Charles Eliot Norton writes William Lloyd Garrison inquiring if he would be willing to contribute an article for the North American Review. Norton notes the division in public opinion concerning the "condition of affairs in Louisiana", in particular as to the conditions of readmission to the Union, the status of freedmen, and the "nature of the labor-system" in use. Norton asserts Garrison's especial suitedness to composing a work on the aforementioned subjects, and states that calling popular attention to the matter is "the highest concern". Norton further adds the sense of "great satisfaction" he would personally feel were he able to count Garrison amongst the contributors to the North American Review, and informs Garrison that the periodical will pay the sum of $100 for Garrison's contributions.