New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-24
HUMBOLDT ON AMERICAN SLAFERY

W. have collected from various the following
,s a opinion by late ALI rando, Won Humboldt on subjects
connected with American saseJ presunns that readers
will be GLAD his views that matter in connected and
oopyepieut form;
HJMBOLDT'S OPINION OF WEBSTER AND THE
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
An American gentleman, says The Eossing Post
| of May TO- 1855 writing home from Berlin under
the date of March "a gives very interesting ac-
| count gf visit to the venerable Humboldt who
expressed on that occasion pretty dec led opin-
| ion of Mr.. Webster and the Fugitive Slave Law,
| aod of our national treatment of Slavery Itself
The passages which We give below from the letter.
have tn morning been placed in our hands for
publication:
| eve rang handed the servant cards, who
after looking at them, showed through the en- Try
| into little room filled with stuffed birds and nine
rails. Here we left great coats, passed through
another room filed, museum like, as the other, and
| from that into the where Mr.. Humboldt was
| sitting. He came Immediately forward, took our
hands, and expressed his pleasure at seeing US, and
insisted in seating the sofa, while he took an
easy chair himself and sat by the end Of 1t. lie be-
gan at fret to speak French but after having got
| half way through sentence, turned into English
| which he speaks better that he understands when
spoken. III talked rapidly and fuently and with but
slight accent.
"He began at once to talk Of America, of the state
OF tine country whe he there in 1874 and o the
Leading political with whom he was then ac-
ousined particularly of Gallatiu Madison aud Jefief-
ron and Of how he every day brought to realize,
after the lapse of fifty years by and great names
in our political scientific and literary world, and by
every egn If existence of our country, how much we
bsd progressed since then. But he said there is one
| thing in which you stand than when ! was
there and every honest and intelligent foreigner who
can l,ck at it with knowledge of the matter, and
with fairness, will tell you For thirty yearo-ior
thirty years (aud he counted them on his hngcrsl-
Won have mode no progress about Slavery, you have
gone backward very far buck 4ard in many resp cts
about thut ! think especially of Your law of 1870
| that law by wi ich man in Free State, where he
| ongLt TO be fee can be made slave Of That l
| always call the Webster law.
| 81 always before liked Mr.. Webster. He was u
! great man knew HIM, and always till then liked
| him. But ever afer that / bated bin. He was the
u.an who made it, If he had wished to prevent y he
could have done it, That is the reason why call Il
| the Webster law. And ever after that hated him
81 msde some remarks about Mr. Web'tefs infu-
.pce ON that point not being confined to political
sphere but Of his also carrying with bin that circle OF
literary men with whom be connected Yes, SAID
he il was be who did it all; and those very men not
connected with politics, who ought to have stood
against IT, as you say he moved with it. You came
from New f gland, where there is so much Anti
Slavery feeling and where you have learned to thlnk
that Slavery is bad While you are here in Europe
you nay STE things which you think bad. But
know Europe, end tell you that you will find nothing
here that i. ole half 20 bad your Slavery, and l
know VIVA, your Slavery is.
IN. Humbods personal appearance Is very re-
maIkable. lie very small and thir, but Ter man
of his age, (he is eighty five, he looks urc'n-
monty we'll lie wore a large white eck-cioth,
curously colorei and figured velvet wastcoat, and
dress coat Old as he is he still keeps up the habits
of bis earlier years, sleeps but little, works lnces-
sanity. and is fond of society. He Is now engaged
upon the fourth volume of his Cosmos
ON THE EXTENSION or SLAVERY -
A correspondent of THE TRIBUNE, who visited
Humboldt 10 August, 1855, wrote at the time from
Berlin the following account of the interview:
This noble and venerable man, though poE some
wear. beyond four score still lively interest
in the progress of cur country To every American
whom lie meets he speak Of his friends Jefferson aud
Galsiin and laments the change on the question OF
Slavery which has come our Government sitce
their day. He speaks of Web.ter's last days with
expressions Of the sncerest and deepest regret NJ
Goes he omit any opportunity to impress upon IN
minds Of Americans the deep moral degradation IN
which the United State, a nation, has piunSe1
Itself within tno last few years Though an utnae
ferd toe King, 1t is sad of course he says nothing
Of t.s) that the subject Of politics and political affairs
Is never spoken Of between them From the interest
with which he watches the development and progress
of the Republican idea Of America. IT would seem
TINT politics must indeed be banlshed from among
the subjects which he discus. with Frederick
William. At his request, showed him on the map
tie boundaries Of the new Territories, Kansas and
Nsbrsska-his map, though recent dating back
bevono the Doucla. and Pierce outrage.
The fynosiug passage from not. written soon
after residing tn. account OF tae opening OF the Pan
anna Railroad | think may Dc translated ior your
paper without being ,o,s.dered oreacs OF he
ssnct,y Of private eOnespaDisnoe;
o.The SAD debates which have .aAeL p-ae; Oh -
extension Of the system OF slavery, hs'' ossph(
offered an opportunity TO few noble sous % sPeak
wo,ss II eorsaaiiop. There is 10 need 81 dsm.cd
immediately the abolition Of Slavery. ~. OF s.'1y