Winchendon March 5, 1847

Dear Bradburn,

     I received last night your note of February 22, from Dr. Hoyt.

     Perhaps it is as well that you have not undertaken that project, unless you feel pretty much confident of success. I think I shall write a long letter to Gerrit Smith, going into the subject considerably. If he approves the project, he will see that it is accomplished.

     I hope you will see the Liberator of March 5^th. It has an article for you as follow.

“Disunion Under a Mask.  At a Liberty Party convention recently held in Ohio, George Bradburn offered the following veracious resolution, which was adopted: ‘Resolved, That the assertions of slaveholders and their abettors, that our national constitution contains guarantees of slavery, is a gross perversion of the character of the instrument’!!!

     “There is a great deal of folly and effrontery exhibited in the adoption of such an untruthful resolution. The Liberty Party professes to be as warmly[?] attached to the union as either the Whig or Democratic party, yet it puts a construction upon the constitution, which, should any party forcibly attempt to carry it into execution, would a assuredly blow the Union ‘sky high.’ We are indignant at this dishonest mode of dealing with the constitution and then joining with southern slaveholders and their northern allies in affected veneration for the American Union, and in denouncing straight-forward disunionists.”

     I have given you the whole article, lest you should fail to see it elsewhere. The italics are mine. This comes from Garrison, who admits my book to be unanswerable, taking the constitution to be what it purports to be, as you will see by the extracts from his notice, in the inside cover of my book. His only objection is, that those who framed and adopted the constitution did not mean what they said—that the courts have construed it differently so. If you can find the Liberator, (I think of August 22, 1845), you will find his review at length.

     I believe I have never, except in the case of his attack on Glaf[?], come so near to setting down Garrison as a scoundrel, as I did on seeing this attack on your veracity on such grounds as these. I hope you will play him alive.

     The Doctor writes me that he has “pretty much determined to remain in Athol” and “open on his own account in his own domicile.” I am glad to hear it. I was afraid something might defeat his prospects, if he went to New York.

     You once inquired for C.C.[?] Haswell. I presume he is in Fitchburg, editing a new paper called the Fitchburg Tribune—professedly neutral in politics—but evidently Democratic in its feelings, although it condemns Polk and the war. The paper is not published in the name of Haswell—but one number contained a lecture delivered before the Fitchburg Lyceum by him. Another number contained an article with “C.C.H.” as a signature. From these circumstances, and the ability of editorials, I infer that he is the real man of the concern.

     I saw by the National Era of July[?] 25^th (I think) that Bailey was going to consider the position of the Liberty Party with reference to the constitutional question, in his next paper.

     I received the other day from Chase, a copy of his argument in the Van Handt[?] case. It is deplorable that he should make such admissions in favor of slavery. It must be set down I think, to “the weakness of poor human nature.”

     Leavitt is about devoting a portion of his time “to try to bring about such arrangements as will write the churches in giving the Bible to the slaves.” Has he lost all common sense? Tall business indeed! He had better write with us in trying to secure to them their natural and constitutional right “to keep and bear arms.” “The Bible to the slaves!” He’ll probably succeed!

     Congress have thrown overboard the Wilnot[?] proviso. I suppose you saw it.

     March 10—I have written a letter to Gerrit Smith—whether I send it, I have not fully determined—probably I shall.

     Have you seen the National Era of March 4^th? Was Bailey sent to Washington to deal out such ignorance and falsehood as that? He evidently has never even read my book.

     Angry at nearly all the anti-slavery world except yourself,  

                             I am, yours sincerely,

                             L. Spooner