Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-04-05

any citizen of Rochester hath nugit hgalhs
me, and believes he can establish tie ruth ~
one of all the imputatious which have been
cast upon me, OF chcrlslnng evIl designs TO-
wards this county, invite lin to meet me
in the presence of his counirymen and neigh
bors. (Cheers.) II any citizen OF koches-
ter can produce title of evidence TO show,
that in this country, or my own, or elsewhere,
in any public speech, or private conversation,
| ever uttered sentiment respecting Ameri-
ca, or her institutions, at variance with the
truth. or inimical to the true welfare OF tins
milton. or uncongena with the spirit and de-
sign of the Declaration of Independence, l
invite him to meet the openly. (Cherrs.l u
any citizen of Rochester, who has spoken or
written to my prejudice in my absence, VIII
now, that | am IN person mere, lhiiillale b's
willingness to confront me, face To lace,
am prepnred To meet him IN frank, courtc-
ous, aud manly manner. (Applause.) lwill
also bear the entire expenses connected with
the necessary arrangements for tue holding OF
free, but peaceable meeting. II any citi-
| zen Of Rochester, competent in the judgment
Of the community, aud who is not prepared
| To dispute the opinions which Lhold, Is new
eriheIcss prepared to deny MY RIGHT to utter
them, will give u similar meeting, aud a
similar guarntec TO him, and promise him,
|
he shall be constrained 10 own fair and gen.
erous one. Great checring.) | am, more
over, prepared to submit my opinions, il re-
| duced TO writing, aud in the form OF distinct
| and Ineligible propositions, TO the Judgment
| and decision of the enlightened citizens OF
this place, that they may by their vote record
| their deliberate verdict upon the sentiments
| entertain, and am in the practice of advOcnt-
ing. tChecrs.) ask only for myself, in the
meanwhile, a just and impartial hearing
ask only, that Rochester should say TO me,
George Thompson, (what Agrippn said TO
Paul.) "Thou arr permitted to speak for thy
self" loud and universal cheers.l
At this stage of the proceedings, MIR.
Thompson quilted his position behind the
lecturers stand, and advancing on one side
to the edge of the stand, said in the most sol
cmn, emphatic, and impressive nanner.l
Ladies and Gentlemen You have heard
the invitations | have given, aud the guarnn-
tees have offered. | rely upon your sense
of Justice to make known what have thus
deliberately said. 1t is u matter of public
notoriety that have been assailed in your
city 10y charges the most heavy, and by cpl
thets that could only Inc deserved hy man
of superhumon depravity and malevolencc.
Ii there is no foundation in truth and fact for
|
character of those who have made them. II
there he, you have heard my challenge, and
| | trust YOU will remember IL. II, hereafter,
| these charges should be reiterated, demand
| of him who makes them where lie was on
| this the lth of March, 1851, aud why, III
Justice to himself his city, aud his country,
| he was not here 10 face the man against whom
his accusations were hurled Alone, am
prepared to meet my accusers. Alone, Twill
scatter their weapons 10 the winds, or depart
disgraced man from their city. You that
dare accuse me, appear and face me, or for
ever hide your heads. Great applause.)
IT, till my accusers appear, it will be any
satisfaction TO the members Of this audience
to hear my answers to few questions, Will
put them to myself and answer them.
Were you not born in king-ridden, tax
ridden country, where it is the opinion of
many, that the largest part of the people
were created like horses, with saddles on
their backs, and bits in their mouths; and
the other portion (the arstocracy) born, boot
cd aud spurred, with whips in their hands,
to mount and ride the majority (Luughicr.)
answer, was born in such country; but
il has been the work Of my life, since was
capable of clothing my thoughts in language,
aud could get the bit out of my own mouth,
|
good as their riders; (great applause, that
they had the power, If they knew II, and
would exert it, TO toss their riders gently off,
and to exchange the saddle of servtude for
the toll of free-labor, aud the bit of subjec-
ton for the sceptre ofself-control. (Renew-
ed cheers.
Did you not grow up in ignorance of the
grcnt events which have made this country
free: and did you not, when you heard OF
them imbibe the prejudices of your coun-
trymen, and learn TO scoff nt Republican In
stitulons? Ianswer, When l6 years of age
heard one of the most eloquent men in
England deliver an euIogy on the character
of GEORGE WAsnINGTON. That Grafton first
brought before me the revolutionary history
of this country and since that time, have
been an almirer of its institutions, a vindi
Gator OF the revolution, and an earnest well.
wisher to the stability, the permanence, ant
, the prosperity of this nation. (Great cheer
ing.)
Have not your acts as public man beer
, inconsistent with this protessed sympathy
; with the political principles and form of gov
] ernment in this nation? answer, l have
D not thought so, and do not now think So
Fully believing with Thomas Jefferson, tha
: God has created all men free and equal,
, ! early engaged in the great struggle for de
!, livering from bondage 100000 human beings
u held in slavery in the British Colonies, ant
I did not cease my labors, until they wer'
d emnncipated. 1 afterwards eXerted myself
successfully, TO complete their freedom b.
the abolition of system of apprenticeship
which deprived them of the fruits of their in
dustry. (Cheers) Have you not been
member of the body called the East lndi
Company, whose career in India, for cen
tury, has been one of fraud, of ftreachery an,
|! of violence; and whose government at thi
time is opposed to the rights and interests @
millions of the human race. | answer, Yes
| became member of that Company, that
e | n1inht have Ihe onnnriuniIv of eXnnsinn an