(2) OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS: SHOWING PRESENT PERILS FROM ENGLAND AND FRANCE; THE NATURE AND CONDITIONS OF INTERVENTION BY MEDIATION; AND ALSO BY RECOGNITION; THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ANY RECOGNITION OF A NEW POWER WITH SLAVERY AS A CORNER STONE; AND THE WRONGFUL CONCESSION SPEECH OF HON. CHARLES SUMNER, BEFORE THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK, AT THE COOPER INSTITUTE, SEPT. 10, 1863. Jam non ad culmina rerum Injustos crevisse queror. Tolluntur in altum -CLAUDIAN. NEW YORK: YOUNG MEN'S REPUBLICAN UNION. ISHMENT howling through the world, yelping fresh cries of slander and malice. These are the reasons, which I feel it due to myself and others to give to the Senate and the country, why we have quietly listened to what has been said, and why we can take no other notice of the matter. In these words, Mr. Chesnut refers to the assault upon Mr. SUMNER with a bludgeon on the floor of the Senate, by a Representative from South-Carolina, since dead, aided by another Representative from that same State, and also a Representative from Virginia, on account of which Mr. SUMNER had been compelled to leave his seat vacant, and seek the restoration of his health by travel. As Mr. CHESNUT spoke, he was surrounded by the Slavemasters of the Senate, who seemed to approve what he said. There was no call to order by the Chair, which was occupied at the time by Mr. BIGLER, of Pennsylvania. Mr. SUMNER obtained the floor with difficulty, while a motion was pending for the postponement of the question, and said! Mr. President, before this question passes away, I think I ought to make (though perhaps there is no occasion for it) a response to the Senator from South-Carolina. ["No!" from several Senators.] Only one word. I exposed to day the Barbarism of Slavery. What the Senator has said in reply to me, I may well print in an Appendix to my speech as an additional illustration. That is all. Mr. HAMMOND, of South-Carolina, said: I hope he will do it. The following letter, from a venerable citizen, an ornament of our legislative halls at the beginning of the century, and now the oldest survivor of all who have ever been members of Congress, is too valuable, in its testimony and its counsel, to be omitted in this place: BOSTON, June 5, 1860. DEAR SIR: I have read a few abstracts from your noble speech, but must wait for it in a pamphlet form, that I may read it in such type as eyes, in the eightyninth year of their age, will permit. But I have read enough to approve, and rejoice that you have been permitted, thus truly, fully, and faithfully to expose the "Barbarism" of Slavery on that very floor on which you were so cruelly and brutally stricken down by the spirit of that Barbarism. I only hope that in an Appendix you will preserve the vera effigies of that insect that attempted to sting you. Remember that the value of amber is increased by the insect it preserves. Yours, very truly, JOSIAH QUINCY. 1 2 OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS: SHOWING PRESENT PERILS FROM ENGLAND AND FRANCE; THE NATURE AND CONDITIONS OF INTERVENTION BY MEDIATION; AND ALSO BY RECOGNITION; THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ANY RECOGNITION OF A NEW POWER WITH SLAVERY AS A CORNER STONE; AND THE WRONGFUL CONCESSION SPEECH OF HON. CHARLES SUMNER, BEFORE THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK, AT THE COOPER INSTITUTE, SEPT. 10, 1863. Jam non ad culmina rerum Injustos crevisse queror. Tolluntur in altum -CLAUDIAN. NEW YORK: YOUNG MEN'S REPUBLICAN UNION. "To this condition the Constitution of this Confederacy reduces the whole African race; and while declaring these to be its principles, their founders claim the privilege of being admitted into the society of the nations of the earth!-principles worthy only of being conceived and promulgated by the inmates of the infernal regions, and a fit constitution for a confederacy in Pandemonium! Now, as soon as the nature of this constitution is truly explained and understood, is it possible that the nations of the earth can admit such a Confederacy into their society? Can any nation, calling itself civilized, associate, with any sense of self-respect, with a nation avowing and practicing such principles? Will not every civilized nation, when the nature of this Confederacy is understood, come to the side of the United States, and refuse all association with them, as, in truth, they are hostes humani generis? For the African is as much entitled to be protected in the rights of humanity as any other portion of the human race. As to Great Britain, her course is, in the nature of things, already fixed and immutable. She must, sooner or later, join the United States in this war, or be disgraced throughout all future time; for the principle of that civilization which this Confederacy repudiates was by her-to her great glory, and with unparalleled sacrifices-introduced into the code of civilization; and she will prove herself recreant if she fails to maintain it."—Speech of Hon. JOSIAH QUINCY, to the Union Club of Boston. Wright & Potter, Printers, No. 4 Spring Lane, Boston. INTRODUCTORY. The following Speech was delivered at the invitation of the New York Young Men's Republican Union, at Cooper Institute, on the 10th of September, 1863. The announcement that Mr. SUMNER had consented to address the citizens of New York on a subject so momentous attracted an audience numbering not less than three thousand persons, among whom were most of the acknowledged representatives of the intelligence, wealth and influence of the Metropolis. Long before the hour appointed for the delivery of the speech, the entrance doors were besieged by an impatient and anxious crowd, who, as soon as the gates were opened, filled the seats, aisles, lobbies and platform of the vast hall, leaving at least an equal number to return home unable to gain an entrance to the building. Of the following named gentlemen, who were invited to occupy seats upon the platform, a majority were present, while in the auditorium were seated hundreds of equally prominent citizens, who preferred to retain seats near the ladies whom they had escorted to the meeting: S. B. CHITTENDEN, REV. DR. VINTON, GEO. WILLIAM CURTIS, REV. DR. ASA D. SMITH, WILLIAM A. HALL, The President of the United States and the members of the Cabinet were also invited to be present. |