purpose of destroying your character & the character of your paper, a certain individual, an agent of the New Organization is endeavoring to convey the impression that you agree with [John Humphrey] Noyes in his views & advocate the same antinomian views in your paper." He tells Garrison he does not believe in these "slanders" but encourages him to publish "a simple statement of your views on this most important point."