Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-04


inent part in the programme.
HORACE GRzKLEY AT THE sNrHsoNIAN.-Lsst
night Horace Greeley delivered the hfth lecture
Of the course before the Washington Lecture
Association, at the Smithsonian. The hall was
densely crowded. AT O'Clock, with Mr.. Gree
ley, there appeared upon the platform President
Lincoln, Secretary Chase, Speaker Grow, Senators
King, Wilson, and Pomeroy; Messrs Stevens,
Aldrich, Lovejoy, Hutchins, and Edwards, OF the
House OF Representative; Col. d'Utasy, Of the
Garibaldi Guards, and other personages Of more
or less note.
In commencing, the lecturer pleasantly re-
marked that be was a peculiar institution, not yet
naturaliZed here, but hoped the time was not far
distant when he would be able TO hold discus
sion farther South. A nation, he said, 10 not an
arbitrary construction. IL isnot made, but grows
They are sometimes formed by offsets or shoots
from empires, but oftener are the result OF growth
and aggregation.
After noticing the origin, progress and proba-
BILE destiny OF European nations, the speake
asked are we Americans one people, single
nation divided for q time, Or two hostile rivals
which nostatesmanship can harmoniIe. He held
that we are unmistakably single nation by the
common elements Of race, language, religion,
history, geography, topography and government.
Our government II not simplya bond or alliance
from which any one Of the parties may at pleasure
withdraw, but q constitution from whose author
ity none can retire without the consent Of all.
The Constitution makes Us one people, and al
though every loyal man feels Individual pride In
vet be 10 proudest 10 cherish the name that desig
mates him an American.
Passing from the southern doctrine of " States
rights" and their contempt for the Yankees"
and dwelling for a time upon the baneful infiu-
ences Of slavery, which he esteemed to be the most
horrible legacy OF evil the past has bequeathed to
the present age the speaker turned to the national
struggle. The whole difneulty had afisen from
the question Of slavery extension. Slave laws
make slave Territories, dave Territories make
slave States, and stern resistance Is required to
- Va
need never have Afforded cause for a separation.
The North was willing and anxious to join In an
equitable and constitutional adjustment, but the
South drew the sword to resist peaceable az
cause, but the opportunity OF secession and the
Union 10 now TO be restored either upon the basis
Of the new ideas Of the South or upon the old
ones Of our fathers. The greatest evils that can
befal N Is compromises. We would sink low In
the scale Of nations by separation; but he was
for liberty with the Union as our fathers made IT,
but for liberty with or without the Union.
Comprom'se Is impossible. One or the other
would be compelled TO sacrifice its principles,
and IL would establish most dangerous prece-
dent, giving bounty for rebellion, and inspiring
every minority TO revolt. We must emerge from
this struggle essentially free; and though there
may be slavery, yet the Union must never again
pander 70 the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of slavery. The
weakness Of the nation In the present struggle Is
q failure TO look the enemy In the eye, and that
ensmy is slavery. IL had caused the rebellion,
and should meet traitors doom. The nation Of
1870, ne pfedlcted, would DC q ndaon OF freemen,
and though devastated and Scared BY war, and
may be sunk to the level Of Sweden and Brazil
among the Powers Of the earth, we shal1 never
again become the apologists Of human bondage.
The moral results Of the war would prove suspi.
cious and enduring, and the succeeding age win
be virtuous and true. We have already emerged
from the self-conceit Of yesterday, which made an
American abroad the synonym Of staggering
bluster. We shall never again stand 30 proudly,
be struck 20 hard, OF fall 90 low.
Concluding with an eloquent picture Of the
peaceful prosperity and national advancement to
succeed this war, the speaker received the con-
gratulations Of his friends upon the stage amid
the hearty applause Of the audience, which LIN
gered some lime, apparently DESTROYS Of hearing
a word from some Of the distinguished statesmen
present.