Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/348

Rh And his speech really flowed forth with a rushing rapidity; but such a shooting across the United States, such an ostentatious boast of the south, of the “Sons of the South, the flower and hope of the Union—nay, it was incomparable! One thing only impeded the grandeur and the growth of the United States, and its wonderful, mighty future, and this was—Abolitionism! It was this scorpion, this hydra in the social life of the United States, which ought to be crushed (and the speaker stamped vehemently and angrily on the floor) and annihilated! Then first only, would the north and the south, like two mighty rivers, be united, and side by side start forth towards the same grand, honourable goal!”

What this honourable goal may be I did not hear mentioned; but the students who were present in great numbers must have understood it, for they applauded tempestuously, and every heroic apostrophe to the heroism and nobility of the Sons of the South, was followed by a salvo of clapping; which at the close of the speech was doubled and redoubled, and seemed as if it never would end. Thus delighted were the Sons of the South with the speaker, with each other, and with themselves.

I left the hall very much depressed. Shall I not then find within the Slave States a noble, liberal youth, which is that upon which I most depend for the promise of approaching freedom? Must I again find among the young men that want of moral integrity, of courage and uprightness of mind? I have scarcely any desire to go and hear the speaker this evening; I am so weary of the old song.

29th.—I have had a great and unexpected pleasure: have heard “a new song sung,” and—but I will tell you all in due course.

I again took my seat in the crowded, lamp-lighted hall, and the young man who was to speak sate alone on an elevated platform facing the assembly; whilst the hall