slept in the land of benevolent intentions, a practical illustration of
Lundy's pungent saying, that "philanthropists are the slowest creatures
breathing. They think forty times before they act." The committee never
acted, but its one member in Vermont did act, and that promptly and
powerfully as shall shortly appear. Garrison had gone to Bennington to
edit the _Journal of the Times_ in the interest of the reelection of
John Quincy Adams to the Presidency. For this object he was engaged as
editor of the paper. What he was engaged to do he performed faithfully
and ably, but along with his fulfillment of his contract with the
friends of Mr. Adams, he carried the one which he had made with humanity
likewise. In his salutatory he outlined his intentions in this regard
thus: "We have three objects in view, which we shall pursue through
life, whether in this place or elsewhere--namely, the suppression of
intemperance and its associate vices, the gradual emancipation of every
slave in the republic, and the perpetuity of national peace. In
discussing these topics what is wanting in vigor shall be made up in
zeal." From the issue of that first number if the friends of Adams had
no cause to complain of the character of his zeal and vigor in their
service, neither had the friends of humanity. What he had proposed doing
in Massachusetts as a member of the anti-slavery committee of twenty, he
performed with remarkable energy and success in Vermont. It was to
obtain signatures not by the hundred to a petition for the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia, but by the thousands, and that from
all parts of the State. He sent copies of the petition to every
postmaster in Vermont with the request that he obtain signatures in his
neighborhood. Through his exertions a public meeting of citizens of
Bennington was held and indorsed the petition. The plan for polling the
anti-slavery sentiment of the State worked admirably. The result was a
monster petition with 2,352 names appended. This he forwarded to the
seat of Government. It was a powerful prayer, but as to its effect,