Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-06-28
From the Pennsylvania Freeman.
George ThOmpSOn'S visit and Meetings,

uUOiSO lhOlnpsOh 'Sl anu mJCtlhSN'
For more than seventeen years have our
eyes longed to see and our hearts to greet
this eloquent champion of the rights of
man.
From the day when first we heard his
name, and the report of his unwoarying la
bors aud read his thrilling appeals for West
luda Emancipation, and our youthful enthu.
siasm kindlcd at his burning words, we have
watched his course as q rCiormer, with a
deepening interest
AT the time of his first visit TO our land,
his noble consecraiion of his powers TO n
hated and prosecuted cause, in the hour of
IFS scyercst trial; his voluntary exile from
home, and early friends; his rejection of the
tempting alluroncnts Of fame, case, power
and lofty station, offered him in England, to
ally himself with dcspisCd and pcrsecut-
ed band Of humble rciormers, aud with the
cause of tie crushed slave in a land of
strangers; the calm, moral heroism and
chcerIulucss with which he encountered OBJ
loquy and persecution, and risked life itself
IN defense of Liberty, all conspired with the
report of his brillant and captivating elo-
quence and his wonderful success, to excite
our admiration and win our grateful respect
for him.
These feelings were strengthened by his
subsequent efforts ia his native Isle, for the
abolition of tho West India apprenticeship
system; for the repeal of the Corn laws for
the eniianchiscnent of the people ;1or JUS
lice to British India, and the extinction OF
all those monopolics under which the poor
were crushed. Such we believe were the
feelings Of muny thousands in this country.
Their hearts have been wide open to wei
come the true Phianthropist at his second
coming, TO Our Shores TO our homes aud our
iraterndl fellowship. lie was no stranger,
though we had never grosped his hand, or
looked upon his face. lie was the friend of
man, aud therefore our friend the scli-con-
secruted apostle of liberty, aud therein our
teacher; lac was gifted with genius aud tai
ent TO plead for the dumb and well had he
employed them; aud for that were we graf
ihl TO him. With pleasant aniicipaiions we
looked forward to the opportunity TO meet
him face TO face, and listen To his persuasive
aud inspiring speech. This opportunity
have we enjoyed, in common with hundreds
OF Our fellow mhorers in this State, aud we
believe we speak for oil when we say that
our hopes and expectations have been more
than realized, both as to the man, aud the
Mr. Thompson reached this city in com
pnny with his friend and fellow traveller,
Mr.. Punam, on Tuesday evening the 3d
inst. The next morning, accompanied by
several friends he went to West Chester,
where he was greeted with most cordial
welcome, by large meeting of ahOlitionists
of Chester and the ncighoring counties.
At two o'clock, the appointed hour, the
1 LII
highly intelligent audience, many of whom
had come from other counties and Statcs.-
Had not the precnuiion been adopted of
requiring an ndnittance fee, the crowd
would have been oppressive, and many who
were most anxious 10 sec and hear MIR.
Thompson would have been deprived of the
opportunity. As il was, many of the audi
ence we're compelled TO stand, which they
did for three hours, with cheeriulness and
interest that seemed unconscious Of ia
tiguc.
AT his entrance, Mr.. Thompson was wei
coined by most evident marks of interest
and sympathy, though from the quiet habits
of II large portion OF the audience, the de-
was less noisy than it might
have been, with far less feeling in other
places. lie was introduced without prCimi-
was briefly applaudcd, but the hall was
hushed into the silence of solitude, aud those
hundreds of listeners beat forward with
earnest looks TO catch the first syllable of his
speech. lIc stood for n moment, surveying
the crowd of friendly faces, and then briefly
aluding 10 the pleasure with which he was
again, after the lupse of sixteen years, per-
mitted to visit Pennsylvania, aud TO the
"A -, A., l,,
fore them, lie read, ia an impressive voice,
an appropriate selection of passages from the
scriptures.
His address we shall not attempt to shctch
as we expect TO receive foil photographic
report OF it but we may say that ii was
throughout, simple and unaffected in man
ncr, truthful, earnest, aud fearless in spirit,
generous aud noble in sentiment, clear in
statement lucid aud convincing in argu-
ment, cheerful, hopeful and genial in feel
lug, choice aud elegant in language, occa-
sionally burning with invective or singing
with scorn, with passages Of thrilling elo-
qnence. No report could do it or any of
lbs speeches justice. lis words seemed but
the body of the thought and feeling, which
flushed with electric power from his eye
beamed in his face, controlled his every mo
ton, aud inspired every tone OF his voice.
Seldom, if ever before, had we felt so really
the effect of manner in augmenling the
power of speech; never, indeed, as we felt
II in MIR. Tnompson's reply to Il cavilling OPP
ponent, who had the temcrity TO assail him.
lie possesses the rare ability to inspire his
hearers with his own feelings. Ills frank
and manly bearing, his simple and artless
manner, the friendly glance of his fine eye,
a
affected earncslness seemed to melt all pre-
judice and open TO the heart OF the hearer,
n straight entrance for him. lie need not
attempt 10 storm the castle, every door of
which swings open at the "open sesame" of
his munner.
But good and eloquent as was his main
speech, it did not give us true idea of his
powers as an orator. In il he had alluded
and with fittin9 comment. 10 n