OPENING OF THE STREET-CARS TO COLORED PERSONS. Speeches in the Senate, on various Propositions, February 10, March 17, June 21, 1864 WRONG AND UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF FUGITIVE SLAVE ACTS. Re- port in the Senate, of the Committee on Slavery and Freedmen, EXCLUSION OF WITNESSES ON ACCOUNT OF COLOR. Report in the Senate, of the Committee on Slavery and Freedmen, February 29, THE MISSION TO BELGIUM. Speech in the Senate, on an Amendment to the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill, March 15, 1864. 103 217 CONSULAR PUPILS. Speech in the Senate, on an Amendment to the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill, March 15, 1864. 223 THE LATE HON. OWEN LOVEJOY, OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- TIVES. Speech in the Senate, on the Resolutions upon his Death, CLAIMS ON FRANCE FOR SPOLIATIONS OF AMERICAN COMMERCE PRIOR TO JULY 31, 1801. Report in the Senate, of the Committee NO PROPERTY IN MAN: UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION WITHOUT COM- PENSATION. Speech in the Senate, on the Constitutional Amend- ment abolishing Slavery throughout the United States, April 8, THE NATIONAL BANKS AND THE CURRENCY. Speeches in the Sen- ate, on Amendments to the Bill providing a National Currency, REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. Bill in the Senate, April 30, 1864 COLORED SUFFRAGE IN WASHINGTON. Remarks in the Senate, on Bills to amend the City Charter, May 12, 26, 27, 28, 1864 VOTE OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS NECESSARY TO READMISSION OF REBEL STATES. Resolution in the Senate, May 27, 1864 437 452 458 470 471 IDGE PUSLL LIBRARY, DISCARDED. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND JOHN SLIDELL ARTICLE IN THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, NOVEMBER, 1863. THIS article appeared originally under the title, "Monograph from an Old Note-Book." Beyond the curiosity of the discussion was the object, at a critical moment, of contrasting the diplomatic representative of our fathers at Paris and that of Rebel Slavery, with a new appeal to France. It was in the same vein with the recent speech on Our Foreign Relations.1 N a famous speech, made in the House of Lords, Brougham arrests the current of his eloquence by the following illustrative diversion. "I have often heard it disputed among critics, which of all quotations was the most appropriate, the most closely applicable to the subject-matter illustrated; and the palm is generally awarded to that which applied to Dr. Franklin the line in Claudian, Eripuit fulmen coelo, mox sceptra tyrannis'; yet still there is a difference of opinion, and even that citation, admirably close as it is, has, rivals." 2 The British orator errs in attributing this remarkable 1 See, ante, Vol. VII. p. 327. 2 Speeches of Henry Lord Brougham upon Questions relating to Public Rights, Duties, and Interests (Edinburgh, 1838), Vol. II. pp. 233, 234. VOL. VIII. 1 A verse to Claudian, misled, perhaps, by reminiscence of like-sounding words by that poet, — "Rapiat fulmen sceptrumque Typhoeus."1 And he errs also in the quotation of the verse itself, which he fails to give with entire accuracy. And this double mistake becomes more noticeable, when it appears in the carefully prepared collection of speeches, revised at leisure, and preserved in permanent volumes. The beauty of this verse, even in its least accurate form, will not be questioned, especially as applied to Franklin, who, before the American Revolution, in which he performed so illustrious a part, had already awakened the world's admiration by drawing the lightning from the skies. But, beyond its acknowledged beauty, this verse has an historic interest which has never been adequately appreciated. Appearing at the moment it did, it is closely associated with the acknowledgment of American Independence. Plainly interpreted, it calls George the Third "tyrant," and announces that the sceptre has been snatched from his hands. It was a happy ally to Franklin in France, and has ever since been an inspiring voice. Latterly it has been adopted by the city of Boston, and engraved on granite in letters of gold, in honor of its greatest son and citizen. It may not be entirely superfluous to recount the history of a verse which has justly attracted so much attention, and in the history of Civilization has been of more value than the whole State of South Carolina. From its first application to Franklin, this verse has excited something more than curiosity. Lord Brougham tells us that it is often discussed in private circles. 1 Gigantomachia, ver. 32. |