Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-21
GeO,re TbOmDson AZ OberItn

[COrrespOndenee of the Cleveland LEADER.l
0BERL1E, Nov. 18th, 1854.
EDITORS LEADER: Under the auspices cf
the College society's Library Association,
Mr.. George Thompson, the welI-knovA
English Philanthropist, addressed thou
sand or more of US last night to our great
edifcation and satisfaction. As the man
and his topic, "Hopes and Fears for
America" are both of general interest,
will give brief description. Mr.. Thomp-
sons personal appearance is prepossessing.
Tall, slim and erect, quite gray enough to
be revered, with the usual side whiskers
and happy face of an Englishman, his au-
dience are pleased at the outset. His
speaking is easy throughout, with not the
least hesitation for a word, and some pas
ssges are eloquent.
Mr.. Thompson began by saying that he
knew not what to say. His occupation was
gone. He had made it his business to call
men to the conflict against wrong. Now
he finds peop.e already awakened. He
is in the state Of the old Puritan, who wrote
in his diary, "Here 1 desired little per-
secution."
Of himself, he says that his heart has
been with America for the last thirty years,
and his occupation at home has been to
/ advocate her cause. He has thought and
| said thousand times, "Would to God that
England were not only almost, but alto
getner, such as America, save the bonds"
He spoke of the ignorance of the Eng
| lish in regard to our polictics. Its very
/ nomenclature is mystery to them. The
/ speaker said and showed that he understood
/ it perfectly. He had studied America for
1 ha frkv
years since, America was one, had one ar
my, one navy, and one Constitution. Now
he found two nations, two armies, two na-
vies, and two Constitutions. The cause
of all this, and the only cause, is Slavery.
The speaker then made a rapid review
of the history of American slavery, which,
as it is familiar, we do not report.
Of the position of the English on our
conflict, he said that the common people of
England, who have done all for progress
there, that has been done, are as one man
with the North in this struggle. The aris-
tocracy are against US, for as soon as we es-
tablish freedom their doom as g privileged
| class is sealed. AT the election of Mr..
| Lincoln in 1850, the feeling OF sympathy
was general. This was dampened by Mr..
Lincoln's Inaugural and the first acts of
his Administration, tending to preserve
slavery. Since March, 1852, sympathy
has been increasing until now it Is fresh and
active. The only excited meetings have
been those in behalf of the North. We
have not beset the Copperheads here more
than they have there in England. This
has prevented much mischief in hindering
the recognition of the South. The conduct
of the operatives has been remarkable.
They have been beset with emissaries to
| persuade them to petition for interference
with the blockade; but not a petition has
been sent up.
He hoped that when the war is over we
will remember that these men were willing
to suffer rather than hinder at all the great
work in which weare engaged. The cream
of the intellect OF England has also been on
oursside. Our enemies are theirs.
He congratulated US on what we had done
this month, especially upon the eighth of
| November. Now he felt sure that the work
would &c on to completion, and he hoped
that he might greet us within year with
the news of a Constitutional Amendment,
forev. destroying slavery.
He closed with congratulations over the
progress ,of the Anti-SlaverY cause, giving
a short history of it all.
All were pleased, and not the least, sup
| pose, the Association, for the accession of
Greenbacks 10 its treasury.
Yours, GoETF.