“The South Carolina Senator spoke truly, in saying your speech
was ‘characteristic.’ It was so indeed, not only of yourself,
but glorious old Massachusetts, whose happy fortune it is
that her Senators dare speak boldly for Truth and Freedom.
Sir, you spoke yesterday not for yourself alone; thousands,
ay, millions, of American citizens will sympathize to their
hearts’ core with every word so fearlessly spoken. As your
speech was ‘characteristic,’ so also was the brief South
Carolina response.… Your speech will serve admirably, not only
as a powerful and able argument for Freedom, but as a campaign
document in the coming contest.”
Professor Charles D. Cleveland, the accomplished teacher and early
Abolitionist, wrote from Philadelphia:--
“Many, many heartfelt thanks to you, my dear friend, for your
noble speech. It takes the only true ground,--the essential
barbarism and sinfulness of Slavery. The few lines in reply to
the infamous remarks of Chesnut were admirable, just the thing,
and I hope his remarks and yours will go with the speech in its
pamphlet form. What would I have given to hear it!”
E. M. Davis, merchant and constant Abolitionist, wrote from
Philadelphia:--
“So many people will thank you for your timely, noble, and
courageous speech that my thanks will hardly reach your ear;
yet I must thank you for my own sake. Our family here spent the
last three evenings in reading it out aloud, my son Henry being
the reader, and you ought to know how sure we are now that you
_are_ well, and how thankful we are for it, and how much good
this greatest of all your efforts will do.”