Huntsville gazette., 1884-05-10
Address of Rev. C. S. Smith.
Before the pittspurg Conference.

in calling to order this large assemblage OF
intelligent and earnest men. 1t is espec-
tally gratifying to me TO recognize the pres
ence of so large number of young men
full of bounding ambition, lofty aims and
expanding intellect.
We meet on historic ground. Thirty-one
years and eight months ago, the 11th day |
of the present month, in this city, re-
markable convention Of remarkable men |
was held. Remarkable because of their
.ring courage to unitedly place the seal of
their condemnation upon the foul institu-
ton of slavery, and to deny that the Fugi-
i've Slave Act of 1850 had any binding
force on the American people. The result
Of their deliberations was the nomination
of national ticket. and they went forth to
the country on what is known as the Free
Soil Platform. They were men of brave
and fearless spirits, building, perhaps, wis
er than they knew. No cowardly spirit ev-
er ventures to array itself against the pre-
vailing sentiment of the times. Courage, |
born of convictions grounded in the fbres
of the soul, only dares to do that. Tbs
mythologicol character, who is represented
as holding the world upon his shoulders,
exhibited no more courage or daring in his
efforts to raise it there, than did the men
who first attempted to lift the curse and
gloom of slavery from off the shoulders OF
this great republic. Thank God it has been
lifted and the memory of those who, by
voice and pen and deed, dealt the first stur-
| dy blows to loosen its grasp is deserving q
place in our deepest and dearest affection.
Those who early engaged in battling for
| liberty and human righs sowed the seeds
Of universal free condition, the glorious
| fruitage of which we now enjoy They
kindled newer and brighter fires along the
ascending pathway of struggling mankind,
and cast additional anchors Of hope in the
great sea of human existence. The waves
of their influence have not yet reached the
| farthest shores, but they are dashing on.
and in time, under their crushing weight,
| the last vestige of human oppression viii
| be swept away. The proud waves of the
deep shall yet roll their jewels Of spray up
! on the shores of Cuba and Brazil and their
sound will not be answered by the plaintive
| cry of single slave.
From the neck of Ireland,
long oppressed. and now bleeding at every
pore, the lion of British tyranny shall be
| made to lift its paw, and the despairing
hopes of its people shall be revived as they
feel the thrill of that liberty which is their
right to enjoy, and which no power can
justly deny to them. The genius of liber
| ty, still expanding shall relieve from des-
potic rule the Inhabitants of that land
whose shores are laved by the dancing wa
tons of its gfff sba Increase aa II tie bright
ness OF the day throughout all the Orient.
Well might the tongue grow eloquent with
this theme, and would gladly enlarge up.
on the points to which 1 have referred did
time and the occasion permit When from
this city over quarter Of century ago.
brave hands bore the banner of freedom. il
was OF broader folds than they conceived.
Freedom is a term of vast significance. II
Is condition that extends not Only to
| mans physical state, but TO thought, az d
| action and opportunity. We may well in
sist that freedom in all of lis essential bt ar
! ngs AID influences shall become pn ~
complished fact; and the cLief object Of
| pufb hara Il, -
| possible, to devise means by which to Sc
cure larger freedom Of privilege and op
portunlty. Ii is apparent, at once, thai
our present position is far from being de
'irable or satisfactory. 1t is unfortunate
that we have to SO frequently appear befort
the publc as complalnants AID ct so long
| as We have just reasons to complain. W.
ought to do so. Some of our friends seem
70 ave grown weary Of agitation, beccuse.
as they say, they cannot see what good it
accomplishes Seed cast in the ground to-
day does not bear fruit to- morrow. The
husbandman must patiently wait the one
| ration Of those silent forces that first cause
growth and then fruitage So with those
who are seeking to secure better and free
er condition. They must scatter the seeds
| OF agitation; strike hard and freonent
| blows; run the plowshare of truth deep in
to the soil of public sentiment and oye,-
turn it, until it becomes permeated with
the living energy Of justice and right.
Our Situation is Peculiar.
We have enemies within as well as with
out We are measurably hampered and
handicapped by class of selfconstituted
leaders who can see no cause of alarm So
long as they are well provided If the sun
shines brightly on their side of the street ii
| makes no difference how hard the rain NAV
beat on the Pathway of others. 1 regret
the necessity of giving an open rebuke to
these. A few colored Office holders have
been bending their energies to weaken the
Influence of this meeting They have in
1ustriously circulated not only false, but