Letter from J. Alexander, 109 High St., Paisley, [Scotland], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1840 July 28

In this letter to William Lloyd Garrison, J. Alexander tells Garrison that after hearing his speech in Glasgow the previous night, he had a question about one of Garrison's remarks. Alexander refers to Garrison's comment that "all the [American] Churches were against you - all of them proslavery" and says he understood Garrison to mean that "individual persons, not churches" were also all pro-slavery. He tells Garrison that the Reformed Presbyterian Church "many many years ago made it a Term of Communion (or church membership) that no person should be received or retained as a member who held slaves or frafficked in them .." He even cites a pastor, Dr. Alex[ander] M'Leod of New York, as preaching against slavery years ago and delivering a sermon in which "the very principles for which you have so long contended & suffered are boldly advocated." Alexander asks Garrison if the Presbyterian Church in the United States has "retreated from the noble stand that years ago it made on this important question .." He tells Garrison he know how busy he is, so he "shall neither be surprised nor disappointed at your silence" if he does not receive a response to this letter.
Courtesy of Boston Public Library