Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-04-07

Geo. Thorn pson's Lecture Last Night

| tendency to attract a large crowd thither and
every available space ON the floor and IN the
| galleries was filled The Speaker, accompan- :
| led by Vice President Hamlin and Rev. John
| Pierpont, made his appearance st S o'clock,
and was received with enthusiastic cheers A
| moment afterwards the tall form of President
| Lincoln appeared and he was escorted TO =
seat Immediately in front of the speaker amid
the most unbounded applause and enthusiasm
| Among other prominent gentleman present
| were Secretaries Chase and Usher Senator's
| Rsyerdy johnson, Eoote, Wilson, Harris, Lane
OF Indiana, Clark, Morrill,, Pomeroy: Judge
| Holt, Speaker Colfax, ex- Governor Wright,
! Stevens, OF Pennsylvania, Judge Kelley, and
others, and also number Of BIigadier Gener.
ais, and military officers Of other grades.
Rev. Jonn Pierpont, president OF he Wash
ington Lecture Association, announced that
Wee President Hamiin had agreed to preside
at the meeting and invited him to take the
chair.
The Vice President was heartily received
upon taking the chair and he introduced the
orator OF the evening in q few appropriate re.
marks relative TO the rebellion, which he be-
leved would be speedily crushed and he
believed any one who doubted that fact was
political infidel. He said many coed and true
men had had some solicitude as to the recogni-
ton OF the Confederacy by Foreign Govern
ments, hnt this solititude might now all be dis
PEELED, for there were able men who have been
loyal Americans il they have been British SUBJ
lscts; and such one was the orator of the
evening who was then introduced
Mr.. Thompson said he arose with no little
degree OF embarrassment and emotion to find
himself speaking to the American people in
the House OF Representatives, and he returned
grateful thanks to such of the mem bers as had
voted &c accord him the privilege. Before
howe yer, he would proceed TO make the OBJ
servatioDs he had intended to make, he refer
red TO the fact that on Monday last, Mr.. Morris
OF Ohio, had Introduced pream BILE and reso-
luton resembling the resolution whereby the
Hail was given to Mr.. Thompson for the ad.
dress, because he had said in 1891 that the DIS
solution OF the Union should be kent steadily
i'll view. MIR. Thompson denied that he had
r,ot,
said the moment he had heard of Mr. Morris
resolution he had addressed a letter to the
latter demanding his authority. While MIR. T.
was speaking note as handed him, which
proved to Se The reply of Mr.. Morris in which
the latter stated that his resolution was .found-
ed on letter purporting to be written by You.
which you will find in the appendix TO the
CongressionaL Globe for the second session of
3oth Congress, volume "A, page los Of the ap-
pendix."
After reading This note Mr. Thomson AGAIN
earnestly denied that he had uttered the lam
guage attributed TO him, but he quoted from a
speech delivered by him in London to show
that he had ever entertained the most friendly
feelings towards the Union OF the States
The speaker then proceeded to address his
audience upon the causes of the rebellion, and
attributed il all to slavery; and his sentiments
throughout were received with evident salts
faction by the large audience in attendance.
lie believed, however, better day was dawn.
ing, Hud he could see now that slavery was to
r. - stdicated and that freedom was to pre- vail
III. Uughout the land. He be elie we'd this was the
decisive time to strike for liberty; this was the
moment for the nation to decide, and he knew
that - the prayer OF the friends OF human lib.
erty, OF progress and Christian civilization
throughout the world. is, that in the present
strife between slavery and freedom on these
shores, the people and Government of this
great nation may not halt between two opin-
ions, but come 10 decision in favor of abso.
Lutte, impartial and universal freedom, for this
and al. future generations" fCheers.
The speaker then paid the following glowing
tribute to the Chief Magistrate of the nation
- am happy to know that in the crisis Of the
nations tate, when the future has to be deter.
mined by your present action, the people of the
United States are represeL ted, in the per son of
their elected Chief Magistrate, by a man SO
worthy OF esteem and confidence as the present
incumbent OF the Presidential chair. TEathu-
siastic and long. continued applause.l A man,
not only upright and honest, but sagacious and
far.seelng. A man who six years ago, said:
"A house divided against itself cannot stand
This Government cannot endure permanently
halt LIFE free and hat slave (Applause.]
"Who declared his own opinion, and that of
millions OF the American people, when he SAID,
i do not regard this matter of slavery as
very little thing'-this keeping of one-sixth
portion OF eur population In state Of on. res.
sion and tyranny, unequalled in the world:
neither do the American people-they regard
it, not as very little thing, but as uGst moral
eea," e., !AappIause'I
"1f we take exceptions to the Declaration of
Independence, which says that all men are
equal, where shall we stop! II that decIAra
tiUn is not the truth, let us get the Statute
Book, in which it is written, and tear it out.
II il is the truth, let US stand by it. Let it be
onr charter" (Applause.l
Who said that
The representatives of the people, gathered
within Independence Hall, when they put
forth the declaration that men are born equal,
and endowed by their Creator with the in
a1ienable rights OF life, liberty, and the pursuit
OF happiness. gave ma jest tic Interpretation to
the economy OF the universe. That 1t was their
lofty, and wise, and noble understanding of
the justice of the Creator to his creatures-to
all mis- creatures-to the whole great family
OF man. In their enlightened belief nothing
stamped with the Divine image and likeness
was sent into the world to be trodden upon,
degraded, or imbruted by their fellow men.
They grasped, not only the race Of men then
living. but they reached forward and seized
upon the fnrthest posterlty. They lighted
beacon TO guide their children, and their chill.
dren's children, and the countless myriads that
should inhabt the earth through all future
ages" fApplause.
These Were the words of Abraham Lincoln
when he stood before the people of Illinois six
years ago, seeking at their hands the honor
able position OF their representative in the Sen.
ate chamber OF this House. Tonight quote
them as the words of Abraham Lincoln, Pres.
ident OF the United States, whose Government
is represented, and well and ably represented,
at the court OF every civilized nation on the
face of the earth. [Cheers.I
To-day. Mr.. Lincoln, with the aid of a will
ing people and brave and devoted army and
navy. has the power TO give effect to these
solemn and emphatic words; and the expecta.
tioa and belief of all good men, the hope and
prayer of every lover of the human race are
that he win give them effect, [cheers, and that
as his illustrious and honored predecessor, the
first President. was the chief founder of Ame-
rican indepen dence. he may be known hereaf-
ter as the hoerator of America from slavery:
that Washington and Lincoln maF 20 down 10
future ages linked in blessings and in fame to-
gether, the one the delicerer, the other the re-
generator OF MS country. Immense applause
So shall they both forever rest,
BY all their country's wishes blest.
When spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Shall come to deck their halIow'd mould,
She. then, shall dress sweeter sod
Than fancy's feet have ever trod.
There, honor, too, a pilgrim gray,
shail come TO bless their honor'd clay;
And freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell aweeping hermet there.
The speaker then quoted from addresses de.
ivered to him by citizens of Manchester and
elsewhere in England, before he lett for Ame-
rica, all Of which charged him with messages
TO the people OF this country, breathing spirit
OF Eiendlinsss to the North, and urging them
to 60 on until slavery was abolished through
out the land.
The lecture was concluded about 9x o'clock,
and the audience departed amid music played