The testimony of correspondents was in harmony with the Antislavery
press. Both in character and number, their letters were of singular
authority. They show the sentiments of good men, and the extent to
which the country was absorbed by the question of Slavery, although
politicians sought to put it out of sight. And since this discussion,
culminated in war, they throw light on the origin of that terrible
conflict, and therefore belong to history. Brief extracts are given
from a portion of the letters within reach.
There can be no better name for the beginning than John G. Whittier,
the poet, who wrote from his home at Amesbury, Massachusetts:--
“I have just finished reading _the_ speech. It is all that
I could wish for. It takes the dreadful question out of the
region of party and expediency, and holds it up in the clear
sun-blaze of truth and reason, in all its deformity, and with
the blackness of the pit clinging about it. In the light of
that speech the civilized world will now see American Slavery
as it is. There is something really awful in its Rhadamanthine
severity of justice; but it was needed.
“It especially rejoices thy personal friends to see in the
speech such confirmation of thy complete restoration to health
and strength of body and mind. It was the task of a giant.”