The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-13
The Emancipation League.

ADDRESS OF THE HON. OWEN LOvEJOY AT THE
COOPER INSTITUTE.
The Hon. Owen Lovejoy, member Of Congress from
Illinois, delivered address at the Cooper Institute last
evening the emancipation OF the slave before an a
dence numbering much above four hundred persons
Wm Cullen Bryant presided, and opened the proceed
ings by informing the public where subscriptions the
Emancipation League would be received. 1t was now,
he said twenty-five years ago since free press
tackled in Illinois and destroyed. The owner OF that
press devoted to liberty and principle the at
tack long he could but he had succumb to force
and fell after having received five wounds 1t was his
pleasure to introduce to the audience brother Of this
great proto martyr-a who has to pro-
against the tyranny that would interfere with tho
freedom of the press and gives premium to assassaa-
ton and violence (Applausc)
The Hon. Mr. LovEJoY was then introduced amid con.
Speaking Of the abstract question Of slavery he said -
For long series Of years, in private and frequently
public life, have urged the claims Of the his
freedom the score OF inherent right-that II was
brthright, the simple ground Of his humanity and
that the requirements OF Christianity, loss than the
thooretic principles Of government under the con-
sttuton, mperatively demanded that he should have
the peaceful enjoyment OF this divine gift That these
are good and sufficient reasons for giving freedom to the
slaves do not entertain doubt. That Justice and hui
mainly alike demand this OF the nation my own
mind settled beyond peradventurs. But propose on
the present occasion to urge the emancipation of the
slave from different standpoint-on oihor grounds
and for different class of reasons. In regard TO
whether slavery or the republic should perish.
ho said-I bog leave to call your attention the funda-
mental thsory OF government. 1t is time when we
driven to examine the foundations upon which our
political structure rcsts. and see whether enemy is
sappng those foundations. What then, is the theory OF
this republic What is tho central thought the nucleus
lea around which our organic political clements crysa
ze9 You know that this nucleus thought il the equal
y Of mankind This Is the sun around which our pli-
teal system reyolyes. All Us paris arc adapted and
this idea opposed the divine right Of kngs and to
the prescrptise or hereditary privileges disabilities Of
any class or race Every piece OF mechanism mus. have
unity OF design and OF execution. Il have some
ono central portion to which all its parts are adapted
and each must be fitted to and for each other and
Ii this is not the case, thon part win clash
VITA part, cog CRATE against cog, collision
and repulson occur and destruction to tho machine
ensue 30 It is with our political machinery. Any
foreign or discordant element theory introduced will
II not removed cause friction and Slavery is that
our theory Of government 1t threw OF gear ana
II not abstracted win break and destroy IT, Slavery
CRATES 10 our political system Ike piece OF iron bo
TO powder or the process OF grinding be disturbed and
the machinery destroyed This equality Of the human
race Is the pivot which government rests and
rsvoives, and its practical denial tho virtual over
throw Of our theory OF The speaker went
great length review the operations OF slavorv
and the duty which devoves upon the republic 10 erad
cate It. Then alding TO tie position OF the Hon Prssi
dent Lincoln he sadf the President does not move as
rapidly as you desire II h0 scrupulous of forms
1t Is some compensation to that the commander
and chief Of than half mf1ion Of soldiers ami
authority Of law, will tako no undue adyantape
or the power, for the time almost unlimited, that is
placed in his hands. II is something, yea much, to
knew that the liberties OF the people aud the
OF law, though from the temporary urgency to soma
slight extent nfrngcd upon, will BIO restored
Let US, them give the President cordial loyal and SYM
pathizing support. Never has President, not even
washington, been bese with many trials and Ijcul-
ties as environ him. Tho wonder Is not that he should
mako mistakes, but that he should mako so few no
doubt his antslavery integrity his ultimate anti
slavery aciicn, than do my own In the words which
Webster put into the mouth OF tho elder Adams ~ see
clearly through this day basinoss The rebellion win
be suppressed stand awestruck and overpo wcred in
the awful presence Of tho grand and sublime uprising
the people OF this nation IL Is tho miracle OF the martial
history OF tho world The Tag OF the Uaion floats over
more loyal armorclad men than tho flag OF any one ma
tonality over foated before. England when the
honor OF her national prowess was at stake In Tia ri
mean war, could hardly muster twcnty five thousanI
men The recent call o. the government, revealing the
unconscious reserved power OF the people,
that million Of men would respond TO the call Of the
Executive. Tho rebellion will be suppressed and Amo.
government be practical and glorious reality see
the future and rcgcnorated republic reposnr 1uec
among tho nations Of the earth its flag after this bap
tlsm Of blood, having become the symbol Of universal
and impartial freedom There Is not STAKEHOLDER 10
hurt or destroy in all Its Holy Mountain fetter or
scourge for the limb or person OF the innocent Nav
soc the whole continent by process or peaceful
ation, converted into republics like our own behold
the Genius Of Liberty standing upon some lfy psak az
the Rocky Mountains, OF the Andes, looking north
ward and southwark, eastward and westward, from
Arctic to Antarctic, from the Atlantic shore to tho
Pacific wave, gazing uoa vast or free republics
Distinct like tho pillows, yet one like the sea
And when look over that broad mag ninc ant field
covered with teemng life, with its cities, towns and
farms, its workshops, schoolhouscs and churches with
all the varied and wonderful development OF science
art education and religion that follows tho pathway
OF free, Christian civilization along ma
jestic and oueonlke, leading and guiding genera
tons onward and heavenw srd-then exclam, Long
live the republic Let II be pcrpetua" But American
slavery, which would blot out that republic IL perish
perish perish
The address was received with loud applause and
.h..,
adjourned.