Professor Ordronaux, of Columbia College, New York, wrote:—
“Last year, while in England, I had the honor of meeting many gentlemen of your acquaintance, and, amid the many bitter things I was compelled to listen to, it was a source of constant satisfaction and pride to hear them acknowledge the great confidence they reposed in you, and the earnest wish they expressed for the success of that novus ordo sæclorum in the Senate, for which we are so much indebted to you. Reading over for the third time your famous Kansas speech, of May, 1856,[7] this morning, I was struck with the almost prophetic character of its language. The crime against Nature has indeed culminated. It struck you down, and then went dancing like a maniac, all the while approaching that bottomless abyss into which it is now descending. Can you doubt that Nemesis still wields her sword and flaming torch?”
These expressions of sympathy and good-will, overflowing from opposite quarters, are a proper prelude to other utterances, widely different in tone, aroused against Mr. Sumner by the very persistency of his course. Appearing in their proper place, these will be better comprehended from knowing already the other side.
SPEECH.
MR. PRESIDENT,—If I can simplify this discussion, I shall feel that I have done something towards establishing the truth. The chief difficulty springs from confusion with regard to different sources of power. This I shall try to remove.