alternately—without the meltings of pity,
the thrillings of horror, and the kindlings of indignation—would
supply a far better argument for a distinct race than
a negro. [Loud laughter and cheers.] He must have
a humanity peculiarly his own. And he who can
read it without the breathings of devotion must, if
he calls himself a Christian, have a Christianity
as unique and questionable as his humanity. [Cheering.]
Never did work produce such a sensation. Among
us that sensation has happily been all of one kind.
It has been the stirring of universal sympathy and
unbounded admiration. Not so in the country of
its own and of its gifted authoress’s birth.
There, the ferment has been among the friends as well
as the foes of slavery. Among the former all
is rage. Among the latter, while there are some—we
trust not a few—who take the same high
and noble position with the talented authoress, there
are too many, we fear, who are frightened by this
uncompromising boldness, and who are drawn back rather
than drawn forward by it—who ‘halt
between two opinions,’ and are the advocates
of medium principles and medium measures. By
many among ourselves, the excitement which has been
stirred is contemplated with apprehension. They
regard it as unfavorable to emancipation, and likely
to retard rather than to advance its progress.
I must confess myself of a somewhat different mind.
That the cause may be obstructed by it for a time,
may be true. But it will work well in the long
run. Good will ultimately come out of it.
Stir is better than stagnancy. Irritation is better
than apathy. Whence does it arise? From
two sources. The conscience and the honor of
the country have both been touched. Conscience
winces under the touch. The provocation shows
it to be ill at ease. The wound is painful, and
it naturally awakens fretfulness and resentment.
But by and by the angry excitement will subside, and
the salutary conviction will remain and operate.
The national honor, too, has been touched. Our
friends across the wave boast, and with good reason,
of the free principles of their constitution.
They glory in their liberty. But they cannot fail
to feel the inconsistency of their position, and the
exposure of it to the world kindles on the cheek the
blush of shame and the reddening fire of displeasure.
Now, the blush has aright source. It is the blush
of patriotism—it is for their country.
But there is anger with the shame; for few things
are more galling than to feel that to be wrong which
you are unable to justify, and which, yet, you are
not prepared to relinquish. [Loud applause.] On the
whole, I cannot but regard the agitation which has
been produced as an auspicious, rather than a discouraging
omen. It was when the waters of the pool were
troubled that their healing virtue was imparted.
Let us then hope that the troubling of the waters
by this ministering angel of mercy may impregnate them
with a similar sanative influence, [the reverend doctor