LETTERS AND ADDRESSES BY GEORGE THOMPSON, DURING HIS MISSION IN THE UNITED STATES, From Oct. 1st, 1834, to Nov. 27, 1835. BOSTON: NOTE. A volume has preceded the present one-published by Mr. KNAPP, at 25, Cornhill, Boston-containing the Lectures of GEORGE THOMPSON in England, with a full report of the discussion between Mr. Thompson and Mr. Borthwick, the pro-slavery agent, held at the Royal Amphitheatre, in Liverpool. In noticing that volume, the editor of the American Quarterly Anti-Slavery Magazine most happily remarks: Whoever has listened to the rapturous, impetuous, cataract eloquence of George Thompson, will not so much wonder that his reporters have failed fairly to write him down, as that they did not give up in utter despair. These speeches are not George Thompson; yet, like pictures of rainbows, forked lightning, and the starry concave, there is something of glory in them which will do very well till you compare them with the original. We remember that before we heard our friend lecture, or dreamed of his coming to this country, we used to wonder whether his printed controversy with Borthwick were not an improvement upon the spoken one. We advise the American public, for their own credit, first to buy the book and then recall the man.' The sketches of Mr. Thompson's Lectures in the Unit-ed States, contained in the following pages, do not furnish the reader with any adequate conception of his eloquence and pathos yet they are deemed too valuable, and are too closely connected with the history of the anti-slavery cause in the United States, to be left scattered through the pages of a newspaper. The letters are fine specimens of epistolary writing-full of 'thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.' Boston-1837. WM. LLOYD GARRISON. INTRODUCTION. It was deemed a sublime spectacle when the youthful LAFAYETTE left his native land for a foreign shore, and perilled his fortune, ease, reputation and life, in order to espouse the cause of a brave but injured people, in their unequal struggle for liberty. An example of patriotism so rare, so full of high-wrought chivalry, and so opposite to the dictates of human selfishness and prudence, could not fail to excite the admiration of the world, even before the termination of the generous and daring adventure. In the eye of mercy, in the judgment of charity, in the estimation of piety, and ultimately in the decision of mankind, far more of moral sublimity attended the embarkation of GEORGE THOMPSON for these shores, and still higher courage, devotion, fortitude and integrity were required in the prosecution of his great anti-slavery mission among us. Let this assertion be tested by a comparison of circumstances, objects and situations. The people, whose cause Lafayette espoused, were respectable, intelligent, enterprising and heroic. He was not required, therefore, to make any sacrifice of respectability, or incur any odium or ridicule, arising from their condition. -They were not enslaved: no chain ever galled their limbs, no whip was brandished over their heads, no driver followed at their heels, no laborious task was assigned them, no knowledge was withheld from their minds, no robbery of their wages was attempted, no parental or filial relation was violated, no restriction was placed upon their egress or ingress, no claim of property in their persons was set up, no traffic was carried on in any of their bodies. Hence, the injustice from which they were to be delivered was, comparatively speak ing, less than the weight of a feather. They in whose behalf George Thompson pleaded, were degraded unenlightened-servile; and were universally the objects of derision, hatred and persécution. Hence, it required one to make himself like Christ on earth, of no reputation,' to identify himself with them. -They were ranked & treated as pieces of merchandize and as cattle; were chained, whipped, driven, tasked, plundered, forbidden to learn even the alphabet, sold in private and in public, cruelly restricted as to locomotion, and subjected to a bondage as brutal as it is interminable. Hence, whatever concerns the whole man, for time or eternitywhatever of value is seen in the sanctity of marriage, in the impartial administration of justice, in the protection of law, in the prevalence of christianity-was bound up in the struggle for their emancipation vi -They stood ready, with open arms, with strong emotions of gratitude, with universal acclamations, to receive their chivalrous advocate, and to promote him to offices of trust and honor. -They were in their own country, and really masters of the soil; so that the young Frenchman's personal risk was only in an occasional battle with enemies who had been transported across the Atlantic. THE PEOPLE were with him, and around him, as an invulnerable bulwark. -They were mighty in valor, full of heroic ardor, all marshalled for the strife of blood, rich in knowledge and therefore strong in power, and able to cope with a colossal force. Bravely could they sustain Lafayette ! LAFAYETTE came to shred blood, as a warrior-to lead on to the mortal encounter-to discuss the rights of man at the point of the bayonet and the mouth of the cannon-to make a display of physical courage -to secure the blood-stained laurels of renown-and to show the oppressed of every clime how they ought to resist tyrants even unto death! -He had the fire of animal excitement-the 'pomp and circumstance' of war-the splendid examples of ancient heroes, to nerve his arm, and sustain his spirit, and lead him on to battle. But when did he manifest any moral courage, or spiritual devotion, in the cause of God?What heinous sin did he oppose? What popular vice did he denounce? What did he oppose to violence but violence? to blows but blows? to the sword but the sword? -They knew little or nothing of him who was toiling, early and late, through evil report and through good report, at the imminent hazard of his life, for their peaceful deliverance. They could not cheer, they could not promote,they could not even thank him for his disinterested advocacy and godlike benevolence. -They could give no succor or protection to their foreign champion, and he asked none at their hands.He walked serenely in the midst of a blood-thirsty people, strong in the panoply of innocence,undaunted amid the howlings of the tempest, the roar of thunder, and the glare of lightning. -They were entirely helpless,physically and morally. The language of his soul was, ' In GOD is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in GOD.' The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?' GEO. THOMPSON came as an angel of mercy, to prevent the shedding of human blood, by preaching the doctrines of the Prince of Peaceto engage in a moral contest, wielding none but spiritual weapons-to oppose truth to error, light to darkness, forgiveness to revenge, purity to pollution, mercy to cruelty, hon esty to fraud, and freedom to despotism. --His soul was warmed by the glow of holy zeal, and sustained by a steadfast faith in the promises of Godbut no outward show attended his career-nothing of the glitter of arms, the roll of drums, the confused noise of battle, or the renown of physical triumph. It was his task to warn, rebuke, and persuade a guilty nationto encounter the combined malice and fury of all the ungodly-to conflict with terrible prejudices-to go through the fires of persecution--and to return good for evil, forgiveness for injury, and blessing for cursing. |