Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-16
WOttrster 4ailp SPY
The Manchester VOrlxiDgmen to Presi-
dent Lincoln,

4Alt NAuncheSGeF To ETeht~
dent Lincoln.
The following address to the president of
the United States was adopted at an imposing
meeting &c the workingmen Of Manchester,
England, on the 3lst of December. The
mayor of the city presided, and an approving
letter was read from that eminent and distin-
guished publicst, John Stuart Mill, express
ing, like the address, his cordial ahd inteli-
gent sympathy with the common cause.
$40 abraham Lincoln, President Of the
United States -
GAS citizens of Manchester, assembled at
the Free Trade Hall, we beg to express our
fraternal sentiments toward you and your
country. We rejoice in your greatness as
an outgrowth of England, whose blood and
language you share, whose ordinary and le-
gal freedom you have applied to new cir
cumstances over a region immeasurably
greater than our own. We honor your free
states, as a singularly happy abode for the
working millions, where industry is honored.
One thing alone has, in the past lessened
our sympathy with your country and our
confidence in tive mean the ascendancy
of politicians whonot merely maintained negro
slavery. but desired to extend and root it
more firmly. Since we have discerned, how
ever, that the victory of the free North in
the war which has so sorely distressed us
as well as afflicted you, will strike off the
letters of the slave, you have attracted our
warm and earnest sympathy We joyful
ly honor you, as the president, and the
congress with you, for many decisive steps
toward practically exemphtying your be-
lief in the words of your great founders,
'All men are created free and equal
You have procured the liberation Of the slaves
in the district around Washington, and there
by made the center of your federation visibly
free. You have enforced the laws against the
slave trade, and kept up your fleet against it,
even while every ship was wanted Tor service
in your terrible war. You have nobly decided
to receive ambassadors from the negro repub-
lies of Hayti and Liberia, thus forever re-
nouncing that unworthy prejudice which re-
fuses the rights of humanity to men and wo-
men on account of their color. In order more
efectualy to stop the slave trade, you have
made with our queen a treaty, which your
senate has ratified, for the right of mutual
search. Your congress has decreed freedom
as the law forever in the vast unoccupied or
half-setted territories which are directly sub
ject to the Legislative power. 1t has offered
pecuniary aid to all states which will enact
HtttlOh
generals to restore fugitive slaves who seek
their protection. You have entreated the
slavemasterS to accept these moderate offers;
and after long and patient waiting, you,
as commander in chief OF the army, have
appointed tomorrow, the first of Janua-
Ty, 1858, as the day of unconditional
freedom for the slaves of the rebel
states. Heartily do we congratulate you
and your country on this humane and
righteous course. We assume that you can
not now stop short Of a complete uprooting of
slavery. 1t would not become us to dictate any
details, bnt there are broad principles of hui
mainly which must guide you. If complete
emancipation in some states be deferred,
though only to a predetermined day, still, in
the interval, human beings should not he
counted chattels. Women must have rights
of chastity and of maternity, men the rights
of husbands, masters the liberty of manumis-
sion. Justice demands for the black, no less
than for the white, the protection of law, that
his voice be heard in your courts. Nor must
any such abomination be tolerated as slave
breeding states and slave market, if you are
to earn the high reward of all your sacrifices
in the approval of the universal brotherhood
and of the Divine Father. 1t is for your free
country to decide whether anything but i'm
mediate and total emancipation can secure
the most indispensable rights of humanity
against the lnveterate wickedness of local
laws and local executives. We implore
you, for your own honor and welfare,
not to faint in your providential mis-
sion. While your enthusiasm is atiame,
and the tide of events runs high, let
the work be finished effectually. Leave no
root of bitterness to spring up and work fresh
misery to your children. 1t is a mighty task,
indeed to reorganize the industry not only of
four millions OF the colored race but of five
millions of whites. Nevertheless, the vast
progress you have made in the short space of
twenty months fills us with hope that every
stain on your freedom will shortly be renew
ed, and that the erasure of that foul blot upon
civilization and christianity slavery
during your presidency will cause the name
of Abraham Lincoln to be honored and revered
by posterity. We are certain that such
glorious consummation will cement Great
Britain to the United States in close and en-
during regards. Our Interests, moreover,
are identified with yours. We are truly one
people, though locally separate. And If you
hare any i'll a0isherS here, be assured they are
chiefly those cbo oppose liberty at home, and
that they lgiH be powerlesS to STIR up quaqrelS
6et,csen as from the rery day IN aehich your
country Jecomes, uadenia5Jy and without IT,
ecption, tie home Of the free. Accept our
high admiration of your frmness in uphold
ing the proclamation of freedom"