The telegraphic accounts which have come three days later leave us still
uncertain as to the precise condition of the retreating forces of the
rebels, but, as a whole, the news is regarded here as favorable to our
arms. In the mean time, the current of opinion continues to set strongly
in favor of the President’s proclamation and against the declaration of
Mr. Jefferson Davis. The slaughter of the refugees in the wagon train of
supply to General Rosecrans’s army, the first fruits of that barbarous
edict, tends to dispel the notions heretofore so industriously
[Page 93]
propagated in Europe of the
superior civilization and refinement of slaveholding society. One after
the other these wretched fictions are becoming patent to all but those
who, from pride or from prejudice, are resolved to seal their eyes
against the truth.
I transmit herewith the resolutions of popular meetings held at
Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, at Crosshills, at Salford, and at Cobham,
all of which I have been requested to forward to the President of the
United States. The gentleman who sent the Cobham proceedings, at the
same time informed me that he had also presided at meetings in Ersham
and Weybridge, at which similar votes had been unanimously adopted,
though no instructions had been given to him to forward them.
I learn from a person who was present that last Sunday the Rev. Mr.
Spurgeon, in the course of the morning services which he regularly
conducts for an assemblage of many thousand people, made an allusion in
his prayer to the struggle going on across the water, and invoked the
Divine aid in the following words, which were immediately taken down by
my informant:
“And now we would offer up a prayer upon a subject to which we have not
alluded for some months. Now, oh! God, we turn our thoughts across the
sea to the dreadful conflict of which we knew not what to say; but now
the voice of freedom shows where is right. We pray thee give success to
this glorious proclamation of liberty, which comes to us from across the
waters. We had feared our brethren were not in earnest, and would not
come to this. Bondage and the lash can claim no sympathy from us. God bless and strengthen the north! Give victory to
their arms, and a speedy end to fearful strife. As lovers of
freedom, let us not belie our calling. Now that we know their cause, we
can but exclaim God speed them.”
The most remarkable circumstance attending it is that the immense
audience, interposing in the course of the prayer, responded to this
paragraph by a general Amen.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Accompanying documents.]
1. Address from Salford to the President.
2. Address from Chesterfield to the President.
3. Address from Cobham to the President.
4. Resolutions from Crosshills on the proclamation, in copy of Leeds
Mercury, January 20, 1863.
Chesterfield Resolution.
At a public meeting of the inhabitants of Chesterfield,
Derbyshire, held in the Market Hall on the 15th day of January,
1863, the Rev. Francis Bishop in the chair, after an address
from Mr. W. A. Jackson, a fugitive slave from Virginia, the
following resolution was proposed by William Smith, esq.,
seconded by M. Connal, esq., supported by the Rev. J. P.
Fairbourn, and enthusiastically carried by the meeting with only
one dissentient:
That this meeting, believing in the great Christian doctrine of
human brotherhood, views, with utter detestation, the attempt
now being made to found a new
[Page 94]
nation on the American continent, of which
the barbarous and inhuman institution of chattel slavery is
avowedly to be the corner-stone; and that it further expresses
its cordial sympathy with the President and government of the
United States in their attempt to defeat the above wicked
object, and in the emancipation policy upon which they have
entered, and the determination they show to root out slavery
from their land.
FRANCIS BISHOP, Chairman.
Salford Resolution.
At a public meeting held in the large school-room of Windsor
Chapel, Salford, the Rev. Thomas G. Lee, pastor, in the chair,
the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Moved by Mr. J. E. Nelson.
Seconded by Mr. E. O. Greening.
Supported by Mr. James Sugden.
Resolved, That this meeting greatly
rejoices in the recent proclamation of President Lincoln,
decreeing the emancipation of the slaves of the rebellious
States of America, and hereby cordially expresses its earnest
hope that the federal Union may be speedily restored to peace
and prosperity, and forever remain free from the virus and
stigma of slavery.
That a copy of this resolution, signed by the chairman on behalf
of the meeting, be sent to the President of the United
States.
Signed on behalf and by order of the meeting,
THOMAS GARDNER LEE, Pastor,
Chairman.
Surrey Resolutions.
