“I have just read your speech, ‘The Barbarism of Slavery,’ and,
notwithstanding the opinions of some politicians, am glad you
have delivered it just as it is. It is terrible, but truthful.
I think it will do good. While there is immense sympathy
for the Republican party, as a party, there is too little
sympathy for the Slave, and too little indignation against that
abominable system by which he is held in bondage. The tendency
of that speech is to show that it is not this or that measure
merely we have to contend with, but the monster Slavery.”
Andrew L. Russell, an excellent citizen, of Pilgrim stock, and an early
Abolitionist, wrote from Plymouth, Massachusetts:--
“I have just read your speech with great interest, and thank
you for it. It is just the thing, manly and conclusive. I
hope in all the copies of your speech Mr. Chesnut’s beautiful
specimen of Southern Chivalry manners will be printed, with
your rejoinder.
“We must be bold and determined now, and the victory is sure.
The ravings of the Oligarchy show that they are wounded.”
Mrs. Lydia Maria Child, of beautiful genius, and equal devotion to the
cause, wrote from Wayland, Massachusetts:--
“I presume you were not disappointed that so many Republican
editors pronounced your speech injudicious, ill-timed, etc.
I was not surprised, though I confess I did expect something
better from the _New York Evening Post_. Honest utterance
generally frightens or offends the wise and prudent; but it
gains the popular heart, and thus renders political parties
the greatest service, though it is one they least know how to
appreciate. They themselves are also carried onward by such
agencies, as certainly as cars follow the engine.”
* * * * *
From representative colored men similar testimony proceeded. That of
Frederick Douglass has been given already. Robert Morris, the colored
lawyer, wrote from Boston:--
“In behalf of the colored young men of Boston, and following
the dictates of my own heart, I write to thank you for the
speech you have just made in exposition of the Barbarism of
Slavery.…
“In battle, when a bombshell is thrown into the camp of the
enemy, if it creates consternation and surprise, rest assured
it has been thrown successfully, and done good service. So your
speech, every word of which is truthful, fearlessly spoken
to the guilty parties in the iniquitous system of Slavery,
was properly directed, and has done good service, as is fully
demonstrated by the renewed attempts on the part of the
Southerners to assault you again and silence your voice.”
John S. Rock, also a colored lawyer, afterwards, on motion of Mr.
Sumner, admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States,
wrote from Boston:--
“Your immortal speech has sent a thrill of joy to all the
lovers of Freedom everywhere, and especially so to the
down-trodden. We feel the value of it the more since the
Republican party appears determined to treat us in the spirit
of the Dred Scott decision.”