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

70 the regular annual course, and n0twlthstaDd- s
ing the evening was cold and clustering, the
theatre was crammed With an ic-
tell'gent and highly respectable audience. The i
speaker was introduced BY Henry Ward Beecher
id the following happy Style:
Ladies and gentlemen, it is made my duty this
evening, and very agreeable duty it is, to IN
troduce to your attention the speaker for tho
night. | should have no need to introduce him
if were in Massachusetts,, where he is we'll
known by his good works. Good works they
have BEEN and in good cause; for Iapprehend
that he is U S. Senator from Massachusetts, be-
cause that good old State could not forget her
prejudices in favor Of liberty. Loud applause,
do not intend to go over the ground which his
remarks will occupy tonight, yet must confess
that feel the change that has been wrought in
tho public mind. In 1850 and 1851, think
such u meeting as this would not have been held. |
think lhut Castle Garden Union Everlasting
Safety Committee--what was it called would
scarcely been found permitting such meeting
as this; and if it had been held, think that
the U. S. Senators from Massachusetts would
not have been the speakers or if they had been
the speakers, Iapprehend that | should not
have been the man to introduce them. Laugh
ter and applausc.] You may understand that
the world moves when there has been such "
complete revolution Of the wheel that am set
to introduce you to the shoemaker of Natick,
United States Senator from Massachusetts.
| Great applause. | regard it as one of the most
admirable features of our political system that
a man is nothing more on account OF has occu-
patton and nothing less and us old Connecti-
| "A, ID fhn eli kpr 4 thn
United States Senate, so has Massachusetts, I'M
tated her example, and sent tho shoemaker from
Natick. Let lis, this evening, see what kind of
work he can do. [Applausc.l
This speech of GENERAL Wilson will rank
among his best upon the great question OF the
times. Our connection with and relations to
American Slavery and the obligations which
these relations impose upon us as men and as
Statesmen, We're most ably discussed by the
speaker. In reference to his own position in con-
noction with the vast and complicated issues in
volved in the grand problem the American pco-
pie are now working out, he used the following
language, which cannot very easily be misunder~
stood. The bunker papers, of both stripes,
which have manifested so much anxiety in re-
gard to the Generals consistency, VIC hope will
copy this extract from his speech:
If there be any one here this night who be-
lieves that | am capable, for personal or party
purposes, of modifying or qualifying sentiments
and opinions entertained by me for nearly TWEEN
ty years, commission him here and now to
proclaim ito send it abroad on the wings Of
the wind-that ] am committed, fully commit
ed in favor of the immediate and unconditional
abolition of slavery wherever it exists under the
Consultation of the United States [great APP
pause that am pledged now and evermore in
favor Of blotting out, at once and forever, from
the legislation of the Republic every act that
recognises slavery, or gives its sanction to sav-
cry and Of placing the National Government in
the hands Of Statesmen who will not permit ii
to become an instrument for the propagation OF
extension of human bondage in North America
Applause.
lie alluded to the gratifying fact that foi
the first time in our history, the North has
sent a decisive majority to the next House
pledged to the policy of freedom, and that ma
jority received $4,000 Of popular majority
Lamartno, he.said, told the corrupt dynasty o
Louis Philippe, in the period of its power, tina
there would be in France the revolution of pub
lie conscience and the revolution of public con
tempt. Events bore out his prediction. w
81, have had in America, the revolution of publ
conscience and the revolution of public con
tempt, and before them the administration o
Franklin Pierce has gone down. 1t floats to
day in the waves of the political sea, where, il
the woIds Of another, it ii destined to go dowl
80 deep that bubble will never rise to mark til,
spot where it disappeared The speech conclude.
AS follows:
The increase Of power to the Anti -Slaycr,
party was exhibited in the recent elections anc
legislative action New Hampshire, Connection
and Massachusetts, in the latter of which thu
Legislature gave "a majority in the House, an,
~ IN the senate, for the removal from the judi
cial bench OF Judge who had given II man t.
Vlreinian neegro-hunter. Loud applause
mingled with misses. Come here, he continued
to your own city OF New York, and where ar
the men who voted last year for the Nebrask
bill They have your leave to remain at HON
with their wives and little ones. [Auplausc
: And John Wheeler, who had manliness m
courage enough to resist to the last loud mr.
plauso] you have placed in the next Congress +
/ vote for the policy Of Freedom, and am ver
t sure that he will be true to that policv "a,
: plausc.
= The predominance of Anti.Slayery seminar
in Ohio and the District of Columbia wera tho
adyerted to, and tho speaker then went On :
: say that strong as the Anti-Slayery sentiman
: now is in this country, there is extreme dangs
and peril. owe it to the truth, he said :
speak what know on that subject. Anti. SIa,
, cry has met power, has fought power and he
defeated power; and to-day is master of ever
free State Of the North, and NAV. if it choos
: dictate the future policy of the Republic II
present Administration has been defeated ever,
. where in the North, and now, | predict here !,
night, it is to be defeated throughout the Soptl
The South never stands by a Northern man or
; Northern party that has been sacrificed for ;
interests; and the South is now going TO sbo
: another OF those acts of gigantic ngrattuc
s that have marked its history. predict tn,
throughout the Southern country we are tn ba,
a series OF victories over the present Administer
: lion; and then, gentlemen we ara To hova-n,
then--we lave it nova -rfemaf, nm NJ ~
4 us to ignore the Slavery question--to keen onSe
: and go into power in 1856.
: Now, gentlemen, say to you frankly, I Al
i the last man to object to going into mower :
# [Laughter,] And especially to going into no,
er over the present dynasty that Is fastened nnr
the country But am the last man that ";
consent to go into power by by ignoring or "a
. rifcing the slavery question Applause
2 my voice could be heard by the whole count,
to- nightly the Anti-Slavery men of tho con-,
: try tonight Of all parties-I would saw to ther
|" resolve Invite it over your doorposts-engra
. it on the lids of your Bibles-procIaim il af II
s; rising OF the sun and the going down Of Ii
d same, and in the broad light of noon. that ar
= party in America, be that party Wing, Dem
= cratic or American, that lifts its finger to ARE