, 1865-01-10

80 INO 0OO
respectful but hearty congratulations on your
reelection to the presidential chair. We re-
ioice in the manner in which that election was
conducted, as we'll as at its results, proving, as
it has done, that the possession of full political
power by the masses of the people does not
tend to laWlesSness, even when exercised under
extremely trying circumstances. We regard
the action of the decisive majority which has
again placed you in power as another proof that
the great nation over which you preside IS
pledged to connect the restoration of the Union
with freedom for the negro, and with his being
ultimately placed before the law on a perfect
equality with the white man. We lament the
great sufferings caused by this war, as We alb
hor the t~reachery by which it was commenced,
and We earnestly pray that peace may soon be
established, not by such unholy compromise as
would cause a speedy renewal of the war, but a
peace which, being righteous, will also be per-
manent. We d~eprecate the un just and unkind
remarks of a portion of our press and people in
reference to yourself and the great cause you
represent but these must no more be regarded
as a fair representation of the opinion OF Great
Britain, than the statements of some papers and
public men in America respecting this country
are to be taken as a fair representation of the
opinion of America. In conclusion we beg to
assure you of our earnest prayers that Almigh-
y y ~ AIlu1 1OhS NSN - y C0h INV NAA SlfO
you all needful help in the important position
you have been called to re-occupy at this i'm
portant crisis and hoping that America will
soon be reunited and free, and that your nation
and our own may ever be found in perfect
agreement for the good of the world and the
glory of God, we bid you farewell.
In moving the adoption Of the address, Mr..
Murphy congratulated the working men of Eng
land on the fact that a man who had begun life
as a day labourer was now the political chief of
one of the m~ightiest empires in the world.
(Cheers) Mr.. Lincoln had not only been elect
ed, but had been re. elected after the people
had tested his powers Of governing, and it was
upon this great fact that the working men of
Lambeth met to congratulate him. (Hear,
hear.) The speaker having eloquently sketch
ed the character and achievements of Mr.. Lin
coin in organising armies, finding generals,
planning campaigns, and with their assistance
Carrying his country through four years of peri
Ious circumstances, called their attention to the
peaceful and triumphant manner in which the
late presidential election had been conducted.
The party of resistance in this country had
been watching that contest with intense ankle
ty, in the hope that the riots which were GER
tain to occur would afford a sufficient reason
for refusing any extension of the franchise in
this country. But what had been the result ?
In a country out of which England might be
stolen and not missed there had been neither
violence nor drunkenness, whilst a blow had
been struck for the Union and for the abolition
of slavery. loud cheers) The correspon-
dents of certain London papers which he could
mention had for months been sending home
TRADES against Mr.. Lincoln, and protesting that
he was held in adherence by the people of
America, but the answer to those assertions
was that just one month since Mr.. Lincoln had
been almost unanimously reelected. But these
best possible instructors were not always infal-
lible. Only that morning the Times had an
nounced that Mr.. Williams, their respected
member, was dead, and in the evening the
Standard had given a long obituary memoir of
a man who was yet alive. Loud cheers.) AT
ter some further observations Mr.. Murphy con
Guided by moving the address.
Mr.. Booker seconded the resolution, which
was carried by reclamation.
Mr.. Pritchard moved a resolution appointing
a deputation to wait on the American minister
with the address. The speaker elucidated the
American question at some length, and called
upon the working men to take this opportunity
of recording their protest against the abomina-
BILE institution of slavery.
This resolution, having been seconded by Mr..