Year: 1863

As citizens Of Manchester, assembled at
the Free Trade Hall, we beg to express our
iraternal sentiments toward you and your
country.


We rejoice in your greatness, as an out
growth of England, whose blood and language
you share, whose orderly and legal freedom
you have applied to new circumstances, over
region immeasurably greater than our own
We honor your Free States, as singularly
happy abode for the working millions, where
industry is honored. One thing alone has, in
the past, lessened our opinion of your count
ry and our confidence i'm tive mean the as
cendancy of politicians who not merely main
tanned negro slavery, but desired to extend
and root it more firmly. Since we have dis
cerned. however, that the victory of the free
North in the war which has so sorely distress
ed us as well as afflicted you will strike off
the fetters OF the slave, you have attracted
our warm and earnest sympathy.


We joyfully honor you, as the President and
the Congress with you, for many decisive steps
towards practically exemplifying your belief
in the words Of your great founders, "All men
are created free and equal'


You have procured the liberation of the
slaves in the district around Washington, and
thereby made the centre of your FEEDER ration
visibly free. You have enforced the laws
against the slave trade, and kept up your fleet
against it, even while every ship was wanted
for service i'm your terrible war You have
nobly decided to receive ambassadors from
the negro republics of Hayti and Liberia, thus
for ever renouncing that unworthy prejudice
which refuses the rights of humanity to men
and women on account of their color In Or
der more efiectually to stop the slave trade
you have made with our Queen treaty which
your Senate has ratified for the right of mu-
tual search. Your Congress has decreed free
dom as the law forever in the vast unoccupied
or hafsettled territories which are directly
subject To its legislative power 1t has offered
pecuniary aid to all States which will enact
emancipation locally, and has forbidden your
generals to restore fugitive slaves who seek
their protection. You have entreated the
savemasters to accept these moderate offers:
and after long and patient waiting you, as
commander-in-chef of the army, have appoint
ed tomorrow, the lst of January, 1868, as the
day of unconditional freedom for the slaves of
the rebel States. Heartily do we congratulate
you and your country on this humane and
righteous course.


We assume that you cannot now stop short
of complete uprooting of slavery. 1t would
not become us to dictate any details, but there
are broad principles of humanity which must
guide you. If complete emancipation in some
States be deferred, though only to pre-deter-
mined day, still, in the interval, human beings
should not be counted chattels. Women
must have rights of chastity and of maternity.
men the rights of husbands, masters the liber-
ty of manumission. Justice demands for the
black no less than for the white. the protection
of law-that his voice be heard in your courts
Nor must any such abomination be tolerated
as slave-breeding States and slave market
ii you are TO earn the high reward of all your
sacrifices, in the approval of the universal
brotherhood, and of the Divine Father 1t is
f.-x l.
thing but immediate and total emancipa tion
can secure the most Indispensable rights of
humanity against the inveterate wickedness of
local laws and local executives.


we lmplore you, for your own honor and
welfare. not to faint in your Providential mis-
sion. While your enthusiasm is fame and
the tide of events runs high, let the work be
finished effectually. Leave no root of bitter
ness to spring up and work fresh misery to
your children. 1t is mighty task. indeed. To
reorganise the industry not only of 100000
of the colored race, but OF 100000 of whites
Nevertheless, the vast progress you have
made IN the short space of twenty months fills
us with hope that every stain on your freedom
will shortly be removed. and that the erasure
OF that foul blot upon civilization and Christi
anity-chattel slayery-during your presiden-
cy-will cause the name of Abraham Lincoln
to be honored and revered by posterity. We
"iS NSitttii hihN sum a EioiibuS
will cement Great Britain to the United States
in close and enduring regards. Our interests
moreover. are identified with yours. We are
truly one people, though locally separate. And
if you have any i'll wishers here, be assured
they are chiefly those who oppose liberty at
home, and that they will be poweress to stir
up quarrels between us, from the very day in
which your country becomes, undeniably and
without exception, the home of the free.


Accept our high admiration of your firm
ness in upholding the proclamation offreedom.


This is not American party feeling seeking
expression through British type and on Brit
ish paper; it is no fanarical Exeter Hail. which
speaks; it is the voice of England herself, rec
wise, and manly, and just act.