...the first day,—mostly with colored people,—but the subject did not interest the public generally. Letters of congratulation came from Gerrit Smith, Garrison, S. E. Sewall, Whittier, and D. H. Chamberlain , then attorney-general of South Carolina; but political leaders were silent. Whittier wrote: Thanks for thy noble speech. Some of our politicians are half afraid to commend it, but depend upon it...