The life of Arthur Tappan ..

Front matter

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I

Bu th and Parentage — His Father’s Temperance Principles — His Mother’s Courage and Patriotism — Schoolmasters — Studies — Pastimes — Escapes from Death — How the Sabbath was kept — The Courts — Sanguinary Punishments — Effects on School¬ boys — Freshets— Brother’s Death — Sister’s Marriage — His Mother’s Medical Treatment . page 13

II

Clerkship in a Hardware and Drygoods Store — Boarding Place — Brother John’s Kindness — Bookkeeping — Attends Public Worship at Old South and Dr. Channing’s — Visits in Brook¬ lyn and Cambridge — Visits to Parents — Mother’s Letter — Funeral Customs — Aunt Waters — His Strict Morality . 33

III

Dai ?ted as a Soldier — Visits Montreal — Letters to Sister — In Business at Portland, Me. — His Mother’s Letter — Visits White Mountains — Moves to Montreal — Builds Store — Courtship and Marriage — Voyage to England — Letters to Sister — War — Re¬ fuses to take Oath of Allegiance — Leaves Canada — Taken as a Spy — Lives at Albany . . . . 44

IV

Is Business in New York — Successful at First — Then Unsuccess¬ ful — Gives up the Importing Business — Engages in the Silk Jobbing Trade — Cash Sales chiefly — Is Prosperous — Unites \ ith Dr. Mason’s Church — Subscriptions to Benevolent Ob¬ jects — Moves to St. John’s Park — Joins Dr. Cox’s Church — 8 iimmer Residence — Letter to Daughter— Buys House in Ne w u&aven. . - . - . i

V

Ieceet of Success — The One-Price Rule — The Cash System — Member of Different Societies— American Tract Society — Bi¬ ble Society — The Lawyer’s Proposition — His Benefactions to the Auburn Theological Seminary ; Kenyon College ; The Yale College Fund ; American Education Society — Letters to Rev. Dr. Elias Cornelius — Dr. Cornelius’ Wit — Mr. Tappan’s Habits at the Store — Rev. Joseph S. Christmas — Rev. Dr. Woodbridge — The Free Church Plan - - - . 70

VI

’artnership with his Brother — Establishes Journal of Commerce — -Relinquishes It — Association formed to continue the Paper — The Lord’s Day strictly observed at the Office — Sale of Paper to Hale and Hallock — His Letter Thirty Years afterwards — The Sabbath Question — General Union for its Observance formed— Is Treasurer — Good Effects — Obstacles — His Tem¬ perance Efforts — “Pure Wines” for Lord’s Supper — Mr. Delavan’s Opinion — Major Noah’s Testimony — Dr. Edwards’ Letter — Why Mr. Tappan was a Prohibitionist — He had no Confidence in the License System — Did not neglect Moral Suasion — Dr. Hosack on the Use of Tobacco — Rev. Dr. Pat¬ ton’s Experience . - . 91

VII

iis Labors to Prevent Licentiousness — President of Magdalen Society — Friendly to Mr. McDowall — The Magdalen Report — Uproar in the City — Presentment of the Grand Jury — Thinks Prevention the Great Object to be aimed at — Dr. Brown’s Testimony in Favor of McDowall — The Death of this Philan¬ thropist — Why Mr. Tappan interested Himself so much in this Matter . - . - . - . 110

VIII

is Opposition to the Colonization Society — The Result of his Temperance and Peace Principles — Intelligent People of Color Opposed to It from the Start — Daniel Webster’s Opin¬ ion — William Jay’s also — The Caste Feeling its Main Sup¬ port — Atrocious Sentiments at a late Colonization Meeting — Peter Williams'' Appeal — Abdual Rahaman . 126

CONTENTS.

IX

His Exertions for the Education and Elevation of Free Peo¬ ple of Color — Excitement at New Haven in Opposition to a Plan for a High School— Project abandoned — Aids Miss Crandall’s School — Her Triumph — Mr. May’s Statement — Treasurer of the Phoenix Society in New York — Efforts on Behalf of Colored People . 143

X

Enlists in the Anti-Slavery Cause — Liberates Mr. Garrison — Aids the Liberator and Emancipator and Colored American— Formation of the New York City Anti-Slavery Society — Oppo¬ sition Meeting, at Tammany Hall and throughout the Country — President of the American Anti-Slavery Society — Its His¬ tory — Mo^s and Triumphs— . - . 13

XL

Amalgamation Stories — Many of Them were Amusing, and Son. Malicious — The Prejudice against People of Color Bampan* throughout the Country — The Public Press aided It — Hio Course was Prudent — His Letter in Explanation . 189

XII

Mob Violence in New York — Chatham-street Chapel assailed — His Store threatened — Defended with Deadly Weapons— Churches, Dwelling-houses, and Individuals Attacked — Proc¬ lamation of the Mayor — Troops under Arms — The Press Hostile, with One or Two Noble Exceptions — Mr. Jocelyn’s History of Events . 203

XIII

Lane Seminary — He induces Dr. Beecher to leave Boston for Cincinnati — Noble Band of Young Men preparing for the Ministry — The Trustees forbid their discussing the Anti- Slavery Question— Students quit the Seminary and go to Oberlin — He sustains Them — Mi. Finney's Narrative - 225

XIV

Increased Mob Violence throughout the Country — Eewards offered for his Head— Threats of Abduction — Burning of Mails — Abolitionists defended by William Leggett — He signs an Ad¬ dress to the Public— His Eesoluteness . 243

CONTENTS.

