Compare And Contrast Letter To John Greenleaf Whittier

Lydia Maria Child was a prolific author, anti-slavery leader, and a massachusetts abolitionist. In the 12th document “Letter to John Greenleaf Whittier, January 21, 1862” from the book and “John Brown’s Invasion: Colonel J. Lucius Davis Lydia Maria Child’s Reply to Gov. Wise, November 19, 1859” from the New York Tribune, Child emphasizes that slavery has infected the foundation of the nation’s life. Although both documents have the comparison of discussing slavery, the letter and newspaper have contrasts in the terms of who is pro-slavery and anti-slavery. The “Letter to John Greenleaf Whittier” is a letter written by Lydia Maria Child to John Greenleaf Whittier, a poet and a massachusetts abolitionist who urged the Lincoln administration for a more conclusive action against slavery. At this time, Child had called for universal emancipation and black enlistment in the military from the beginning of

The letter clearly expresses its position of being anti-slavery. However, a section in the newspaper article notably voices that there are pro-slavery men and women. The letter remarks, “I do not know whether it is in the Providence of God to allow us to be an example to the nations, or whether He intends to use us as a warning” (Child 54). To explain, Lydia Maria Child is curious if the actions of opposing slavery will be a movement that others would follow. Nevertheless, it could be illustrated as a cautionary that this development is a lousy example that should not be pursued. Furthermore, Child states in the newspaper article, “Nor to any white citizen whom you even suspected of entertaining opinions opposite to your own, on a question of vast importance to the temporal welfare and moral example of our common country.” In this quote, Child is writing to Gov. Wise exposing how the constitution supports any position of pro-slavery, which will not be disregarded when made