The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LUND°

Complimentary Soiree to Mr. George
Thompson.

A complimentary soiree was given in the Manchester
Town Hall, on Thursday evening, to Mr. Geo. Thompson,
the well-known advocate of negro emancipation, prior to
his departure to America. About 500 persons were present,
_ _ _.

and the chair was taken by Mr. Geo. Wilson.—The Chair-

man said that since Manchester elected to lose the first place
in the House of Commons by the rejection of its represen-

tatives, he had preferred to see the exposition of his politics
at Ashton, Rochdale, and Birmingham—but he could
scarcely have acquitted himself of the calls of conscience if
he had remained absent from that meeting, because, consi •
dering Mr. Thompson's great services to the country and to
freedom, he esteemed that gentleman to hold a place in the
front rank of all living men.—Mr. T. H. Barker read an
address to Mr. Thompson, beautifully illuminated on vel-
lum, and encased in morocco leather. It commenced with
an acknowledgment of the 30 years' services which Mr.
Thompson had devoted to "every advanced movement for
the welfare of the human race, but pre-eminently in the
cause of freedom." " Whoever the foe, whatever the diffi-
culty, he had always been the steadfast friend and defender
of liberty and justice, His able pen and eloquent tongue
had always been at the service of the true friends of universal
emancipation. His name was not unknown to the friends
and foes of liberty in the Federal Republic of America.
Associated with the name of William Lloyd Garrison, the
name of George Thompson had become a cherished house-
hold word in the homes of that kindred and friendly nation.
On this cccasicn he would visit America under circum-
stances, and with prospects very different from those he
encountered on his two previous visits. Within the last
three or four years it might be said that a nation had been
born again in the cause of freedom. " That nob'e martyr
liberty, John Brown, the hero of Harper's Ferry, by his
magnanimous devotion, sent a thrill of new impulse to the
nation's heart of hearts. The moral electricity of that
grand human soul, not only galvanised the shareholders of
the South, but awakened to new life, to new purpose, and
to new hope the drooping spirits of the freemen of the
North. Had it not been for that immolation on the altar
of liberty and patriotism, honest Abraham Lincoln could
not have been elected President of the Union, nor have
been enabled to become the second deliverer of the nation,
and the holy cause of negro emancipation would have
gone back probably half a century, It was the
crisis of the nation's utmost social, political, and
moral need, and the providence of God raised

up a man who had a heart and a conscience above
the tricks of politicians and the subtleties of diplomacy."
George 'Washington gave the American nation the precious
boon of independence; Abraham Lincoln conferred a more
inestimable blessing, by proclaiming the Federal nation
henceforth the home of universal freedom. Though the
great work was not fully and finally accomplished, the
foundation of true national freedom was laid, and the day
was at hand when the top-stone should be raised amid the
plaudits of every free nation throughout the world,—Mr.
Ernest Jones moved the adoption of the address. He said
that, and all the efforts in which Mr. Thompson had been

engaged, the one which he had been most gloriously
associated, was the struggle for the emancipation of negro
slavery. He would now go to America as an ambassador,
to draw the links of friendship still closee.--A His entry
into the States would not be a mere isolated, individual
act. The Americans would recognise in him one who
represented as largely as any man the feelings and
the virtues of the English people.—Mr. Charles Thompson
seconded the adoption of the address, which was supported
by 'air. J. H. Esrcourt, Dr. Pankhurst, the Rev. J. C.
Street, and Dr, John Watts, and adopted.—Mr. George
Thompson, who was received with loud cheers, rose to
accept the address. He said that he left England with the
consciousness of laving been no place hunter ; he had never
asked to be rewarded for his efforts for the weal of this
country. He did not leave England a disappointed man,
nor with any desire to cast reflections on his country, for
with all her faults he loved her still. He did not go to
America in the expectation, or with the view of receiving a
welcome when he landed there, or with the hope of having
a seat on the floor of Congress, or receiving an invitation
to dine with Mr. Chase, Mr. Seward, or Mr. Lincoln.
What drew him with the most strength to America was
the wish to meet a cherished few who were the pioneers
in the great and glorious movement of negro emanci •
pation. That cause had enlisted his sympathies from
his earliest years ; it increased when as a boy he went
to the Freemason's -hall, London, to listen to the dulcet tones
of Wilberforce, and the magnificent eloquence of the now
deceased Henry Brougham, for Lord Brougham lived, but
Henry Bro gham was dead. (Applause.) Twenty-nine years
ago, and shortly after his first public appearance in Man-
chester, he (Mr. Thompson) visited America. He was hunted
about that country like a partridge upon the mountains, a
reward was set upon his capture, and gallows were even
erected at his door. But he who was " spewed" out of
America 29 years ago, should return to see that mighty
people in its right mind, bringing forth " fruit meet to re-
pentance" in the shape of freedom to the race they once
abased. If he had the opportunity he should represent to Mr.
Lincoln the feelings of this country towards the Northern
States ; and though he was absent from England in bcdy, he
should be here in spirit, and take interest in her welfare.—Mr.
J. Patten and Mr. Glazebrook presented an address from the
Ashton-under-Lyne Union and Emancipation Society. It
acknowledged the services which Mr. Thompson had ren-
dered to the cause of negro emancipation, and his zealous
advocacy and defence of the great principles of politicol
and social reform, of his assistance to secure a suitable
administration to guard the interests of British India, and
of his advocacy of the repeal of the corn laws. The society
rejoiced to have had his counsel and co-operation during
the present American rebellion. They sincerely hoped he
might have a pleasant and speedy voyage, and that he
would be welcomed by thousands of generous hearts
when he reached America—the future refuge of the
liberties of mankind. Mr. G. Thompson briefly acknow-
ledged the compliment that had been paid him by his
friends at Ashton, and after the meeting had !been ad-
' dressed by Captain T. M. Chester, a coloured man from
' Liberia, the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
• chairman.