Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 03 (of 20) — John Shaqi
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 03 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 03 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
Finally, we appeal to the moral and religious sentiments of the
Commonwealth. When these are thoroughly moved, there can be no
question of the result. We invoke the sympathy of the pulpit. Let
it preach deliverance to the captive. We call upon good men of all
sects and all parties to lend their support. You all agree in our
PRINCIPLES. Do not practically oppose them by continued
adhesion to a national party hostile to them. Join in proclaiming them
through the new Party of Freedom.
The Resolutions at the close of the Address are omitted, being in
the nature of a repetition, which, however important at the time,
is of less value as a record of opinions.
WASHINGTON AN ABOLITIONIST.
LETTER TO THE BOSTON DAILY ATLAS, SEPTEMBER 27, 1849.
The Address to the People of Massachusetts, adopted by the Free-Soil
Convention, was violently attacked, as will appear from the following
reply, written at a hotel in New York, where Mr. Sumner happened to be
staying, when he saw the criticism.
NEW YORK, IRVING HOTEL, September 27, 1849.
Gentlemen,--My attention has been directed to-day to an article
in your paper of the 25th September, entitled "Mr. Sumner and
his Authorities," in which I am charged, among other things,
with misrepresenting the opinions of Washington, particularly in
the following sentence, in the Address recently adopted by the
Free-Soil Convention at Worcester:--
"The first Washington freely declared his affinity with Antislavery
Societies, and that in support of any legislative measure for the
abolition of Slavery his suffrage should never be wanting."
A more familiar acquaintance with the opinions of our great
exemplar would have prevented the writer in the Atlas from falsely
accusing a neighbor. It would have prevented him from saying that
the letter to Robert Morris, from which part of the above statement
is drawn, was written more than ten years before the adoption of
the National Constitution, and from dating it in 1776, when the
letter in reality bears date in 1786.
I will not doubt your willingness to repair the injustice you
have allowed in the columns of the Atlas, and therefore ask you
to publish this note, with the accompanying extracts, showing the
opinions of Washington.
By these it will appear that Washington freely declared to Brissot
de Warville, in a conversation which took place in 1788, and was
published in 1791, that he rejoiced in what was doing in other
States for the emancipation of the negroes,--that he sincerely
desired the extension of it to his own country,--and, contrary to
the opinions of many Virginians, _expressly said that he wished the
formation of an Antislavery Society, and that he would second such
a society_.
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