This meeting was at the City Assembly Rooms, and was addressed
by Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, Hon. Charles King, Rev. H. W.
Bellows, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Hon. Joseph Hoxie, and
Professor O. M. Mitchel. According to the _New York Tribune_,
the letter of Mr. Sumner “was received with much enthusiasm.”
SENATE CHAMBER, February 16, 1860.
GENTLEMEN,--You do me no more than justice, when you suppose
that my sympathies are with Italy in her present noble struggle.
If I do not attend the meeting at New York, according to the
invitation with which I am honored, it is because other duties
here keep me away.
To the cause of Human Freedom everywhere I am bound by all ties,
whether of feeling or principle. To Italy also--venerable, yet
ever young, with that fatal gift of beauty which from all time
she has worn--I confess a sentiment of love and reverence; I am
sorrowful in her sorrow, and happy in her happiness.
Surely, by her past history, and all that she has done for human
improvement, we are her debtors. Without Italian genius what
now were modern civilization? There is no art, or science, or
activity, or grace, in which she has not excelled or led the
way. If I went into detail, I must mention not only sculpture,
painting, engraving, and music, but also astronomy, navigation,
bookkeeping, and jurisprudence; and I must present an array of
great names, such as no other country can boast. And to all these
I must add the practical discoveries of the mariner’s compass,
the barometer, the telescope applied to astronomy, and the
pendulum as a measure of time.
To the political skeptics and infidels who affect to doubt the
capacity for freedom of this illustrious people I would say,
that Italy, in modern times, was the earliest home of political
science, and the earliest author of some of those political
truths which have since passed into principles. Besides, divided
into separate, sovereign States, with separate systems of
legislation, her condition is coincident with our own, to the
extent of possessing those local facilities for self-government
which are our boast. And then there is the spirit of her sons, as
shown in recent efforts, giving assurance of courage, and of that
rarer wisdom which knows how to guide and temper courage, both of
which shone so conspicuous in the Venetian Manin, worthy compeer
of our own Washington.
Allow me to add, that I confidently look to the day when we
may welcome into the fellowship of nations a community new in
external form, but old in constituent parts,--separate in local
governments, but bound in perfect union, with one national flag,
one national coin, and one national principle, giving to all the
strength of unity,--_E Pluribus Unum_,--and constituting the
United States of Italy. And may God speed this good time!
Accept the assurance of the respect with which I have the honor
to be, Gentlemen,
Faithfully yours,