"When I heard the gentleman lay down the principles which place the murderers of Lovejoy at Alton side by side with Otis and Hancock, with Quincy and Adams," said Wendell Phillips, pointing to their portraits on the walls.

"I thought those pictured lips would have broken into voice to rebuke the recreant American, the slanderer of the dead.

For the sentiments that he has uttered, on soil consecrated by the prayers of the Puritans and the blood of patriots.
the earth should have yawned and swallowed him up." The whole nation was wrought to fever heat.
Between the Northern pioneers and Southern chivalry the struggle was long and fierce, even in far California.

The drama culminated in the shock of civil war.

When the war was ended, and, after thirty-five years of untiring, heroic conflict, Garrison was invited as the nation's guest, by President Lincoln, to see the stars and stripes unfurled once more above Fort Sumter, an emancipated slave delivered the address of welcome, and his two daughters, no longer chattels in appreciation presented Garrison with a beautiful wreath of flowers.
About this time Richard Cobden, another powerful friend of the oppressed, died in London.
His father had died leaving nine children almost penniless.