The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-03-11
wRLCenE re enc. rMoMPsOn.

WkLCOAA - S1Os A1OAE OOUs
The recent meeting 1t New York 10
welcome George Thompson, the great
Abolitionist Of England, presided over BY
t3eneal Fremont, was very notable in.
dioation of the progress Of public senti-
.oent in this country.
The speech Of Gen. Fremont was fully
up to the present point Of development
of the anti-slavery sentiment Of the Coun.
try, and exhibited proper appreciation
for the sympathy manifested in our strug-
gle by the friends Of emancipation in Eu-
rope.
On taking the chair Gen. Fremont said:
Ladies and Gentlemen am glad to
see that you are in temper Of mind
which promises very cordial welcome to
our guest of the evening. thank you
very sincerely for your friendly reception
Of myself, aud thank you warmer for him
under the circumstances, it will be es-
pecially grateful to him. Coming here
after an interval Of years, he connot be
expected Immediately to realize the change
which has been worked in the country,
and impressions from very different scenes
which he witnessed here, cannot yet be
effaced from his memory. When he was
last here the country was at peace, and
men do not readily hazard its blessings.
The people were unwilling to enter upon
the discussion of question which threat
tened to disturb great interests. They
we're not willing 10 infict upon themselves
or the Southern people the penalties which
attend great reform. Then discussions
upon slavery we're held to involve disun-
ion, and it required the direct and fragrant
aggressions of an institution essentially at
war with the principles of our Govern
ment TO bring men to consider il, and
to rouse them into action against it.
He has yet to realize the change, and
until he does, every such expression Of
friendly feeling must give him peculiar
satisfaction. 1t may not seem to you en-
tirely appropriate that / should preside
over this meeting. 1t might seem more
fitting that some one of older date in the
anti-slavery .truggle-some one of those
who also had incurred the censorious
criticisms and social martyrdom to which
his life had been much exposed, should
stand at his side tonight to receive and
to share in your generous recognition
But in giving him this welcome back to
the country we desire to bring distinctly
before him the new phase through which
it is passing; slavery, now held to be
incompatible with Union liberty, then
denied speech, now holding the sword,
the nation in arms for the principle he
advocated, hostile to compromises, i'm
patient Of delays; its old tolerance changed
into settled hatred against the cause OF
this war, and deeply resolved so to deal
with il that the places which knew it shall
know it no more.
Asene belonging to the body of the
people to whom conviction has been
brought by the logic of events which
forced their consideration upon every
man, aud with the object of aiding our
guest to realize the unanimity with y hich
the nation is moving to the accomplish
ment of its object, am honored with q
request to preside here this evening. To
our guest it must be more agreeable to re-
allze the present than remember the past.
he comes now among US to witness the
triumph Of the principle for which he la
bored, and we are glad to have an occa.
sion which We can use to express our OBJ
legations to him and his friends on the
other side of the water for the services
they have rendered us to thank him in.
dlvidually, and as one of class which in
England represents the public conscience,
loving justice, and intolerant of oppres-
slo6, aud to whom we are indebted for a
tenacious adherence to our cause from
the beginning of this war. Their sympa-
thies for US reached from the starving
Manchester operative refusing to petition
Parliament to our injury, up TO the
throne itself, which it touched aud in.
huenced.
The speech of Mr.. Thompson was full
ly reported for the Tribune. 1t was long
and interesting. We extract
cannot stand to-day where stand
cannot remember the past, and contem-
plate the present. cannot look forward
and anticipate swift coming events. with
out feeling unutterable satisfaction in the
circumstances by which am surrounded
Only those in this audience whose age
and whose recollection will carry them
back for thirty years. or who are coeni-
zant OF the transactions of that distant
day, can understand or can fathom the
depth and intensity of those emotions
which now strive for utterance in INV
breast. Thirty years ago landed upon
the shores of America in this CITY
was accompanied by my wife, BY two in.
FAINT children, and by maid servant. |
sought a temporary lodging in one Of
your NEST quiet, we'll conducted, respect
able hotels. But ere forty -eipht hours
had elapsed | was expelled from the hotel:
and as | would not expose my friends in
this city-few but precious, few but no.
Die men and women of whom America
was not worthy, and has something vet
70 90 before she viii be VOL thy OF them
Applause l,,because would not expose
their dwellings to destruction and thei,
persons to outrage. left the CITY of Nev
York aud took refnoa