E453 
 .W15 
 
 LIBR.\RV OF CONGRESS 
 
 DD0D17MM7?D 
 
SPEECH 
 
 GEN. IIIRA.M WALBRIDGE, 
 
 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 
 
 FEDERAL CONSTITUTION FOREVER PROHIBITING SLAVERY 
 
 IN THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 KEI.lVtRKI) r.KKoUE 
 
 (The tLomiiuttcr on /rtcr;i( ilrhtious, 
 
 ASSEMBLY CHAMBER OF NEW YORK, AT ALBANY, 
 JAN. 27, 18G5. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 WM. oLAND BOURNE, No. 13 CENTRE STREET. 
 
 1865. 
 

 
 printer, 
 
 #0 
 
 ■''^'onh WiWia* " 
 
^ o 
 
 State of New York, 
 
 AssEMDLY Chamber, Jan. 10, 1865. 
 Dear Pir : 
 
 The use of tlie Assembly Chamber, was this morning granted to the Com- 
 mittee on Federal Relations, for the purpose of hearing an argument from you, 
 in favor of tlie proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
 prohibiting Slavery forever in the United States. 
 
 It gives me great pleasure to make this announcement to you, and to re- 
 quest, that you will.fli 3'our earliest convenience, favor the Committee, and 
 through it, the Legislature of the State, with your views, upon this most im- 
 portant question : one that should engage tlie careful and earnest consideration 
 of every Citizen. 
 
 I am, very dear Sir, 
 
 Very re3j»ectfully. 
 
 Your obedient and humble servant, 
 
 SAMUEL C. REED, 
 Chairiiian Cunimittec Federal Relations. 
 Gknkrai. IIir\m Walhiudge, 
 yew York. 
 
 New Y..RK, Jan. 12tii, 1865. 
 II..>. Samikl ('. Heed, 
 
 ('hnirmnn CoinmiUee Federal Ilclatiunx, AUianij. 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 I ail) profoundly grateful to the Committee of Federal Relations, in the As- 
 actnbly, for the unexpected distinction they have awarded ine, (as I have just 
 learn<'«l by your fuv<»r of Uie 10th inst..) in exj)r«ssing a wish to hear me on the 
 proposed amfiidmeiit of the Federal Constitution, for ever interdicting Slavery 
 in the " United States." 
 
 1 Bincerely believe there can be no jierinaneiit tranquility in this country 
 while the Institution of Slavery exists ; and that it is wise and prudent to secure 
 its eradication from «»ur political sy.stein, by i)eaceful and constitutional means. 
 This will be accomj>lished by the success of the proposed amendment. 
 
 At as early a day as practicable, (consistent with my existing engagements,) 
 I will address you again, antl designate the time when I shall be at liberty to 
 avail myself of the very great compliment your Committee has extended to me. 
 
 For the kind and generous manner in which you have communicated the 
 action of your liody, I beg you to accept my sincere and cordial thanks. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 IlillAil WALBRIDGE. 
 
General Walbridge having accepted the foregoing invita- 
 tion : 
 
 The Committee on Federal Relations, convened in the Assem- 
 bly Chamber, at Albany, Friday evening, Jan. ^57, 1865, at half- 
 past seven o'clock. 
 
 Hon. Samuel C. Reed, the Chairman, stated : 
 The Committee had met, pursuant to the acceptance of tlie invi- 
 tation of General Hiram Walbridge, of the City of New T'ork, to 
 address them, this evening, on the proposed amendment to the 
 Federal Constitution, forever abolishing Slavery in the United 
 States, and at his request. His Excellency, Governor Fenton, was 
 invited to preside. 
 
 Governor Fenton", after thanking the Committee for their 
 courtesy, stated : He regarded the pending measure, now 
 before Congress, for the amendment of the Federal Consti- 
 tution, forever abolishing Slavery, one of the most impor- 
 tant that had ever come before that body, and he sincerely 
 trusted, it would early secure favorable action. No other ques- 
 tion of greater importance had ever been submitted to the con- 
 sideration of the American people, and the decision of none was 
 fraught with greater consequences, to their future welfare and 
 happiness. The passage of this amendment by Congress, and its 
 ratification by the States, in a constitutional manner, will restore 
 the Government to the first principles on which it was intended 
 to be established. 
 
 It is, therefore, ]Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, with very great 
 pleasure, I shall introduce to you, one of the most loyal of our 
 fellow-citizens, an esteemed friend, who served with me several 
 years since in Congress, one who is so thoroughly familiar with this 
 great subject ; who early ap])reciated its importance to the coun- 
 try, and is so perfectly competent to treat it with rare eloquence, 
 and convhicing argument. 
 
 I am hajjpy, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, to present to you. 
 General Hiram Walbridge, of the City of New York, who will 
 now address you. y. yj 
 

 
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