The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-19

At the close of Miss Dickinson's lecture in
Boston, on Thursday, George Thompson, the
English Abolitionist, was called for, and re-
sponded as follows:
Mr. FRIENDS: If one unaccustomed to
public speaking is ever placed in an embar-
RAISING position it is when he is called upon,
as am now, to address an audience that has
been so charmed and highly excited by such
eloouence as that which it has been your
privilege and my privilege to listen TO to-
night. Shakespeare says "as when some actor
who has crossed the stage retires, the eye
looks listlessly to see who follows next" and
so l come before you tonight. Nine and
twenty years ago America cast me from her.
! was a vile, pestilent man; was disturb
,er of the public peace was an enemy of
the Union was thought worthy to be de-
nounced by your President, and in an ad-
dress to Congress. am unchanged. have
not wandered off from the point on which
then stood, but have preserved it without
variableness or shadow of turning. When
was ,cast forth these were my last words -
"Amerca will yetwitness another revolution.
The first great, noble one was fer independ-
ence; the second, holier. more benign, more
blessed, mora impartial will be for liberty.
But you, the people of Massachusetts, Viii
live, and pray God may live, to see the
day when the principles for which am mated
prosecuted, and banishcd will be the princi-
pies of the Old Bay State" | am no enemy
Of America nov | have been an .aii-put
idol2!tous admircr Of y,ur country. Bring
me ala American here tonight aud place him
foot to ioat with me. and let US see who is
most American in feeling, in hope, or aspira-
ton, be or ]. Thirty years ago saw this
daak cloud upon the horizon. Nothing that
has taken place III your country has surprised
me but this-namely, your. enthusiasm for
the cause for which pleaded apparently in
vain. have nothing to address to you to-
hight, nothing. l have been spell-bound.-
America, be proud of your dasghter. Were
she my countrywoman l should be proud Of
my country for her sake. Appreciate her,
reward her by following her counsels.
must confess, long accustomed as have been
to public meetings, and hearing the best elo-
qaence on either sida of the Atlantic, and ia
hearing those who are esteemed our most
gifted men in Parliament, / have listened t.
no speech which, for its pathos, its argument
its satire, its eloquence, its humor, its sarcasm,
ane its well directed denunciatrons, has even
been surpassed by any have heard before
pray God that the life of this lady may be
spared that she may see the desire of hei
heart in the unanimous adoption by her fcl
low-citizens of the great principles she has
enumerated tonight. Give me America fral
from slavery. Give me America in which
shall be established universally, as your Ice
turcr has said tonight, witheut distinction Of
cline, color, class. or, condition, liberty fol
all, government by all and for all. Then
see some hope that your greet example
gaining the greatest victory that mortalt
could win, the victory over self-that your
example will cheerm country on, and though
we may be behind you we shall follow after
you. In the meantime, God bless you in
your great struggle in this fearful war, Sc
that the graves which we have heard of sha.
be covered up, and rich harvests wave over
them, when your Constitution in all its plen
titude and without its compromises shall
stand forth the admiration of the world.