New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-12
CHANGES TO BE NOTED.

10 deprive our readers of "a verbatim report OF 'he
able and eloquent lecture of Mr. Senator Sum-
ner before the Anti-slavery Society on Wednes
day evening. That speech, however, was not the
marvel of the occasion. Eloquence is no unu-
sua thing with the Massachusetts, Senator. The
marvel Of that evening, as of the day and even
ing preceding, was not on the platform, whether
occupied BY Mr.. Sumner, Mr.. Senator Wilson,
Wendell Phillips Theodore Parker or William
Lloyd Garrison. The marvel was in the audi
ence. The vast pit, the tiers of spacious boxes
and galleries of the Metropolitan Thester
crowded, in spite of the storm. to their utmost
capacity BY intelligent, educated admirng and
enthusiastic listeners, representing not only
New-York but every section of the country and
every profession and class Of society. The other
Anniversaries showed no unusual enthusiasm or
crOnd-but the interest and enthusiasm OF these
Anti-Savery gatherings were not only most I'M
exampled, but seemed to grow as the sessions
were protracted When the usual hour OF adj
journment had long been passed, the still deeply
stirred audience slowly and most reluctantly
consented to leave their seats.
We cannot seal up the record of this week
without calling our readers attention to its ex-
traordinary significance. We need not carry
them back twenty years to those bitter
days when Adams was gagged on the floor of
Congress; when the streets of our seaboard
cities roared with riot; when a horde of South
ern DULLES invaded Philadelphia to give its ma
tive rowdies their wholly unnecessary help in
burning Pennsylvania Hall; when Mayor Law
renee of this City informed the mob by procla-
nation that il need not trouble itself about Anti
Slavery meetings, but that the law would put
down "these abominations;" when NJ. NJ. Noah
framed bis bill to suppress free speech, and Gov
ernor Everett of Massachusetts, recommended
his Legislature to punish it with the State
Prison; when Mayor Lyman of Boston, having
found his most humble entreaties to the mob of
gentlemen of property and standing" to allow
him to be Mayor for that hour entirely unavaling,
could furnish no other shelter for Mr. Garrison
and the laws but Boston JAIL at that time be it re-
membered under control of Mr.. Senator sum-
ners father the High Sheriff of Suffolk. Then
for the first time thoughtful men perceived that
Slavery ruled the North we'll as the South;
then they saw that we held all our rights by the
tenure Of absolute seryility and solely by the
sovereign permission of our masters.
Still later than this, only five years ago, Bully
Rynders stood on the platform of the Tabernacle
and commanded the American Anti-Slavery So
ciety TO cease its discussions. In vain did the
venerable Isaac I. Hopper intercede with Mayor
Woodruff to yindicate the dignity of the laws
and protect free speech. The Mayor secluded
himself in his Office and left Chief Matsell
10 exhb il himself with his staff on that
platform for three long hours in the at
titude of being insulted and defed by the
ruffans of the City. The tact and eloquenee
of the Anii-Savery speakers defeated Rynders
that day, but the next morning he rallied aud
drove them from their hall, fifty policemen being
in attendance to protect his efforts and grace his
triumph. The Press ofNew-YOrk We grieveto say
with but few exceptions defended Rynders But
very few of our New-York journals could spare
room for word of defense OF free speech thus
utterly stricken down. For two years the So
ciety was unable to procure hall in this city
and held its meetings in Syracuse and Roches-
ter. Union-saying Committees, and pulpits dumb
with hypocritical terror, took its place Then
public virtue fell so low that it became rare and
marvellous saintship for merchant to startle the
world with the Quixotic declaration that " bis
goods were for sale and not his principles
But now what a change New-York covers
that blot in her escutcheon with ample repent
ance. She runs up the proud flag of free discus
sion, never We hope to be displaced. All the
members of Union Committees ask of us is the
Christian charity of being forgotten. The mobbed
and exiled Idea returns to take possession
and crowd that the Tabernacle walls could not
have held gathers to its sessions And who are
its speakers Massachusetts, Senators That
Governor Everett who doubted the Yankee right
TO ask questions has since then been in the Sem
ate, and faded out from pure nefficiency. His
successor comes TO Metropolitan Theater 20 say
that, "any party which lifts finger to arrest
" the Anti-Slsyery movement will die, ought 10
" die, and that he will do his utmost 10 make it
die" Mr.. Webster, Massachusetts, Senator,
in 1850 pledged his ready submission to the Flu
gitiye Slave bill "to its utmost extent, TO its
- utmost eIteM." His successor refuses 20 call
it law asks the country in the name of Justice
and Humanity to make il a dead letter; and five
thousand hearts smother half his emphatic
period in the uncomfortable burst of their enthu-
siastic Amen. Massachusetts, calls back Burns,
and her Legislature orders her Slave Commits
sioner to be surrendered instead, with all the
" alacrity" Mr.. Webster advised.
Nor is this striking change confined