Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-06
Edition
GEORGE THonPsoN, " THE HERooF
THIS CENTURY FOR THE ExTIM-
GUIsHMRNT OF SLAVERY
FOUR O'CLOCK. P. M.

GUIsHMnNT OF SLAVERY"
This distinguished Engllshman, and cham
pion Of freedom, is announced to speak TO-
night In the Hall Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes. He has represented the largest coustit-
rency Of England In the British Parllment, and
with distinguished ability. He is friend Of
loyal America. In London, al 81. James Hall,
on the 9oth Of November last, loyal Americans
In that city, 10 accordance with the Presldent's
proclamation calling upon his fellow. citizens
sojournIng in foreign lands" TO 'observe" that
day, attended q Thanksgiving dinner. Hon.
Robert j. Walker preslded, and among the
speakers was George Thompson. The former,
In introducing the latter, employed the follow
ing Just language, which 1t seems to us to bo
highly appropriate 10 publish at this time;
LADIES AND GExTLEMENi There was time
when there was great contest In England as
regards the suppression Of tho African slave
trade. The wealth, the trade, the power, the
great and governing classes OF England, at that
date, were in favor Of the African slave trade.
But there rose up great champions Of hui
manity and OF the rights Of man, without
regard TO country or COLOR. and after long
and doubtful contest Clarkson and Wilberforce
were triumphant, and the African slave trade
was suppressed, so far as England was con-
eerned, by the British Parliament. These were
the heroes Of the early part Of this century con-
nected with that great question. But there has
since arisen greater question, not merely the
suppression Of the African slave trade, but the
extinction Of slavery ITSELF In the United
States, In England, In the West Indies, and
throughout the world. (Cheers.l But by far
tho most imr ortani Of ali Is the extlnguIshment
Of slavery in our own country, for II II falls
portion Of the hRbltable globe. Loud cheers
Now, then, whilst Clarkson and Wilberforce
were the heroes Of the suppression Of the Afrl-
| can slave trade, / announce an opinion TO
which every loyal American and every we'll
Informed Engllshman will respond, that George
Thompson, ths Member Nhom The Totcsr Hdnllsts
| tett 10 Parliament, Is THE HERO OF THIS CBN-
FURY FOR THE BTTIEGUuHNBHT OF SLAVERY
iTsELP. Loud applause.
| II is now more than quarter of a century
since this illustrious friend Of the human race
came 10 our shores, leading a forlorn hope in
favor OF the abolition Of American slavery,
where he spoke against II at the risk OF his life.
Now, II he were 10 return to America In the
same cause, he would be received with plaud-
Its, from the Lakes to the Gulf, from the At
lanuc to the Pacific, from Boston, where he
first landed, TO New Orleans. Loud cheers.
have to request that you will drink this next
toast with all the honors, and our friend, Mr..
| tuOmpbOu, Will tnen TcSpOuu. lnc Dhy-
Devoted to thanking God for our victories In
the cause Of Liberty and Union" tCheers.l
Mr.. Thompson's response to the sentiment
was like all his efforts, able and instructive.
His aIlusion 10 the fact that Hon. Robert J.
Walker introduced a colored clergyman to in
, woke blessing on the occasion was very hap,
py, as follows
| II was to me q remarkable sign Of the times
that before we descended from yondcr gallery
into this room TO partake Of this banquet, and
after the PresidsnPs proclamation had been
read, that gentleman, long resident and
Senator from Mississippi, reared In the midst ol
slavery in the United States, should, as the pres
ident Of this meeting, call on q gentleman oi
color, an American, and but a few years ago q
slave, TO ask upon our meeting together to-day
} the benediction Of Almighty God. Loud cheers.
sir, / sec the future destiny OF America typihet
!, In that incident. Never again will the Negro
In America, the men who led the forlorn hop,
at Port Hudson, the men who perishet
with the brave Colonel Shaw before Fort Wag
ner-I say never will the men who by thei
color are linked with men like these, the TWEEN
y ty-fve colored regiments which understand
. from your chairman have already been enrollet
In the State Of Louisiana alone-never vii
those in your country who stand Identified b,
. color and by race, by condition and by suffer
: Ing with such men, be looked on as the
!; have been In any part Of the United States o
America; and believe the day will come when
: rs we have seen tonight, an enlightened states
man Of the South, and a colered man, lately
slave in North Carolina, are Joined together II
communion and fellowship. So In the Unite
= States, while men shall consult their tastes an
. their associates, we shall see mutual recognI
~ tlon Of the rights of man as man, and IRE
. and generous acknowledgement of the right
4 even Of the humblesi, to enjoy the immunilie
of citizenship and equality.
Those deslrous Of obtaining good seats Il
:. the Hall Of the House tonight, will be obllge
l. to go early.