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Hello: 
 
I'm doing research for a dissertation chapter on the Garrisonian 
abolitionists, their formulation of slavery as a conflict between free 
and slave labor systems, and the ways in which the Boston labor movement 
affected abolitionist strategies and rhetoric. 
 
I have two questions which I'd be grateful for any help with: 
 
1) Does anyone have references for or know how David Ricardo's 1817 
_Principles of Political Economy and Taxation_ was received in America? 
Abolitionists seem to give support to his theory of surplus value in 
their free-labor arguments, and I'm wondering, given the timing, if 
Ricardo might be a plausible reason. 
 
2) Does anyone know of published or archival sources for information on 
free produce societies (groups that only purchased goods produced by 
(ostensibly) free laborers). Garrison calls for a network of free produce 
societies in the same newspaper article he calls for a network of 
national abolitionist organizations. I've seen references to individuals 
pursuing free labor purchasing and production activities, most notably 
Lydia Maria and David Child who experimented with free labor sugar beet 
production, but never to organized societies per se. 
 
Thanks in advance, 
 
Tyler Steben 
Wayne State University 
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