Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 08 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 08 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
Hon. Benjamin C. Clark, an eminent merchant, acting as Consul
of Hayti at Boston, wrote with the feelings of an American
citizen, as well as of a Haytien representative.
“The passage of the bill under your thorough exposition
of the subject will be a big white stone in our pathway
as a nation, and a gravestone to the vampires and Vandals
who have left nothing by the wayside but works of treason
leading to bloodshed and desolation.”
The feelings of the Haytien people were communicated by the
following letter.
“CONSULATE OF HAYTI, NEW YORK, 26 April, 1862.
“SIR,--I have the honor to express my high appreciation
of the important services you have so untiringly rendered
to Hayti, for which you receive the gratitude of all
liberal and benevolent persons who desire justice and
political equality accorded to all men, and especially,
in the present instance, to a people who, under many
embarrassments, have nobly maintained their position, and
are daily advancing in intellectual culture and in the
refinements of civilized life.…
“My despatches announcing the recognition were forwarded
yesterday by a vessel sailing directly for the Bay of
Port-au-Prince, and duplicates of my despatches will be
sent on Monday by a fast vessel for Port-au-Prince.
“I know the character of the Haytiens thoroughly, having
lived among them some fifteen years, eight years of the
time as Commercial Agent of the United States, and I can
imagine their hearts swelling with pleasure and gratitude
on the reception of the good news; and your name, Sir, will
be held in kind remembrance as long as Hayti exists.
“Be pleased, Sir, to accept assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
“GEORGE F. USHER, _Hayti Commercial Agent_.
“HON. CHARLES SUMNER, _United States Senator, &c., &c.,
&c._, Washington.”
The sentiments of Liberia were conveyed in the following.
“WASHINGTON, D. C., 10th June, 1862.
“DEAR SIR,--The children of Africa all over the globe owe
you the deepest gratefulness and lasting honor, for you
have been most prompt and punctual in vindicating their
cause, in advancing their interests, and even in suffering
in their behalf. But recently you have participated in an
act which touches with benignant power upon the great home
of this race, and which, combining with the generous and
beneficent policy of other great nations, will, without
doubt, serve to stir to unusual activity and to move with
a civilizing and saving power millions of human beings
throughout the entire continent of Africa.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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