The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-06-12
From the New York Tribune.
HON. CHARLES SUMMERS LECTURE.
THE ANTI-sLAvERY ENTERPRISE.

Its Necessity, Practicabiiity and Dignity; ,cit
Giimpses Of The Special Duty cfthe North,
That lecture should bo repeated in Ne,
York is rare occurrence. That lecture o.
Anti-Slavery should be repeated in New Yor
II even before few despisod fanatics" is an un
paraleled occurrence. But that an Slave
: ry lecture should be repeated night after nigh
to successive multitudes, each more enthusas
tic than the last, marks the epoch Of revolu
ton in popular focling, is ON era in the histor.
of Liberty.
! Niblo's Theater was crowded last evening
long before the hour of commencement Hun
drods stood through tho three hours lecture
The equality of the races was practically as
serted by the presence of both in pit and box
es. Gray headed men were thorc, young NOR
all with earnest look. Fans wero waving
Epaulettes were not wanting. We give full
/ report of the words of the lecture, but only
tho words
The magnificent presence of the orator
physically as well as mentally giant, and
symmetrical as his own orations, the grand
organ-music of his voice bearing to the heart
the intense conviction that it comes deep out
of the heart; the calm strength of his delivery.
breathing the conscious assurance of eventful
victory; tho thundcr-bursts of cheers and bra
vos which ran electric through the enchanted
circle of iisteners--echoes of thunder bursts of
eloquence-all these vo cannot give. We
| give tho words alone.
Mr.. Sumner was conducted to tn 20 stage by
Mr.. Joseph Blunt, tho Chairman of the occa-
sion. Mr.. Blunt said:
| FELLOW CITIZENS: The events lately transpiring
on the western frontier of Missouri have attracted
the public attention and deeply interested the Amer
| lean community. Connected with the repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise, they have shown to the peo-
n flot thnro Ia
| necessary further concessions [Applause l.
That upon the subject of Slavery must stand upon
the ground marked out by fathers who formed
that Constitution; that must maintain the rights
of the free ofthe North TO the public territory not
yet cursed with Slavery. [Appauso.J What meas
ures may be necessary in order to maintain those
rights depends alone upon the future. Congress in
repeating the Missouri Compromise opCned that Ter
ritory TO the contest concerning that exciting topic
which has so decIly divided the American people
since the establishment of our Government. The
settlers and residents in that Territory have been ST.
fenced, and their voices overborne by organized
and armed invasion from aneighboring State. In the
exciting contest the first blood has been shed. How
far il is go must depend upon the future g. upon the
exercise OF the Constitutional powers vested il the
Chief Magistrate of the country. If he has WISDOM
fmness and decision he may prevent fatal results =
Without that 1t must depend upon the freemen OF the
Sorth to determine that their constitutional rights
shall at all events be maintained In the last Con-
gress there Representatives from the North who
stood firmly and manfHlly by the rights Of their con-
Stltuents. Among them was one whom now intro
duce oyou-the statesman, the scholar and the gen.
tlemnn-CHARLEs SUMNER, of Massachusetts.
Mr.. Sumner was received with tremendous
applause which was prolonged for seyera min
u,es. When at last it had subsided he said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF
NEW YORK: You have uptly said, Mr.. Presi-
don't. that we arc on the eve of a contest, and
shall be happy if any words that shall fall
from my lips may invigorate a single soul TO
perform tho duty " hich becomes freeman.-I
History abounds in vicisitudes. From weak
ness aud humility, men ascend to power and
place. From defeat and disparag en-
terprises arc lifted to triumph and acceptance.
The martyr of to-day is gratefully enshrined
on the morrow. The stone that the builders
rejected has become the head of tho oorner.-
Thus it always has been and ever will be.
Only twenty years ago--in lS35-the friends |
of the slave in our country were weak and |
humble while their great Enterprise, just then
showing ITSELF was trampeled down and de-
spisod. The small companies then gathered |
together in the namo of Freedom were inter-
rupted and often dispersed by riolous mobs.-
A. Boston feeble association of women, call |
ed the Female Anti Slavery Society, convened |
in small room in on upper story. in an OBJ
scure building. was insulted and driven out by |
q frantic crowd politely termed, at the time,
an assemblage of" gentlemen of property and
which, after various deeds of vio-
olence and vileness, next directed itself upon
William Lloyd Garrison--known as tho de-
termined editor of The Liberator, and the
originator of the Anti-Slavery Enterprise in
Dur day-and. ruthlessly tearing him away,
amid savage threats, and with halter about
lis neck, dragged him through the streets, un-
Ill, at last, guilty only of loving liberty if not
wisely too well, this unoffending citizen was
hurst into common jail for protection against
IN infuriate populace. Nor was Boston alone
Even villages in remote rural solitude belched
'orth in similar outrage: while the large towns,
ike Providence, New Haven, Utica. Worces-
er, Alton, Cincinnati. Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Ind New York, became so many fiery craters,
)verflowing with rage and madness. What
awless violence failed to accomplish was next
irged through the forms Of law. BY solemn
legislative acts, the Slave States called on the
he FREQ States, promptly and effectually to
suppress all associations within their respec-
i've limits purporting to be Abolition Socie.
ies;" and Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and
New York, basely hearkened to the base prop
,sitions. The Press, too, with untold power,
'xerted itself in this behalf while the pulpit,
he politician, and tho merchant, conspircd 10
tife discussion, until the voice of Freedom
vas hushed to a whisper, "alas almost afraid
o know ITSELF
Since then, in the laps, of few years only,
! change has taken place. Instead of those
mall companies counted by tens we have now
his mighty assembly counted by thousands;
instead of an insignificant apartment like that
n Boston, the more nppendage of printing
fice, wbero rs in the manager itself Truth
vas Graded, we have now this Metropolitan
Hall, ample in proportions and central in places;
instead of clamorous mob beseiging our gates
Iispersing our assembly and making ono of
ur number tho victim Of it's fury. we have
low peaco and harmony at unguurdcd doors,
ufled only by generous competition to par
icipatc in this occasion; while legislatures
ponly declare their sympathies, villages, towns ,
nd cities vie in tho new manifestation; and
he Press itself with increased power heralds,
pplauds and extends tho prevailing influence
'hieh, oyerfowing from every fountain and =
curing through every channel, at last by the
wakoned voice of pulpit, politician and NOR
hants wells into an irrepressible cry. (
Here is gront change worthy of notice and
memory. fo- il attests tho first stage of victory
ayery in all its many-sidcd wronp still CON