Russell Lant Carpenter to Frederick Douglass, April 13, 1855
RUSSELL LANT CARPENTER1The Reverend Russell Lant Carpenter (1816-92), a Unitarian minister, spent his childhood in Bristol, England. He attended Bristol College in preparation for a life of ministry, continued his studies at Manchester and York colleges, and in 1840 became one of the first to graduate from London University. Because of his deep involvement in the temperance movement, Carpenter quit his pastorate at Bridgwater, England, since part of the church’s endowment came from taverns selling liquors. In August 1849 he journeyed to the United States, where he spent a full year preaching from Montreal to St. Louis to Boston. His father, Lant Carpenter, was a well-known teacher whose Unitarian writings were known to the antislavery men of the day. Russell Carpenter became acquainted with Garrison, Douglass, and others. He married in 1853 after returning to England, and continued his ministerial work there until his death. His works include an edited volume about his father’s life, Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. Lant Carpenter, LL.D. (1842); Discourses and Devotional Services (1849); A Monotessaron (1851); and a biography of his brother, Philip, Memoirs of the Life and Work of Philip Pearsall Carpenter (1880). Carpenter contributed frequently to the Inquirer and other periodicals. London Inquirer, 30 January 1892. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Birkenhead, [Eng.] 13 April [1855].
DEAR SIR:—
I take advantage of an opportunity, to send you a few thoughts, which
have been long in my mind.
Slavery is maintained in a variety of ways, and it is desirable that
there should be a corresponding variety in the methods of assailing it.
Liberty is promoted by liberty of action, liberty of thought, and liberty of
conscience: it is endangered, when we malign or disparage those who ex-
ercise their right to differ from us. I fully believe in the honesty and talent
of abolitionists who are much opposed to each other; if they cannot agree,
let them, at least, cease from the injurious and unchristian practice of
mutual recrimination.—Conflicts between those who have been friends
are always painful and humiliating; and where even victory is a grief,
flight is the truest honor. There are many who will be rejoiced, when you
no longer admit into your columns attacks upon those to whom humanity
is greatly indebted, though they have their share of human imperfections.
In the judgment of impartial readers, those will show themselves the best
friends of Freedom, who rise superior to provocation, and hasten to dis-
play that forbearance and love, without which Freedom itself is a doubtful
and short-lived blessing.
Yours, respectfully,
RUSSELL LANT CARPENTER2Douglass follows Carpenter’s letter by commending his philosophical approach to the contentious differences between abolitionist groups. He praises Carpenter’s approach while adding that he believes it necessary to continue to fight against exclusive abolitionist groups.
PLSr: FDP, 4 May 1855.