THE MOST DRAMATIC ORATOR IN THE AMERICAN ANTISLAVERY MOVEMENT

WENDELL PHILLIPS (1811- 1884) a Prominent abolitionist from 1837, President of the Anti-Slavery Society from 1865-1870. So highly regarded were his oratorical abilities that he was known as “abolition’s Golden Trumpet”. Like many of his fellow abolitionists, Phillips took pains to eat no cane sugar and wear no clothing made of cotton, since both were produced by the labor of Southern slaves. It was Phillips’s contention that racial injustice was the source of all of society’s ills. Like William Lloyd Garrison, Phillips denounced the Constitution for tolerating slavery.

Autograph Letter Signed. 4pp. 5" x 8". n.p. 4 Dec ’81. Phillips writes to a fellow lawyer and friend, Mr. Dyer:

“There is no setting ahead of you my bar friend – and reading over and over you exquisitely words – just the sweetest of all notes” as my wife keeps saying. I feel sort of nervous in trying my ‘rentice hand, as Bacus says, at telling you how very beautiful your flowers were – how welcome….” Phillips goes on to relay a song to his friend, then: “…but even without Ben Johnson in my view, my vote’s nothing to yours – Please just think of the most grateful things you could say if you were touched to the very heart & then fancy me saying it – if you can - & it will be alright…Wendell Phillips.”

Light toning to folds on last page, else Fine.   $150 - up