Uncommon anti-slavery newspaper, but more: focused on non-resistance...

Item # 711145

July 28, 1841

THE NON-RESISTANT, Boston, July 28, 1841 This is a quite uncommon anti-slavery newspaper with an interesting history.
As Wikipedia notes: "The New England Non-Resistance Society was an American peace group founded by William Lloyd Garrison (publisher of the famous 'Liberator' newspaper) in 1838. At the organizing convention, members of the American Anti-Slavery Society & the American Peace Society expressed discomfort with Garrison's philosophy of non-resistance & inclusion of women in public political activities. After conservative attendees opposing Garrison walked out of the convention in protest, those remaining formed the 'New England Non-Resistance Society'.
The Society condemned the use of force in resisting evil, in war, for the death penalty, or in self-defense, renounced allegiance to human government, and, because of the anti-slavery cause, favored non-union with the American South.

The New England Non-Resistance Society was one of the more radical of the many organizations founded by William Lloyd Garrison, adopting a Declaration of Sentiments of which he was the principal author, pledging themselves to deny the validity of social distinctions based on race, nationality or gender", refusing obedience to human governments, and opposing even individual acts of self-defense. In the Society's Declaration of Sentiments, Garrison wrote, 'any person without distinction of sex or color, who consents to the principles of this Constitution may become a member and be entitled to speak at its meetings.' The Society rejected loyalty to any human government; one historian has described the Non-Resistance Society's 'basic outlook as that of philosophical anarchism'.

The declaration was signed by 44 people, of whom 20 were women. Maria Chapman became the editor of its publication, The Non-Resistant, along with Edmund Quincy and William Lloyd Garrison and started publication in 1839. The publication lasted only several years but was indicative of the millennial character of parts of the reform movement."
The content within is much as would be expected. Complete as a four page newspaper, 11 3/4 by 17 inches, very nice condition.

Item from our most recent catalog - #365 - released for April, 2026

Category: Pre-Civil War

Available Now

$80.00

Uncommon anti-slavery newspaper, but more: focused on non-resistance...

Item from our most recent catalog - #365 - released for April, 2026

Available Now

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