Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1850-12-04
WORCESTER DAILY SPY.
,vrDNEsDAY DECEMBER 4, 1850.
T'Le reception Meeting.

tory portion OF MIR. thompson 5. IL WIN o0 co..
tbo, the latter brands the forehead of the HgIs
with falsehoOd and burns it in deep.
SPEECH OF HENRY CHAPLIN, ESQ.
Ladies and Gentlenen:
We assemble to night to welcome to our midst
one whose fame is limited to no one country, and
whose sympathies--are narrowed by no feelings OF
nationality.
1t seems but yesterday, when, some fifteen years
ago, in neighboring city, a stranger from the old
world, poured out, for three successive evenings,
torrent of mingled eloquence and argument, and
taught to some of US the first rudments of anti-sav-
cry, with dignity and power never to be forgotten
With singular unanimity we played the truant to our
college duties, to learn from the lips of the true
hearted Briton the doctrine of that higher law which
makes the tyrant tremble, and which is moving
the masses of our people, and readily did join in
the unanimous declaration Of the vast assembly
s'Resoved, That the spirit with which George
Thompson discusses the question of American slav-
cry, commends him to the favorable regard of the
American people,
But pure as was the spirit which actuated him, it
saved him not from persecution, and few months
afterwards he was driven from shores by spirit
as malignant, as relentless, and unforgying as
that which actuated the slversmiths of the days of
the Apostles, when 'they shouted for the space of
three hours 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians, and
the whole City was in confusion.'
The impressions of that day have not been lost,
and we have watched the course of the Orator of
Freedom with feelings of undated interest, We
have seen him traversng the realm of England, and
doing battle with the system of West India slavery,
until success has crowned the efforts of himself and
his compeers, and
'sEvery flap of England's flag
Procaims that all around free;
From farhest Ind to each blue crag
That beetles Ger the heavng sea-
We have seen him exposing the odous monopo-
lies and the infamous tyranny of British East India
Company, until all England has stood aghast and
fixed her eye npon the operations of that Company
with keenness and scrutiny not to be disregarded.
We have seen him hurting his anathemas against
the Corn Laws of England, until the breadstufs in
that country have been freed from their paralyzng
influences. We have seen him at all times and on
all occasions true to the great purpose of his life,
with all his interests identified with the living mass
es of the people, and we find him at this moment a
member of the Parliament of England, elected by a
larger popular maioritu than any other mNmhar of
Years have passed away, and he who was driven
from our shores with contumely and reproach, has
again crossed the deep blue sea, and is now In the
midst of us. Thousands upon thousands have re-
oiced at his coming and have longed to bid him well
come. And though his voice has been drowned in
the old cladle o. liberty by creatures who have in
fcted indeiabe disgrace upon the capitol of the old
Bay State, yet thank God that at this hour the
Heart of the Commonwealth ochile 1t beats true to
the Union, beats Free That although Faneu Hall
is for the present engaged the halls in the country
are consecrated to free thought and free speech thai
although the selshness of the seaboard may attempt
to smother the spirit of progress and philanthropy
the free heart of the country hrobs its warmest hon.
age for the advocates of freedom and humanity.
l stand here tonight to represent the feelings Of
our people; and, know that represent them truly,
when offer an earnest and heartfelt welcome to
the man, who has not only won the reputation Of
being one of the greatest living orators of England
but nobler and more glorious reputation of being a
champion of the rights of man.
With mingled emotions of pride and pleasure,
avail myself of the opportunity to introduce to this
vast assembly, the Honorable George Thompson Of
England.
We had full report of MrThompson's Speech ,phono-
graphically taken but its great ength and the press OF
matter, prevents our publishing it. We feel bound,
however, in juatice to the speaker, to give the intro
ductory portion Of it, which was as follows =
DIr. Thompsons Speech.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
Have your permission TO speak here tonight
[Applause.] Have your permission to speak freely
here tonight Renewed cheers and cries of eyes
Yes II thank you for that permission, and will
avail myself oft, whilst don't abuse it Nv friends
can at all times appear unabashed before an Amer
lean audience for amidst cataracts ofabuse amidst
charges too many to be noted, under epithets that
have scarcely been accumulated on the head of
any other man, not one sentence, that ever utter
ed, the subject Of American Institutions has ever
been put on print as witness against my integrity
and my love for this country. loud Cheers. And,
II there be any man here, who, amidst the multtu-
dlnous speeches that have been delivered by me- in
this country, or in my own the subject Of Amer-
can Slavery, in reference to this country generally.
has culled passage-one word, Of which he
thinks ought to be ashamed, let him take this plat
form, to night, and produce it in the midst of this
magnificent assembly. Is il not strange that while
Fam branded over the length Of your land, by cpl
thets that you would not cast upon maefactoi
Is 1t not strange repeat, that moi one solitary para
graph or sentence of any speech ever uttered has
ever been put into newspaper, to bear evidence
against ne? have spoken as from the house top;