XV

His Eldest Daughter’s Recollections of his Early and Subse¬ quent Life . - . . --253

XYI.

His Grief at the Course taken by the Benevolent Societies — He Attends the Usual Religious Meetings — Scene in Lecture Room — Efforts of Prominent Men to Stop his Proceedings — His Reply: “I’ll be Hung First!” — He signs a Solemn Protest with Reference to the Accusations of Governors of States, and of President Jackson . - . - . 264

XVII

tie Great Fire in 1885 — His Store burnt — His Losses — His i romptitude in Rebuilding — How He met the Financial Crisis He felt the Evils of the Credit System — His Suspension — ? Calmness in Adverse Circumstances — Paid All in Eigh- ^cii Months with Interest, besides paying a Million and a

Half Dollars for New Goods in the Interim . 272

XVIII

Mr. Seth B. Hunt’s Narrative — Respecting the Mobs — The Fire — The Energy evinced by Mr. Tappan . 283

XIX

Advance of the Anti-Slavery Cause — His Enemies exult in Vain — His Deep Interest in the West India Emancipation — He rejoices also in the Prevalence of Anti-Slavery Sentiment — Letter from John Quincy Adams — His Error in selling so largely on Credit — His Failure in Business, owing to Real Estate Engagements with a Friend — What Joseph Sturge said of Him . 288

XX

Division in the Anti-Slavery Body — Its Cause— New Society formed called the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery — He is elected the President — Judge Jay’s Letter — John G. Whittier’s also — He befriends the Liberty Party, the National Era, and the Anti-Slavery Reporter established by the new Society — He refuses to obey the Fugitive Slave Bill — He felt as Pres¬ ident Lincoln afterwards did, on the Support given Slavery by a Large Number of Ministers of the Gospel . 301

CONTENTS.

XXI

American Missionary Association — He unites with It — Contri¬ buted to its Funds — Is One of the Vice-Presidents — Why He withdrew his Confidence from the Old Benevolent Socie¬ ties — His Views of the Course they ought to have pursued — His Constant Grief at the Course they took on the Slavery Question . - . 317

XXII

Meeting of Brothers and Sisters — He met them at Northamp¬ ton, Mass., June 1, 1848, and visited the Graves of their Parents and Sister — There were Nine, from the Age of Sixty to Seventy-seven — How they enjoyed the Interview . 338

XXIII

Mercantile Agency — He likes its Principles and buys an Interest in It — Purchases an Estate in New Jersey — Dissolves, and purchases a House in New Haven — Called to mourn the Death of his Daughter, Mrs. Seymour, and afterwards the Death of his Wife and Son — An Obituary Notice of Her — His Correspondence . - . - . 345

XXIV

His Life at New Haven — Unites with Dr. Bacon’s Church— His Religious Reflections — The Humble Views He cherished — Letters to his Brother and Daughter — Reference to Rev. Dr. Emmons . - . . . 355

XXV

His Meditations — Believed in the Triumph of the Government — Letters to his Eldest Daughter — Letters to his Brother — Feeling for the Wronged — Letter from his Old Clerks — His Reply — Letter from Theodore D. Weld - - - . 362

XXVI

The War, its Causes, and Probable Results — The Retributive Justice of God — Dr. Black’s Opinion — The Early Abolitionists relied on Moral Suasion — Interposition of the Almighty — The Proclamation of President Lincoln — Eldest Daughter’s Jour¬ nal — Will and Testament — Debt of Gratitude to his Brother John — His Last Letters — Last Sickness — Death — Funeral — Sermon by Dr. Bacon . . 371

CONTENTS.

XXVII

Summing Up — His Truthfulness — His Integrity — His Industry— His Perseverance — His Views of Stewardship — His Religion — His Unselfishness — No Fear of Death — Firmness and Tender¬ ness united — Neat and Simple in Everything — His Punctuali¬ ty — His Moral Courage — More Severe toward himself than to Others — Lenient and Forbearing . 384

ADDENDA.

W. L. Garrison’s Letter to Miss Tappan . 399

Gerrit Smith’s Letter--- . 400

Amos Townsend’s Letter- . - . 401

Letter of a Niece of Mr. Tappan’s . 401

Obituary Notice by Rev. Dr. Hallock . - . 403

Professor Hopkins’ Address . 407

Appendix

1. Genealogical Notice . 411

2. The Credit System . - . 413

3. Journal of Commerce . . . - . 415

4. Colonization Society . 419

5. Joseph Sturge’s Statement . 419

6. Letter from Vice-President Colfax . . 420

7. Oberlin College . - . 420

8. Letter from Rev. C. G. Finney . - . -421

9. American Missionary Association . 422

10. Auburn Theological Seminary . 422

11. British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society . --423

12. Letter from Wm. Lloyd Garrison . --424

13. Tribute by Rev. Dr. Leavitt . 424

14. Extracts from Dr. Bacon’s Sermon . - . 427