But the societies, on reflection, wisely determined to do
what they could to prepare them to become self-supporting citizens, in
the belief, that, when they had become such, no Government could ever be
found base enough to turn its back upon them. These associations, it
should be stated, have been managed by persons of much consideration in
their respective communities, of unostentatious philanthropy, but of
energetic and practical benevolence, hardly one of whom has ever filled
or been a candidate for a political office.
There was a pleasant interview at this time which may fitly be
mentioned. The venerable Josiah Quincy, just entered on his ninety-first
year, hearing of the enterprise, desired to see one who had charge of
it. I went to his chamber, where he had been confined to his bed for
many weeks with a fractured limb. He talked like a patriot who read the
hour and its duty. He felt troubled lest adequate power had not been
given to protect the enterprise,--said that but for his disability he
should be glad to write something about it, but that he was living "the
postscript of his life"; and as we parted, he gave his hearty
benediction to the work and to myself.
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