Boston Sept. 10, 1845

Dear Bradburn,

     I have just received your letter—the next best thing to yourself—for whom I have been anxiously looking for some days.

     I am gratified sincerely at your “growing estimation of my book—and am happy to tell you that it is very favorably received by the Anti-Slavery papers generally, so far as I have had opportunity of knowing. Mr Gerrit Smith and the Utica paper come out strongly in its favor—the Albany paper do—the Northern Star paper do. In the American Citizen, ______ is an article from J. Fulton Jr. of Ercldmen, very strongly in its favor, and what pleases me especially, is that he says that when you spoke to him (or to the convention) of it, he had strong prejudices against it. He says now the argument it seems to him to be without so much as a single flaw. Leavitt promises to copy the article.

     I hope you did not think I was disturbed by Phillip’s article. I was indeed provoked at its perverseness—not alarmed at its arguments. I suppose you have seen my answer to it in the last Liberator. I am in hope that he will renew the attack this week, as it will give me an opportunity of replying through the Liberator, and thus reaching a class of men whom I am especially anxious to convince. I have no fear that the gentleman’s wings will carry him above my reach.

     As for Mr. Garrison, he is an honest man, and means to do right, be governed by the truth, uninfluenced by any petty vanity or pride of opinion, that might lead weak or bad men to cling to a falsehood. He has sense enough to see by and by that he cannot stand on the ground he has taken in regard to my book—that he must admit that the written constitution is the constitution, in preference to any criminal unexpressed intentions which the convention or even the whole people of the country (if such had been the case) entertained at the time. But he will not probably change his ground immediately—at least so I infer from his reasoning, and present current of thought as exhibited in a conversation I had with him two days since.

     Do not suppose, however, that I mean by this that he is going to give up his non-resistance views—that is another matter, but only his views of what actually is the constitutional law of this country on the subject of slavery. On this point I am confident he will sometime change.

     I hear nothing from Mr. Earle—I think you said that you asked him to inform me by letter, of his opinion—I sent him a copy, and feel some disappointed at not hearing from him.

     On the whole, I cannot doubt of the success of the argument. I know it is sound, that is, I know it as absolutely as it becomes a man to know a thing of that kind—

     I have made up my mind to remain here until after convention—how much longer will probably depend upon circumstances there to be disclosed, to wit, the sale of my book—whether it shall sell enough to give me something to eat while I write another book—which I have blocked out in my mind—

     I hope to see you at the time you mention.

                                  Yours sincerely,

                                  Lysander Spooner