Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-12

Secretary Of Var.
Special Correspondence ofthe Cincinnati eazstts.
WAsHIEoToE, April 7.
GEORGE THOMPSON IN TIE CAPITAL.
The welcome to George Thompson, the
English sbolitionist in the hall Of the House
last night vas the occasion Of the most sig
nihcsnt demonstrations Of the season. A
few years ago, as he himself said, this man
was mobbed from our shores. 1t is no
longer very brave very heroic, ss il once
was, to talk abolition, but that in our most
public places, in the presence Of the Presi-
dent, Vice-President, members Of the Cab
met, Sspreme Judges, Senators and Rep
resentstiVes, an Englishman should draw
on the tumultuous cheering Of an enthuEi.
sstic audience, precisely in proportion 10
the intensity Of his rsdicslism, may well
prove to the politician noteworthy sign
Of the times.
The enthusiasm eliminated, and the
cheers again and again drowned out the
speakers voice, ss he read portion Of the
address to him by his friends, ct the COM
plimentsry breakfast in London, on the
eve Of his departure.
Tell Mr.. Seward and the statesmen Of
/ the Republic, that England will honor
them in proportion as they are faithful TO
the Proclamation Of Freedom. Prolonged
cheering Tell the Summers and Greeleys
Tcheers to preach by tongue and pen con-
tinually Teheersl, that England viii be
the firm friend Of America, though when
ever Misunderstanding and enstrsngs-
meut may arise. cheers Above all, tell
Garrison and Phillips, oheers] the New
England Abolitonists, the Old Guard Of
the Emancipation party, prolonged eheersl
that the mother country holds their SER
vices in the Wsrmest remembrance, as the
very Worthiest offspring Of our common
ancestry. That noble martyr Of liberty,
John Brown, prolonged cheers the hero
Of Hsrper's Ferry, by his msgnanimous
devotion and death cheers, sent thrill
Of new life to the nations heart Of hearts
Loud cheering, lasting for several minu-
tes
Il was not so much that such things
were said gives the occasion noteworthy
meaning, nor that they were enthusisstic-
ally spplsuded by fashionable audience,
for in these days such demonstrations have
become common enough; but it is the fact
that sll this was said from the same desk
where Keith and Bsrksdsle rushed upon
Wsshburne and LOVejoy, in the hall where
Prior Illuminated and Preston Brooks was
not only tolerated bat glorihed-that II
was said in the presence Of the Chief Ex-
ecutive, and nearly all the responsible
heads Of the Administration; and that
there under such sanctions, and in such =
presence, Washington audience eheered
to the echo, and cheered again. White men
like Reverdy Johnston were the first to
congratulate the speaker st the close
HOW MR. THOMPSON LOOKS AND TALKS.
It is said that Mr. Thompson has been
greatly broken down since his earlier Vis-
its to this country, and that he no longer
approaches the lofty eloquenoe with
which he was wont to "agitste the vsxed
subject" One seeks in vain now, at any
rate, in his performance on the platform
for the secret Of his reputation. He is eV-
identity q practiced speaker, though the
greater part Of his address last night WAS
written, and he has the rare gift Of placing
himself from the very outset in sympathy
with his audience. His voice is rich and
very fine, and his manner, though gener-
ally quiet, has something magnificent in
it. But there is little that stirs one pro-
foundly, in what he says; and dozen
American speakers might be named, who,
with the same advantageous circumstsn-
ces, would produce more powerful impress
sions.
At a distance, and under gas Light, one
/ l. .t---,t, h., ,.,--.---La--- E-.--.a aDd
u n1fnSps nj US also IN feature, between Mr..
Thompson and Wendell Phillips. He looks
feeble, however, and as he folds his arms
occasionally, one sees that his form is Ustg
slight. He evidently extemporises readi-
ly and well, as he did when the letter from
Congressman Morris was Unexpectedly
handed him, and it is easy to see that in
younger years, he must have been pow
erful speaker before the masses. The la-
dies complain that he ignored them utter
ly. he occasionally addressed himself to
the Vice-President (who presided over
the meeting), but generally renewed his
remarks after the prolonged bursts Of sp-
plause simply with Gentlemen"
BAD ELEorIoEEERIEG TRICK.
Mr.. Norris made mistake in introduce
ing his resolution to rescind tina grant Of
the Hall to Mr.. Thompson, on the ground
that he had been British emissary 70
break up the Union !; and the Englishman
caught him up handsomely, and, ss they
used 10 say in the infant schools, ''set him
, down hard" He supposed that his refer
enoe TO the Congressional Globe, when
Shsrrsrd Clemens had quoted Thompson
as an Abolitionist, was q clincher, and
was considerably more sstonished than
anybody else in the audience, when Mr..
Thompson branded the electioneering for
gerry the Alab4misn had given currency
|. 10, and came out so triumshsntly, with
the defiance to his enemies to hnd any
such a sentiment, in. any Of his speeches
or writings whether in 1884, or in any
other year they pleased.
HKaRO LAW IN NEW LIGHT.
The Secretary Of War is responsible for
9 new legal idea. Such things are not 30
common as TO be passed over without no
tice and 30 far IS know, this is sbso-
lutsly new.
The slaves, he argues, have the strict,
technical, legal right to the land Of the
rebels.
He undertakes to establish it thus:
They have always had one right, which
constituted legal lien upon the property,
personal or real, Of their mssters-the
right to subsistence. The masters may De
goue, but the property remsins-still SUD
iect to this lien held by the slaves. Under
the principles Of the Confsestion Laws,
the right of the master to his estate IL
gone. No other parties have any claim 70
: it; no others have any interest in 1t saVe
: the sIaVss, uho still have their EeH. In legal
; Language, this is the remainder In inter
I est.
ItisaWel established legal principle
that where there is no other title, any
9 sort Of lien gives possession ana nle'
o Therefore the slaves, holding the only men,
I
! have the legal right to the properly
e 1 do not know thst the Secretary HnO