, 1880-04-11

"Reminiscences by mr. Robert c, w,,.
fHFop.

"Reminiscences by mr. Robert c, VIZ.
throp.
Fron, 81, Addn.s by 1fr. Winthrop betors tas xa,.
chusetts Historical Society
In 1883 I was privileged to take the erp,t
statesman, Henry Clay, to the old Feden1
Street Church, to hear Charming deliver ons
Of his grand sermons on death and In.
mortality" No two men in our country Il
that day had more marked elements for con.
trast than Charming and Clay. But they h.d
been drawn toward each other by common
celebrity, and Claiming, as it will be n.
membered, addressed more than one Of hh
elaborate letters on subjects of National ii.
terest to the great statesman OF tbs Wet
In one respect, at least they were altfa
Both Of them were gifted with voices
of wonderful quality, which gave pecpl
lar charm to whatever they uttered. ClaTt
voice had at times the clash Of trumpet
while Channing's had the music and melody
of harp But both }aa were S;o Of +tIat3 that s3mp
thrilled their hearers. I can recall none lika
either Of them, and shall hardly hear iher
like again. They were incompatible far
their respective spheres.
have found among my letters one from
DR.. Charming. addressed. to me while Iwas
before his death. which have Thought
might fifty find place in, our proceedings
Everything from his pen is interesting, bit
this letter is peculiarly characteristic. both
Of the man and Of the time at which it VA
written. It will speak for itself, without
any comments Of mine, and will show ho.
this great mind cauld have, Anticipated ths
condition Of our country when the 10th al
niyersary Of its birth should have arrived:
Do6TOs, Dec 20, 134l--MF DEAR SIR: Your
well-known kindness encourages me to mafe
request. will thank you to send me tie pubs
trade. In the newspapers get them IN mi.
ments, and they are easily lost :,
await solclfously for the action Of Consrea
will hold the high grounds she has taken. Aa
Englishman lately said to me: - I would soner
give up Canada than give up slave. and ho
How painful md h1n,bltng, that our coanh1,
boasting Of its nttachment to freedom, should
come IN conflict with another, because the ht-
ter deciares that whoever touches her soils
free. 4 friend in Paris, speaking Of omE.
cuniary deficiencies and sins, writes me: IVA
(Americans> arc ashamed Of our country, nd
exposed to daily NOTIFICATIONS on account d
the disreputo into which everything Americas
has fallen throughout all classes OF Europesn'
I fear that we are to plunge into deep1
infamy. are to. array ourselves against ~
Pbespu BbF pnauoas Of as asee opa are 3 s a
civilization and Christianity OF our age. III
free States have been 50 accustomed 70 maF
cuub to the arrogance OF the South on tbs sao
ject of slavery, that cannot but fear. ia
New York Courier announces that the queshs
Of annexing Texas may be brought forx9d
during the session., and although this would b
perhaps \ more fatal measure than dissolntuai
Of the Union, it Ii possible that the North may
submit to it.. Can no compromise or arrange
ment be made by which the subject Of alarey
may be taken out OF Congress or detached from
National politics7 The FREQ States think
should give every pledge thnt they viii not
exert the power Of the General or State Govern
ments for the purpose OF abolishing or acting
on slavery In the slave States any more than
in foreign countries; and. on the other hand,
they should insist on being released nom ~
obligation to give support to slavery. Let them
leave the subject wholly to the action Of tha
slave States, interfering neither to uphold nE
destroy. beg you to excuse the length of tau
letter. The subject is so interesting that xhea
touch it cannot easily leave It. Very hu1
yours WILLIAM E. CHAyS1N.
Robert C. Winthrop, Esq, u. c., Washington