Garrison grew up in poverty and became an apprentice at the age of 9. Garrison studied shoemaking and printing. At the age of thirteen, Garrison entered the newbury Vanguard as an apprentice. After seven years as a pioneer, Garrison became a pen holder. His writing was sharp and pungent, and he spared no effort to attack slavery. Garrison's guiding ideology is the Christian Bible, and he opposes slavery from the biblical and humanitarian perspectives. Garrison learned from his mother at an early age that slavery and Christianity were incompatible. At first, Garrison entered the newspaper in order to have a good job. During the pioneer apprenticeship, Garrison met a Harvard graduate, which not only inspired him, but also made him realize the evil of slavery again, and changed his life path, making overthrowing slavery his lifelong career.
1834 On September 4th, Garrison married Helen Eliza Benson, and they had five sons and two daughters. One son and one daughter died in childhood.
1March, 828 17, Garrison, who works in Boston, attended a priest's party. At the meeting, Benjamin Lundy, the publisher of Global Liberation in Baltimore, suggested organizing an anti-slavery association. The meeting didn't have any impact, but Randy noticed Garrison who was listening carefully. After meeting, the two began to chat and became friends. The following year 1 month, Randy came to Boston again and suggested that Garrison go to Baltimore to host Global Liberation and run around for black immigrants himself. Garrison was very happy, but Garrison told Randy, "He doesn't approve of black immigrants anymore." Randy said, "Let's express our opinions in the newspaper." . This is a gentleman's agreement "agree or disagree". As a result, Garrison became one of the two main writers of Global Liberation.
/kloc-in the autumn of 0/828, Francis Todd, a wealthy merchant ship owner in newbury, hired Captain nicolas brown to transport a group of slaves from Baltimore to New Orleans to grow sugar. Garrison lashed out at this point in Global Liberation. He said: "Anyone can get rich by hook or by crook. There are 75 slaves in chains on Brown's ship, and they are kept in the narrow space between decks ... newbury people have always wondered why other people engaged in shipping from New Orleans to newbury earn much less from Captain Bublens. Now the mystery is solved. " Garrison also directly accused Todd and Brown of being robbers and murderers and enemies of their own kind.
1830 In February, Todd filed a lawsuit in the Maryland court. The defendants are Randy and Garrison, two major writers of Global Liberation. The plaintiff's witness pointed out that slaves were never shackled, and they were free on board and treated humanely. Todd also said that he had always opposed slavery, and he had to do such a single business only because his business was bleak. There are many people who prove that Todd and Brown are honest. The court ordered Garrison to pay a fine of $50 and all legal fees. Garrison had no money to pay the fine, and the court sentenced him to six months in prison.
1April 830 17, Garrison came to Baltimore Prison. Garrison in prison said in a letter to a friend, "I live in a huge building now. Although I am not its owner, I don't have to pay, worry about maintenance and everything, but I am very comfortable. I still sing loudly, just like before I put my wings away. " While in prison, Garrison wrote a pamphlet "Briefing on the Trial of Garrison's Suspected Defamation of Francis Todd". Arthur Tappan, a philanthropist in new york, expressed deep sympathy and donated money to save Garrison. Garrison was released from prison on June 5 and held for 49 days. After getting out of prison, Randy and Garrison couldn't cooperate and broke up immediately.
