Introduction

After his failed bid for Congress in August 1837, Dorr's connection to the abolitionist movement grew stronger. In December of that year, James Birney (1792-1857), the corresponding secretary of the American Anti-Slavery Society, wrote to Dorr to extend an offer to become an agent of the society. Although Dorr declined the offer, he did not do so out of fear of "personal consequences." Being a paid lecturer for the American Anti-Slavery Society was risky business, as evidenced in July 1837 when the prominent abolitionist printer Elijah Lovejoy was killed by a shotgun blast to the chest by an angry pro-slavery mob. Dorr believed he could better serve the organization by leading antislavery efforts in Rhode Island. Dorr would go on to serve on the executive committee of the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society.

Letter

Your letter of Dec. 14, containing an
offer of the place of an agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society, was duly
received. To the Executive Committee, in whose name you act, I return my acknow
ledgments for this appointment, which, upon due consideration, I do not deem it
advisable to accept. Though you will find others better qualified to undertake
the duties belonging to the office of an agent, you have done me justice in
believing me to be among the number of those who feel a deep interest ‸ⁱⁿ a cause
which contains the last hope of our enslaved countrymen, and which rests
upon the eternal principles of truth, justice & humanity. From the support of
that cause I shall not be deterred by a fear of personal conse
quences; but I believe I can serve it best where I am, and
that by the acceptance of the trust which is now tendered to me I should
not strengthen myself against the opposition with which we have here
to contend.

That the Society is enabled to enlarge its operations, in
the manner indicated by your letter is a just cause‸^ground for congratulations.
The blood of martyrs is truly the seed of reformations. The harvest will
not in this instance be one of men in arms, but of concentrated & invincible
opinions for the recovery of lost rights, and the extermination of Republican
Slavery.

Questions

What do you think Thomas Dorr meant when he said, "the blood of martyrs is the seed of reformations"?

When was the American Anti-Slavery Society formed? What was the society's mission?