Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-24
SENATOR SUMMERS LECTURE.

The vast capacity of the Metropolitan Thea
ter was tasked to its utmost on the 9th inst,
to accommodate the great congregation who
came to listen to the eloquence of the Massa-
chusetts Senator, CHARLES SUMNER. From
floor to roof the auditorium was one almost
undroken concave of earnest, intelligent faces
of men and women, gathered from every State
in the Union, and many hundreds could not
get into the Theater at all. On the platform
were the Hon. Salmon P. Chase, VIM Lloyed
Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Judge Culver,
John Jay, James Mott. Francis jackson,
Henry G. Wright, and many other leading
men.
Judge VIM. Jay, Chairman of the meeting,
introduced the speaker in the following re-
marks -
I LADIES AND GENTLEMEN | have been re-
quested, on the part of the Society," to per-
form the pleasing but unnecessary Office Of
introducing to you the honored and we'll known
advocate OF Justice, Humanity and Freedom,
Charles Sumner. 1t is not for his learning
and eloquence that l commend him to your
respectful attention; for learning, eloquence,
and even theology itself, have been prostitutcd
in the service OF an institution well described
by John Wesley as the sum Of all villanies
| sntroduce him to you as Northern Sena-
tor on whom nature has conferred the unusual
gift oil backbono-a man who, standing
erect on the floor of Congress, amid creeping
things from the North, with Christian fidelity
denounccs the stupondous wickedness OF the
Fugitive law and Nebraska perfdy, in the
namo of Liberty, Humanity and Religion,
demands the repeal of those most atrocious
enactments. May the words he is about to
utter be impressed on your conscience, and
influence your conduct.
The appearance of Mr.. SUMNER was the
signal for most electrifying applauscs as he
stood with bowed head before the thousands
assembled, cheer upon cheer and shout upon
shout testified to the hearty sympathy exist.
ing between the orator and his audience. In
deep full and sonorous voice and with a
simple, manly dignity amid profound silence
he said -
am not insensible to this generous ap.
plause, but accept it not for myself but in
behalf Of the cause [ advocate, and [ an,
proud to be introduced on tuis occasion by q
gentleman whose name, ilustrious by fathers
renown, is illustrious also by his own generous
devotion to the rights of man.
Mr.. SUMNER then began by saying thai
from defeat and disparagement enterprises
often rose to triumph. In 1885, but twent,
years ago, the friends of the slave we're few
and weak. In Boston feeble association
called the Female Auti-Slavery Society, which
held its meetings in the upper story of al
obscure building, was insulted, the small com
panies OF Freedom were everywhere perseeut
ed and pelted, and its earliest apostle, Will
liam Lloyed Garrison, thrust into prison t.
screen him from the fury of the mob. Mos
OF the large towns were the scene Of similar
outrage. Even the force of law was brough
into play in Rhode Islaud, Massachusetts ant
New York to reduce the rising cry agains
Slavery to whisper But if truth like Chris
tianity was Graded in manager, it was like i
grown into ample and glorious proportion
Freedom of discussion, the first victory ha.
} been won. Give me where to stand and
will move the world said Archimedes. Trutl
asks no more, and that she has through mucl
persecution and much sacrifice finally attained
;. he had been selected to fill the van of tn,
present course of lectures but i'll health had
/ compelled him to close their march. Begin
ming with the necessity of the Anti-Slayery
} enterprise, he maintained the wrong of Slav
cry as defined by existing law. He would
not dwell on those horrors which every day
send their cry from the children Of bondage ant
change the land of Slavery into by-word o
shame. He would not present before then
[ such feast of horror. He would treat o
| undisputed facts and out of its own mouth
condemn Slavery. BY the civil code of Lou
isiana and of another polished Slave state
and Stroud's Laws Of Slavery from which he
quoted, man created after the image OF God
is Invested of his human character and de.
clared to be mere chattel. He may be bat,