Year: 1863

Consuls represent commerce and property,not
men. Thirty-four thousand, as | have said,
were fed every day, and precisely the same ac-
tlOn was taken toward men who needed this
assistance as would be taken here. But those
men had no voice in the newspapers abroad or
at home, and the consequence was, their
thanks and their applause were never heard


while the complaints of the property men, who
felt that when they were struck slavery was
struck, flowed all over Europe and the North /;
and every Misrepresentation that the malice of
enemies and traitors could devise was resorted
to- in order to embarrass, and if possible de-
feat, my plans. But there is one thing have
right to say-and thank you, sir, for ad-
verting to it-and that is that from the first
week when our soldiers entered New Orleans
until left there, it was as safe, as quiet, and
as convenient to attend to ones business, by
day or by night, as ever it was in the best gov
erned cities of the North-even our own
Loud applause.)


Now, my friends, l have detained you on
these topics quite too long. Ihave only come
here to meet you and hear from you those
kind manifestations which you have been
pleased to bestow upon me, and to return to
you the heartfelt gratitude which feel. l as
sure you that to your efforts, to the efforts of
Massachusetts,, and to the ideas of Massachu-
sets and New England, the country is indebt-
ed for that measure of safety which has been
secured, and for those great efforts which are
now being put forth. Be not deceived. Be
not weary! Remember this: that while we
may feel this war is hard for u.s. it is the effort
of desperation for them. / have seen the con-
script laws OF the South taking the boy of six
teen and the old man of sixty-the schoolmas-
ter not excepted-and forcing them into the
ranks. While it costs us effort, it costs them
desperation. While it costs us labor it costs
them lfe-blood. / wish that they might be
won back without this: but so they have not
chosen. As long as life lasts, as long as any
power remains, we must stand by the Union,
one and indivisible. (Applause.) Every trail
tor, every man, every stream, every lake. eve
ry river every mountain, that ever belonged
to the flag of the United States, must still re-
main under the flag of the United States, cost
what it will, cost what it may. Enthusiastic
applause.) II, as you fatteringly observed.
shall 60 back to another field of duty, shall
go back with the determination never to give
up, never to compromise, (renewed applause)
never to have anything but that flag of ours
is the symbol of our nationality. Whoever
differs from that, let him go south of Mason
and Dixon's line-he has no business here
lApplause) We may have no means of deal
iI5 with him here, but there are plenty at the
South who will receive him with open arms,
for the reason that he is their friend, not the
friend of the country. Who proposes to give
up the tomb of Washington? Who, York
town? Who the honors won by jackson at
New Orleans? Who proposes to have any
thing less than that which belongs to us p
Who proposes to give up our fair claim to
claim to Mexico, if it comes to that? No one
proposes to give up the rights of this Union
But let me repeat-because hear that there
are some who falter--come what may. wheth-
er veal or woe, there is one thing which we
will not lose, and that is the supremacy Of this
Government over every inch of our boundary


1 desire single word on the question OF
emancipation. On that question you know
have held certain opinions. Those opinions
have received, in some degree, correction
| have views to offer which think will COM
mend themselves to the judgment of every
one of you. Is there man here who doubts
that some time or other, in the providence of
God, tho negro is to be free and that some
day the protection of the laws will be extend
ed over him, and that he will become free p
No man doubts that; and all desire TO guard
against the evils that may arise from that
change, and which cannot be made without
disorganizing our political system. 1t is my
opinion that all this has been sent upon the
nation for some great object; and it is my
opinion that it will be easier at this time to
settle this question than to leave it to be set
tied hereafter.


Is 1t not evident to every mind, that the day
and hour have come when all men, so far as
this country is concerned-and it is the last
refuge of slavery on the globe-shall be in po-
ltical rights free and equal, as they were de-
clared by the Declaration of independence?
tApplause.) Let no man be concerned about
the question of social equality. They will be
just so far equal as God has made them equal
and no more and no less. Take care lest we
be found fighting against God. If He has not
made them our equals, they will not be our
equals. But He has made them free. God
willed them free. God will have them free.
And let His wild be done