t
disinterested of men. Harsh and abusive language good men uttered
against good men. Distrust, suspicion, anger, and alienation took
possession of the thoughts of the grandest souls. Saints and heroes
beseemed themselves like very ordinary folk, who, when they come to
differences, come directly afterward to high words and thumping blows.
The love of David and Jonathan which once united Garrison and Phelps,
has died. Garrison and Stanton meet and only exchange civilities. They,
too, have become completely alienated, and so on down the long list of
the "goodliest fellowship ... whereof this land holds record." To a
sweet and gentle spirit like Samuel J. May, the acrimony and scenes of
strife among his old associates was unspeakably painful. Writing to
Garrison from South Scituate, May 1, 1839, he touches thus upon this
head: "I now think I shall not go to New York next week. In the first
place, I cannot afford the expense.... But I confess, I do not lament my
inability to go so much as I should do if the prospect of an agreeable
meeting was fairer. I am apprehensive that it will be not so much an
anti-slavery as anti-Garrison and anti-Phelps meeting, or
anti-board-of-managers and anti-executive committee meeting. Division
has done its work, I fear, effectually. The two parties seem to me to
misunderstand, and therefore sadly misrepresent one another. I am not
satisfied with the course you and your partisans have pursued. It
appears to me not consistent with the non-resistant, patient,
long-suffering spirit of the Gospel. And I do not believe that either
the cause of the slave, or the cause of peace and righteousness has been
advanced."

The situation was further complicated by the discovery of a fresh bone
of contention. As if to give just a shade of sordidness to the strife
there must needs arise a money difficulty between the two rival boards
of leaders. This is how our recent band of brothers happened to stumble
upon their new apple of discord. Soon after the formation of the
National Society an arrangement was made with each of the State
societies whereby they agreed to operate financially their respective
territories and to turn into the national treasury the several sums
which at the annual meeting they obligated themselves to contribute to
the general work. This arrangement was intended to avoid the expense,
conflict, and confusion consequent upon the employment of two sets of
agents to work the same territory. M