"New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth; They must upward still and onward who would keep abreast of Truth: Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be, Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea." IRELAND AND IRISHMEN. LETTER TO A COMMITTEE OF IRISH-BORN CITIZENS, AUGUST 2, 1853. BOSTON, August 2, 1853. Gentlemen,--It is not in my power to be with you on the evening of the celebration at Faneuil Hall, but, I pray you, do not consider me insensible to the honor of your invitation. Permit me to say that no country excites a generous sympathy more than Ireland; nor is any society more genial and winning than that of Irishmen. Believe me, Gentlemen, faithfully yours, CHARLES SUMNER. THE LANDMARK OF FREEDOM: NO REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE. SPEECH IN THE SENATE, AGAINST THE REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI PROHIBITION OF SLAVERY NORTH OF 36° 30´ IN THE NEBRASKA AND KANSAS BILL, FEBRUARY 21, 1854. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. _And all the people shall say, Amen._--DEUTERONOMY, xxvii. 17. "The Nebraska Debate," as it was called at the time, was one of the most remarkable in our history. It grew out of the proposition to overturn the famous Missouri Compromise, so as to admit Slavery into the vast territory west of the Mississippi, where it had been prohibited by that Compromise. The country was startled by the outrage. Many who had tried to reconcile themselves to the Fugitive Slave Bill, as required by the Constitution, were maddened by this most audacious attempt. Even assuming that the Fugitive Slave Bill was in any sense justifiable, there was nothing to justify this flagrant violation of plighted faith, where Slavery was the inexorable robber. Here began those heats which afterwards showed themselves in blood. Never was the action of Congress watched with more anxiety. Speeches were read as never before, especially those opposed to this new aggression. That of Mr. Sumner was extensively circulated in various editions, and he received numerous letters expressing sympathy and gratitude. The tone of these illustrates the reception of the speech. The late Rufus W. Griswold, so well known in contemporary literature, wrote from New York on the day after its delivery: "The admirable speech which you delivered in the Senate yesterday will bring you a wearying quantity of approving letters; but, though aware of this, I cannot refrain from assuring you of my own admiration of it and gratitude for it, nor from telling you that all through the city it appears to be the subject of applauding conversation.... I congratulate you on having made a speech so worthy of an American Senator, and calculated to be so serviceable