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for the protection of the rights and liberties of all who dwell on the American soil.
(Cheers.)1
And now came an invitation from the citizens of
Newburyport, begging their former townsman, to whom, during the entire anti-slavery struggle, they had as a community turned the cold shoulder, to return to his old home and receive their congratulations on the triumphant culmination of his life-work.
‘The town of your nativity sends you greeting on the successful passage of the act of Congress,’ concluded the letter, which bore the signatures
2 of twenty-eight of the leading citizens.
In compliance with this request, which was as gratifying as it was unexpected,
Mr. Garrison visited his birthplace on the 22d of February, and delivered an address to an audience which
3 packed the City Hall to overflowing and received him with the greatest enthusiasm.
The editor of the
Herald4 presided and made the welcoming address, and
Whittier, too modest, as usual, to appear in person, wrote for the occasion the beautiful hymn included in his collected
5 works—not less felicitous than his ‘
Laus Deo,’ nor less in consonance with
Mr. Garrison's spirit and devout thought.
This, too, the latter constantly read and quoted as expressing better than any words of his own the song of praise in his heart:
Not unto us who did but seek
The word that burned within to speak,
Not unto us this day belong
The triumph and exulting song.
Nor skill, nor strength, nor zeal of ours
Has mined and heaved the hostile towers;
Not by our hands is turned the key
That sets the sighing captives free.
A redder sea than Egypt's wave
Is piled and parted for the slave;