The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-24
FROM OUR CANADIAN CORRESPONDENT.
TORONTO, Apra Is, 1851.
To the Editor ofthe National Era:

and numerous audiences He had been charged
by the PdtriOt, q paper published here daily,
which is opposed to those principles Of Free
Trade Of which Mr. Thompson is the advocate,
and in its structures had charged him with being
the paid advocate Of bodies of whose views he
was the interested exponent and he took the op-
portunity Of indicating himself and denying
the aspersion at soiree Of the Mechanics In
stitute, at which he delivered an address last
Thursday evening during which he gave an &C
count of his early life and subsequent career
and attributed his ability as public speaker, and
the endowments of richly stored mind, to the
advantages he has derived from those institu-
tions.
He told his auditory that they saw before
them a man who had been deprived Of the ordi-
nary means Of education in early life having
never been week at school during his existence
Having learnt to read, in some manner which he
did not explain, his first stock of knowledge, he
said, was derived from a few books which occu-
pied some sixteen inches in length When he
was still young, the first Mechanics Institute was
established in London, at the meetings of which
lectures replete with information, treasured up
the knowledge he thus acquired, and very soon
ascertained that he had the ability of communi-
eating to others that which he had acquired. He
had availed himself of that ability in after years.
to inspire sentiments of virtue or of rational
liberty in others, wherever Providence had d.
rected his steps, Man, he said, is endowed with
powers, which, although they may ripen here,
Immortality can alone bring to perfection-with
mind that is capable of expanding with advancing
years. and with spiritual growth that never
ends; for God has fixed no limits to mans ca
pacity, and imposed no restriction on his attain
ments, save that which arises from the misappli-
cation of talents with which he is intrusted.
He advised his youthful hearers to be dup
and doing,n and not to be disheartened by the
lsboriOus pursuits in which they might be en-
gagged, or their adverse position in society; for,
although he had read thousands of volumes, yet,
until he was twenty-five years Of age, he had
labOred for his daily bread. 1t had been his
practice, he said, since he frst k-@- tie -aue of
knowledge totake care Of the moments, and to
make diligent use of those fragments of time
which too many throw away. But to succeed as
he had dene it was necessary that the youthful
aspirant must strike blow at his own indulgen-
ces and bis own enslsving lusts.
He had been charged in paper at Toronto, he
said, with selling his talents to the highest bid
der; but he emphatically denied the charge and
challenged the man who had made it to retract
his assertion, or to bring forward his proof If
he had SO prostitued his talents, he should not
have been here identified with the shivering
painting captive but would have been seated by
the side of the oppressor at Washington, or at
the beck of Minister in England.
Circumstances he continued, early developed
in him the power Of public speaking; and he
would tell that editor, that he had rejected offers,
which he trusted would never be made to him
and that to this day it was his pride and boast,
that he had never entered into money bargain
for the employment of his talents-that he had
never possessed more wealth than would keep the
wolf from the door and if he should leave his
children no other legacy, he would leave them a
name untarnished by that reproach with which
he had been assaled. He had ever been the ad-
vocate Of that which he deemed to be right and
If he had been mistaken In his course, that must
be evolved by time in the events of the future.
He was no hircling, however; from his own funds
he betrayed his passage, he travelled at his own
expense-not for the purpose of pleasure, but for
the suppression of an Ubiquitous Slave Law and
if he was poor, he was digni6ed by the declara-
tion Of a Scotchman, that
I" Rank is but the guinea stamp
The mans the gold"
The only objection have heard urged against
MIR. Thompsons mission, and the action of the
members of the Anti-Slsvery Society here, is,
that it is an uncalled- for and improper interfe-
renee with the domestic institutions and internal
affairs of a foreign State. This is legitimate
ground of objection but when the conductors of
the Patriot went beyond this, made personal
attack, and charged him with venaity, which
they have not substantiated, people are apt to
conclude that there is something more than is ap-
parent in the opposition with which he has been
assaled and to infer that it is not quite as disn-
terested as they would have it appear
The fact is, the Patriot is the organ of the
Tory party here; as before stated, It is there.
fore opposed to that more enlightened policy
which has led the British Government to remove
as far as is practicable, those restrictions upon
trade, which enlightened statesmen of the present
day deem incompatible with its we'll being and the
welfare of mankind at large and is also opposed
to every species of reform, civil or religious while
the GLOBE, on the contrary, which is owned by
stanch and determined advocate of Emancipa-
ton, is the organ of the present liberal Govern
ment Of Canada. Hence it is not improbable that
party spirit which is peculiarly virulent and i'm
placabe in the Colonies, may be at the bottom Of
the personal attack on Mr.. Thompson.
Unfortunately, party spirit and religious diff
ferences poison society in all these Provinces,
which may be considered in q transition state
what has been termed the family compact party, |
having been suppsnted by men who are supposed
to have the confidence Of the people, and who
must conduct the Government in accordance with |
their wishes, as expressed by their representa- |
tives, and who can remain in power only ms long
as they can command the support and confidence
of the House Of Assembly.
The result Is, that the British population be-
ing divided into two parties, and their represent
atves acting in accordance with their views, and
being about equally divided gives the preponder-
ance TO the members from Lower Canada who |
being chiefly Frenchmen, and non-progressive, |
exercise the most pernicious influence Oh the
counsels Of the country, and retard it's advance
ment. Like the Irish members in the British |
House of Commons, as has been recently proved, |
their support is essential to the stability and eI-
istence Of every ministry.
One Of the consequences Of this unfortunate
state Of things is the contemplated removal Of the
seat Of Government 10 Quebec, which will take
place during the coming summer although 1t will
then have been only two years in Toronto in |
stead of four, as was originally contemplated.
Previous to the union Of the two powers, sub |
sequent to the rebellion Of 1898, the seat of
Government Of Lower Canada was at Quebec, |
and that Of Upper Canada at Toronto. After the
union, it was established for the entire province
at Montreal, in Lower Canada About two years
since, a bill was passed by both Houses, granting
compensation to persons who had lost property |
during the rebellion, not in consequence Of the