Ask the Scholar

Oliver Johnson writes to William Lloyd Garrison seeking editorial advice and hoping to arrive at a "concurrence of judgement" concerning the controversy that has erupted between Joseph Howland and Samuel May, Jr., with the former accusing the latter of acting inconsistently regarding his principles for his exhortation towards enlistment in the Union Army. Johnson states that Howland attempted to press him into publishing the letter he had written attacking May's position prior to Johnson's having been able to seek a response from May (wishing to print both the initial letter and May's response concurrently in the Standard), but now questions the wisdom of prolonging the controversy following Garrison's publication of Howland's letter in the Liberator. Johnson closes by alerting Garrison of an upcoming convention at Ellenville, N.Y., where the speakers will include Parker Pillsbury, Susan B. Anthony, and Aaron Powell. Johnson states that he fears that they shall act and speak in a manner that is detrimental to the credibility of the cause, and that they could possibly draw the ire of the War Department.