December, 1819

As promised, a follow-up on the composition of the Missouri Compromise memorial. Here, Gallison presents the fruits of his all-nighter to the committee. Scholars interested in the legal history of abolition (or restriction) of slavery may be interested in the insertion of language composed by Nathan Dane specifically citing the Northwest Ordinance. Dane was one of that document’s architects in 1787.

Toward the end of the month, we get a few notices of his address to the Peace Society for their annual meeting on Christmas Day. It seems that he sought some advice from William Ellery Channing on its style and clarity. Of more interest to us is the content, which shows kinship to the sermon Channing delivered to President Monroe in July, 1817.