183 1 year 1 month, garrison began to publish his Liberator newspaper independently. Garrison wrote a famous "Emancipation Speech" for liberators:
"Recently, in order to inspire people's consciousness, I ran around and gave a series of speeches about slavery. Everywhere I go, someone gives me a new example: compared with the southern States, the public mood in free States will change greatly-especially in New England. I found that in these places, compared with the feelings of slave owners, those who hold contempt are more intense, those who hold opposition are more active, those who hold derogatory attitudes are more ruthless, those who hold prejudice are more stubborn, and those who hold indifference are more indifferent. Of course, there are some exceptions. This situation bothers me, but I am not discouraged. I have made up my mind to face Bunker Mountain, the birthplace of freedom, regardless of all risks, and let the banner of liberation fly high in the hearts of our people. This flag has been unfurled. May it fly for a long time, intact in the passage of time, invulnerable in the desperate actions of the enemy until every chain is broken and every slave is free! Let the oppressors in the south tremble! Let their masterminds tremble! Let their defenders in the north tremble! Let all the enemies who brutally persecute black people tremble! "
"I don't need to publish this preface, because it has become a household name. The newspaper will faithfully follow its principles. I want to clarify that I don't represent either side. I hope to get the support of various sects and parties in the great cause of defending human rights. "
"I agree with the self-evident truth advocated in the American Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal; Their creator endowed them with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, freedom and the right to pursue happiness. I will work tirelessly for the immediate realization of the voting rights of our fellow slaves. 1829 On July 4th, when I gave a speech at Park Street Church, I expressed my support for the gradual abolition of slavery. I hereby express my complete rejection of this idea and ask God, the people of China and all the suffering slave brothers to forgive me for saying such cowardly, unfair and absurd words. "
"I know many people object to my fierce words, but I have reason to do so. Truth is merciless, so am I; Justice is uncompromising, and so am I. On the issue of slavery, in my thoughts, in my language and in my articles, there will be no moderation! No, absolutely not! Imagine you see a burning house. Can you call the police moderately? Can you ask your husband to save his wife moderately? Can the mother carry the child out of the fire properly? Today's question is like this, please don't persuade me to take the middle road. I am sincere and serious, I will not be vague, I will not make excuses, I will not give up an inch of land, I want people to hear my voice. "
"Some people say that my words are sharp and my methods are fierce, but I am actually delaying the cause of slave liberation. Don't! This accusation is not established, and history will prove that I am right. "
The Liberator stopped publishing at the beginning of 1866, when the civil war had ended and the slaves had already been free. The liberator fulfilled its mission.
The emancipation of slaves advocated by Garrison is non-violent. In New England, he organized an anti-slavery association. He objected to members joining political parties. His liberation depended on non-military, non-political, pure moral and religious forces.
After the Tanner incident, the United States entered a white terror, and Garrison published an editorial in the Liberator to support Tanner. He said, "What we have been predicting for a long time is beginning to happen. The first step of the earthquake happened, which will eventually destroy the whole oppression mechanism. The first drop of blood has flowed out and will eventually become a river of blood. The first lightning has flashed, and it will destroy everything. " "You accuse us that those who advocate peaceful liberation are those who incite slaves to revolt. Please retract this absurd accusation. Slaves don't need us to stimulate them. The life they suffer is itself a stimulus. "
Garrison not only refused to compromise on the liberation of slaves, but also demanded equality between men and women, so he recruited an alliance of male chauvinists and slave owners to attack him.
18351October 2 1 day, the Boston Women's Association invited george thompson, a British abolitionist, to give a speech. They rented a small space. In advance, the opposition called on people to go to the square to stop Thompson. Thompson got the news beforehand and didn't show up. The mayor of Boston personally came to persuade the participants to go home. At this time, the opposition people outside knew that Thompson was not there, but they saw Garrison enter the stadium half an hour ago, so they shouted to find Garrison. Seeing that the situation was not good, the mayor opened the window and ordered Garrison to jump out of the window. Garrison jumped out of the window and ran into an alley. The rebels chased after the alley and dragged Garrison out. The garrison did not resist and was insulted. Fortunately, the police arrived and sent Garrison to the police station in the name of disturbing the order, in fact, in order to save him from lynching. Garrison spent the night at the police station. Although Garrison suffered a lot, this incident made people see the relationship between abolitionism and democracy, which led many teenagers to join the abolitionist army. Wendell phillips, a young lawyer, devoted himself to Garrison's abolitionist movement and became Garrison's right-hand man.