Heath House, Weybridge, Surrey,
and Chamber of London, Guildhall,
E. C., 1863.
At a public meeting of the inhabitants of Cobham, in the county
of Surrey, held in the Wesleyan church, on January 16, 1863, it
was—
“Resolved, unanimously, That this meeting,
being convinced that slavery is the cause of the grievous civil
war now being waged in America, and that the object of the
leaders of the rebellion in that country is the perpetuation and
extension of that inhuman system, earnestly prays that the
United States government may be strengthened to pursue its
emancipation policy till not a slave shall be left on American
soil.
“Resolved, That a copy of this resolution
be forwarded to Mr. Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States.”
BENJAMIN SCOTT, Chairman.
Meeting at Crosshills.
President Lincoln’s emancipation
policy.
A public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Crosshills, on
Saturday last, convened by working men, for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on President Lincoln’s emancipation
policy. The meeting was composed chiefly of
[Page 95]
Working men, with a few
manufacturers and shopkeepers. The hall was densely crowded, and
hundreds were unable to obtain admittance. The chair was
occupied by Mr. Joseph Crossley, and, amongst other gentlemen on
the platform, were Messrs. W. North, of Bradford; W. Dickinson,
John Smith, (late from America,) John Whittaker, and J. Barker,
Crosshills. Mr. John Smith moved the first resolution. Mr. Smith
supported the resolution by the recital of many interesting
incidents that had come under his observation during his
residence in America. He stated that he had once heard Mr.
Lincoln speak in Philadelphia (before he was President) on the
slavery question, and he then observed that if slavery was good
it ought to be extended, and if not, it ought to be abolished or
its extension prevented. He (Mr. Lincoln) believed it to be bad,
therefore he went for non-extension. Mr. Smith fully indorsed
these sentiments, and cordially supported the resolution. Mr.
Joseph Barker seconded the resolution, and observed, during the
course of his remarks, that the meeting had been convened for
the purpose of expressing sympathy with a great people in their
hour of deep distress, and to knit still closer the ties of
blood and commercial interests which bound two nations together.
He maintained that the secession of the southern States was an
act of treason and rebellion against the Union, and that no
other course was left to the north but to crush the revolt as
quickly as possible. In his opinion the rebellion would never
have taken place had not the south feared that their slavery
institutions were in danger. The south had no other plea for
secession. The sovereign rights of their States had never been
violated by the north. The south had possessed more than
universal suffrage, because they had voted by their rights of
property, every five slaves giving three votes to the owner, or
equal altogether to more than twenty representatives to the
south. From the commencement of the Union the south had
succeeded in returning southern Presidents. Under these
circumstances how could they complain of tyranny? No sooner was
Abraham Lincoln returned as the representative of the
non-extension of slavery than the south struck the federal and
hoisted the confederate flag, declaring to the world that their
confederacy was based upon slavery as its chief corner-stone. He
condemned the English government for recognizing the south as
belligerents, citing the case of the revolt in Canada, when the
President of the United States designated the Canadians as
rebels. The English press and the government at the commencement
might have done much to prevent this civil war, by proposing to
the north that if they would abolish their tariffs we would give
them our moral support in crushing the rebellion; or by
proposing to the south that if they would abolish their slavery
we would recognize them. Instead of this, our press and many
statesmen had pursued a most singular course in relation to this
civil war. Conservatives had become the allies of rebels and the
advocates of revolution; and those who were previously
designated as radicals and revolutionary were the allies of law,
order, and constitutional liberty. Mr. W. Dickinson moved the
second resolution. The speaker cited the opinions of persons in
the neighborhood who were southern advocates, and exposed their
fallacies with considerable force. Mr. W. North supported the
resolution by a humorous recital of his travels in America,
which called forth roars of laughter, though not exactly
consistent with the subject. His principal point was a wish to
make all white men into black men, in order to convince them of
the horrors of slavery. The proceedings were throughout of the
most orderly character, and all the resolutions were adopted
unanimously—no amendment being proposed, though urgently
challenged. Thanks were voted to the chairman and the speakers.
Mr. Barker stated to the meeting that the resolutions would be
forwarded to his excellency. the Hon. Mr. Adams, at the American
embassy, in London. He complimented those present at the meeting
on their intelligent appearance, and said the audience had done
honor to themselves and to Crosshills
[Page 96]
by assembling together for the present
purpose in such great numbers. A collection was made to defray
expenses, and in aid of the Lancashire distress fund.
