Letter to a Public Meeting at Cleveland, Ohio, May 18, 1863.
Washington, May 18, 1863.
GENTLEMEN,—It will not be in my power to take part in the generous meeting to assemble at Cleveland, but I pray you to accept my thanks for the cordial invitation with which you have honored me.
If it were my privilege to speak on that occasion, I should urge upon my fellow-citizens everywhere the duty of Unity for the sake of Freedom, and also of Freedom for the sake of Unity. The two cannot be separated. They are mutually dependent. Let this people continue united, and Freedom must surely prevail. Let Freedom prevail, and this people cannot cease to be united.
With such a cause, there is but one side and one duty. Whoever is for the Unity of the Republic must be for Freedom, and whoever is for Freedom must be for the Unity of the Republic. It is vain to think that one can be advanced without the other. Whoever is against one is against the other, and whoever is lukewarm for one is lukewarm for the other. We must be fervid and strong for both.
This is not the time for doubt or hesitation. We must act at once and constantly, so that the Republic may be saved, while Slavery is scourged from this temple consecrated to Freedom. And this will be done.
Believe me, Gentlemen,
Very faithfully yours,
Charles Sumner.