Letter from George W. Carnes to Samuel Downer accepting his invitation to the reunion
Title
Letter from George W. Carnes to Samuel Downer accepting his invitation to the reunion
Description
In this four-page letter George W. Carnes thanks Samuel Downer for his invitation to the Reunion of the Free Soil Party and states that will be attending the event. He goes on to reminisce about the history of the Free Soil Party and its members, and praises the results of the Abolition movement. Samuel Downer has written the word "Checkd" in the upper left corner and Carnes' name on the left-side of page four.
Subject
Downer, Samuel, 1807-1881
Birney, James Gillespie, 1792-1857
Reunions
Abolitionists
Abolition movement
Political parties
Invitations
Amusement parks
Friendship
Happiness
Gratitude
Nostalgia
Christianity
Political elections
Creator
Carnes, George W.
Publisher
Hingham Public Library
Date Created
1877 July 27
Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Access Rights
Contact host institution for more information
Format
JPEG
Extent
6.82 MB
6.84 MB
Language
English
Type
Correspondence
Identifier
bpc-0031a
folder3_10a
bpc-0031b
folder3_10b
Spatial Coverage
Buffalo (N.Y.)
New York (City)
Hingham (Mass.)
Boston (Mass.)
Hudson River (N.Y. and N.J.)
Temporal Coverage
1848-1852
1877 August 9
Rights Holder
Hingham Public Library
Text
Checkd
No. 32 West St
July 27th, 1877
Saml Downer Esq
Dear Sir:
Your very kindly invitation “to attend a Reunion of the “Free Soilers” of 1848, at Mel-ville Gardens, on Thursday, the Ninth of August,” is received, and I would take occasion to heartily thank you for the compliments, and the kindness shown me, and shall most cordially accept the invitation, and be one of the number present, unless some casualty interferes to prevent me.
Reference to the associations of that interesting period in our history, have almost a magnetic fever over me, and I recall vividly to mind, the enthusiasm, and the devotion to principle, of the men, whom neither fear nor favor, could warp from a purpose to give the strength of their manhood, in checking the aggressions of the "Slave - Power," and if practicable, to effect its complete overthrow.
It was indeed pleasant to oneself, to come in contact with men like these, and band together in the delightful trip to Buffalo, by the way of N.Y. City, passing up the Hudson river, and on the steamer, ta-king counsel together, and seeking to stimulate each other to still higher resolve, in combatting the “great mon-ster evil” of our “dear native land.” And to be witness to the great, and enthusiastic gathering at Buffalo, this, was in itself an event in our life-time. This great movement was in the right direction, and was the harbinger of brighter days for the down-trodden slave.
‘Twas the outcropping of that earlier movement - the “Liberty Party,” with the noble Birney for its candidate - a con-nection with which, occasions to us in these later days, a solid satisfaction and pride.
In our own humble expe-rience, the first ballot <insertion: for President> with us, was a matter of conscience and prayer, and that ballot was given for Birney, as the “Liberty” candidate. ‘Twas indeed the day of small things, but we have been witness to the prophecy, “one shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight.”
In the grand results, we will give “God the glory,” for it is by His interfering hand, that the “deliverance of the captive,” and our own dis-enthrallment hath been wrought out.
And now, from the British Provinces, on the North, to the Gulf of Mexico on the South, from the stormy Atlantic on the East, to the golden shores of the Pacific on the West, through-out this vast domain, the foot-prints of a single slave may not be found.
Pardon so full an expression of my feeling in a matter so deeply interesting to me, and again accept my thanks for your kindly invitation.
Very Truly Yours, Geo. W. Carnes.
Geo W Carnes
Boston
No. 32 West St
July 27th, 1877
Saml Downer Esq
Dear Sir:
Your very kindly invitation “to attend a Reunion of the “Free Soilers” of 1848, at Mel-ville Gardens, on Thursday, the Ninth of August,” is received, and I would take occasion to heartily thank you for the compliments, and the kindness shown me, and shall most cordially accept the invitation, and be one of the number present, unless some casualty interferes to prevent me.
Reference to the associations of that interesting period in our history, have almost a magnetic fever over me, and I recall vividly to mind, the enthusiasm, and the devotion to principle, of the men, whom neither fear nor favor, could warp from a purpose to give the strength of their manhood, in checking the aggressions of the "Slave - Power," and if practicable, to effect its complete overthrow.
It was indeed pleasant to oneself, to come in contact with men like these, and band together in the delightful trip to Buffalo, by the way of N.Y. City, passing up the Hudson river, and on the steamer, ta-king counsel together, and seeking to stimulate each other to still higher resolve, in combatting the “great mon-ster evil” of our “dear native land.” And to be witness to the great, and enthusiastic gathering at Buffalo, this, was in itself an event in our life-time. This great movement was in the right direction, and was the harbinger of brighter days for the down-trodden slave.
‘Twas the outcropping of that earlier movement - the “Liberty Party,” with the noble Birney for its candidate - a con-nection with which, occasions to us in these later days, a solid satisfaction and pride.
In our own humble expe-rience, the first ballot <insertion: for President> with us, was a matter of conscience and prayer, and that ballot was given for Birney, as the “Liberty” candidate. ‘Twas indeed the day of small things, but we have been witness to the prophecy, “one shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight.”
In the grand results, we will give “God the glory,” for it is by His interfering hand, that the “deliverance of the captive,” and our own dis-enthrallment hath been wrought out.
And now, from the British Provinces, on the North, to the Gulf of Mexico on the South, from the stormy Atlantic on the East, to the golden shores of the Pacific on the West, through-out this vast domain, the foot-prints of a single slave may not be found.
Pardon so full an expression of my feeling in a matter so deeply interesting to me, and again accept my thanks for your kindly invitation.
Very Truly Yours, Geo. W. Carnes.
Geo W Carnes
Boston
Physical Dimensions
8" x 10"
Collection
Citation
Carnes, George W., “Letter from George W. Carnes to Samuel Downer accepting his invitation to the reunion,” Hingham Public Library Digital Exhibitions, accessed April 28, 2024, https://hinghampubliclibrary.omeka.net/items/show/34.