Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 15 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 15 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
“It was impossible to dissemble that we had a serious dispute
with America, and although we might be confident that the
wisest and best man of his age, who presided in the government
of that country, would do everything that became him to avert
a war, it was impossible to foresee the issue. America had no
fleet, no army; but in case of war she would find various means
to harass and annoy us. Against her we could not strike a blow
that would not be as severely felt in London as in America, so
identified were the two countries by commercial intercourse.
_To a contest with such an adversary he looked as the greatest
possible misfortune._ If we commenced another crusade against
her, we might destroy her trade, and check the progress of
her agriculture, but we must also equally injure ourselves.
Desperate, therefore, indeed, must be that war in which each
wound inflicted on our enemy would at the same time inflict one
upon ourselves. He hoped to God that such an event as a war
with America would not happen.”[613]
All good men on both sides of the ocean must join with Fox, who thus
early deprecated war between the United States and England, and
portrayed the fearful consequences. Time, which has enlarged and
multiplied the relations between the two countries, makes his words
more applicable now than when first uttered.
ABBÉ GRÉGOIRE, 1808.
Henri Grégoire, of France, Curate, Deputy to the States General,
Constitutional Bishop, Member of the Convention, also of the Council
of Five Hundred, and Senator, sometimes called Bishop, more frequently
Abbé, was born 4th December, 1750, and died 28th April, 1831. To these
titles add Abolitionist and Republican.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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