1842 1 month, Congressman john quincy adams submitted a petition for his voters, arguing that the only way to avoid solving the slavery problem through war is to separate the north from the south. Garrison came to the same conclusion after studying the situation between North and South. To this end, Garrison published a slogan in his newspaper, "In order to abolish slavery in the north and retain slavery in the south, the Federation of the free north and the slave south must be separated." Previously, Garrison, like Adams, supported the American Constitution, but after reflection, he thought that three-fifths of the articles actually recognized slavery. To this end, Garrison came to a new conclusion, "Either you don't want the US Constitution or you don't want Christ, either of them will live in it." Garrison publicly burned a copy of the Constitution in 1844. He said, "Because the compromise of the Constitution to slavery is an agreement with death and hell". In the New England Anti-Slavery Association, Garrison easily gained support, but in the National Anti-Slavery Association, his views were resisted, and the final slogan was "No alliance with slave owners".
At the same time, john Caldwell calhoun, the representative of southern slave owners in Congress, also put forward the idea of separating the North from the South. It can be seen that it is impossible to solve the problem of slavery within the Federation, and there is no other way but war. Although Garrison advocated non-violence, with the development of the situation, he supported Brown's rebellion and Lincoln's war with practical actions.
1859 10 In October, john brown, an abolitionist extremist, launched an attack on a small town called Harpers Town. The news shocked all parties. Brown once declared that he would work to end slavery. Brown said that God instructed him to lead an armed force to attack Virginia and set off a slave uprising. Brown predicted that even if the uprising failed, it would ignite the civil war between the North and the South. Once the war breaks out, the north will chisel off the shackles of slaves. However, the Brown Uprising was quickly put out. Brown and his comrades were sentenced to hang. Many abolitionists were indignant at Brown's death. To this end, Garrison delivered a speech, "We must not allow theft, robbery, human trafficking and abuse of women to happen! We must unite in the name of freedom. " "As for the federal government, where is it? What is this? In half of its territory, people can't exercise freedom of speech and the press-they can't give speeches from Washington, Jefferson or Patrick Henry unless they risk their lives; As long as northerners cherish their feelings of loving freedom, they will be hunted everywhere and then expelled from the south. " "We live under the terrible tyranny of cruel slave oligarchy. If we don't continue to do evil for them as before until we die in front of them, they threaten to leave us. " "They will go to heaven! Only beggars will be cleared out of the city, won't they? They won't leave, they will pester us and make us yield. Will we yield? No, never! "
What is most commendable is Garrison's attitude towards the Chinese Exclusion Act. He is a rare American who opposes the Chinese Exclusion Act. Garrison wrote in his dying letter to the new york Tribune: "The problem of China people is our problem, and they deserve the rights enjoyed by ordinary people. They came here for a better life; We should treat them kindly. We should not force them to change their living habits and customs. Their living habits and customs should be decided by themselves. They can have their own hobbies, sign their own contracts, safeguard their rights and worship their gods. All brothers in the four seas are against class and racial discrimination. "
In the last few days of Garrison's life, he and his wife Helen were at home. 1At the end of 863, Garrison's wife Helen suffered from a minor stroke. 1876 1 On 25th, Helen died of pneumonia, and the funeral was held at home. After his wife died, Garrison was so sad that he couldn't even attend the funeral. wendell phillips had to make a eulogy. It took Garrison a long time to recover from the grief of losing his wife. 1877, garrison visited Britain for the last time. He met with george thompson and other British abolitionists.
Garrison was weakened by kidney disease in his later years. 1879 In April, Garrison came to his daughter's home in new york. In May, Garrison's illness became more serious, and all five children came to see him. They sang Garrison's favorite song for Garrison. 1At midnight on May 24th, 879, Garrison closed his eyes forever. On May 28th, Garrison was buried in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Most of Garrison's abolitionist friends attended the funeral.