And what hast thou done, that they And what is the crime they thus repay, Thou hast lent an ear to the dying slave, Thou hadst eyes, and could not be blind To his hot and bitter tears; Nor deaf to the shrieks that load the wind Nor cold to the mother's fears. Thy lip could not be dumb To plead for the down-trodden poor, Though the stern rebuke should harshly come Thou art one of the few who art better Than those they represent; Who rise to break the bondman's fetter, Ere Mercy's day be spent ; That are from oblivion won, There are some whose nerves are strong, And scarred with the mark of the driver's thong, Who can smite on the bowed with years As he perisheth in the sun; And coldly look on the orphan's tears As she prays her life were done. Thank God there are hearts that feel For the out-cast bleeding poor; Thank God, there are men who will not kneel And laud the evil-doer. And thou art one of those, Who as they feel dare speak; Who can not spurn the bondman's woes, Or spurn the poor and weak. And thou the wise and good, We oft will pray for thee; Thou hast done as thy country's freemen should, While battling for her free. Thou hast our warmest love Thou hast our freshest tears; And shalt have, while the bright stars shine Down to our latest years! CHAPTER XVII. ERECTION of Pennsylvania Hall in Philadelphia — Distinguished Politicians and Divines invited to its Dedication - Its destruction by a mobThe Continental State House-Its Bell-Its Bible Motto-Mr. Morris invited to the Dedication His Answer-Its just and noble sentiments. - On the 18th of May, 1838, the friends of free discussion, in Philadelphia, completed a large and beautiful hall, and with imposing ceremonies, dedicated it to Truth and Freedom, and Free discussion. It was stipulated by those who erected it that "it is not to be used for Anti-slavery purposes alone, but for any purpose not of an immoral character." It was a Temple open for free discussion on all subjects relating to the progress of society, and the elevation and freedom of all men. ' It bore the title of " Pennsylvania Hall." Ionic columns graced its interior, and on these rested a beautiful arch, on which was engraven, the motto of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, VIRTUE, LIBERTY, AND INDEPENDENCE. Distinguished men from all parties in politics, and from various sects in religion, were invited to be present at its dedication. A host of the sons of freedom were present, and very many, wrote letters of congratulation and sympathy. John Quincy Adams, in response to a letter of invitation, wrote from his seat in Congress: "The right of discussion upon slavery and an indefinite extent of topics connected with it, banished from one half of the States of this Union. It is suspended in both Houses of Congress,opened and closed at the pleasure of the slave representation; opened for the promulgation of nullification sophistry; closed against the question, WHAT IS SLAVERY? at the sound of which the walls of the Capitol staggered like a drunken man." "For this suppression of the freedom of speech, of the freedom of the press, and of the right of petition, the people of the FREE States of this Union, (by which I mean the people of the non-slaveholding States,) are responsible, and the people of Pennsylvania most of all." "I rejoice that in the city of Philadelphia, the friends of free discussion, have erected a Hall for its unrestrained exercise. My fervent wishes are, that Pennsylvania Hall may fulfill its destination, by demonstrative proof, that freedom of speech in the city of Penn shall no longer be an abstraction." Distinguished Ministers, also, rejoiced in so auspicious an event. Rev. Nathan S. Beman, D. D., of Troy, New York, a man of great pulpit talents and celebrity, in the NewSchool, Presbyterian Church, wrote to the committee on this wise: "I felt honored in your choice, and my feelings were deeply enlisted. My own heart is with you. We can not forbear to express our abhorrence of chains and stripes; and should we do it, the very stones would cry out. I rejoice that there is a spirit still in existence, that will not bow to the altar of slavery, nor tamely submit to the dictation of those, who declare in high places, that it is a wise and holy institution, and that it shall be perpetual. What a contest is this to be waged in a land of Republicanism, and a land of Christianity! But if the charter of these two systems-the Declaration of Independence and the Bible, are permitted to speak, now, certain is it that the rights of man will be triumphant.” David Paul Brown, a distinguished lawyer of Philadelphia; and Alvan Steuart, a noble hearted philanthropist of New York; and other distinguished and patriotic men, were present, and made eloquent orations at its dedication. The day of its dedication was but a speedy prelude to its destruction. The festive and the funeral song almost mingled in union. Three days a Temple dedicated to freedom was permitted to stand, in a city founded by William Penn, and in a country whose civil Constitutions proclaim freedom of speech as one of the cardinal doctrines of the Government, one of the inalienable rights of On the 17th of May, 1838, a mob countenanced by men of intelligence and by the municipal authorities of Philadelphia, put the torch to the noble temple, and in a few hours it stood a sacrificial monument to incendiarism and slavery. man. "That Temple now in ruin lies; The fire-stain's on its shattered wall, "But from that ruin, as of old, The fire-scorched stones themselves are crying, Its timbers are replying! A voice which slavery can not kill, Speaks from the crumbling arches still!" WHITTIER. The old State-House, redolent with Revolutionary inspirations, and forever sacred to freedom-where the the patriots and statesmen of 1776 counseled and prayed, and pledged their "lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor," to the cause of freedom and of human rightsstood, and yet stands, in the city of Philadelphia. On that old State-House hangs a Bell, imported from England in |