Class.
Book-



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UNION SPEECHES



./ '? 9



DELIVERED IN ENGLAND



DURING THE PRESENT



^IS/LERIC^ISr A^A^R.



BY

GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN,

OF BOSTON, UNITED STATES,

AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "YOUNG AMP]RrCA IN WALL STREET,"

"YOUNG AMEltrCA ON SLAVKRY," " SPRPJAD EAGLEISM," "REPLY TO

THOMAS COLLEY GRATTAN," "OBSERVATIONS ON STREET

RAILWAYS," ETC., ETC., ETC.



The pyofits on the sale of this bonk, are to be devoted to the establishing of the "London
American," the onlj' American Organ in Europe. It is a Newspaper pledged to support the Laws
and the Constitution of the United States, and has already done the Country good service during
this ungidly Rebellion, in upholding the lionor of the Federal Flag.



T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, No. 306 CHESTNUT STREET.
LONDON: JOHN ADAMS KNIGHT, 100 FLEET STREET,

AT OFFICE OF THE LONDON AMERICAN.

1862.






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by

T. B. PETERSOX & BROTHERS,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court, in and for the Eastern District of

Pennsylvania.



TO THE



AMERICAN PEOPLE,



FROM OXE M'llO APPRECIATES THEIR



DEVOTED PATRI0TIS31 AXD DAUNTLESS COURAGE,

AND HAS FULL FAITH IN THE

PKOMPT RECONSTRUCTION,

AND

ENDURIXG PERMANENCY

OF THE

UNION.



PREFACE.

Mr. Train has collected and kindly permitted me to republish
in book form, the several speeches dehvered in England during
the past year, which have been so extensively copied by the
American Press, and have won for him a time honored reputation
in his Native Land.

Many of the events that have taken place, it will be seen,
were foreshadowed in these speeches long in advance, and the
Union Sentiment that prevails will show how well the Country
was represented, at least by one Loyal American, who had the
moral courage to express his opinions, although at the risk of
sacrificing his extensive interests in England. The speeches are
printed as they originally appeared in the " London American," —
Mr. Train's time being too limited to revise them, and erase the
numerous repetitions that must inevitably appear when so many
speeches have been delivered in so short a time upon the same
subject, but as he has generously presented the entire profits that
may arise from their sale, to establish on a permanent basis an
American Journal in London, I may be excused for any errors
that may appear from this hasty compilation.

JOPIN ADAMS KXIGHT,

Office of the " London American,"

100 Fleet Street, London.



TABLE OF CONTEiXTS.



PAGE,

Speech delivered in Liverpool, 1859. In response to the toast, "John

Bright, Esq., M. P., and financial reform." 23

Letter January, 28, 186L On "Dissolving the Union." 25

Celebration of the 129th Anniversary of the Birthday of Washington, in

London, ISGl, by a Banquet at Fenton's Hotel 28

Speech on the "American Crisis," at the inauguration dinner of the
London, and Provincial Discount Company, April 27, 18G1, at the
London Tavern 31

Speech delivered at Exmouth, at the opening of the Exmouth Railway,
May 1, 1861. In response to the toast "Success to Agriculture
and Commerce." 33

Speech delivered at an inauguration Banquet at Islington, May 25, 1861,

in response to the toast "The Chairman." 36

Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, June Y, 1861, "by a sumptuous

Union Dejeuner, at the Westminster Palace Hotel , 38

Letter Sept. 22, 1861, on "War, Cotton, and a suggestion." 45

Letter Oct. 19, 1861, on "How to punish Traitors." 46

Speech on the " American Question," at a dinner given by Henry Wood

Esq., at Westminster Palace Hotel, Oct. 30, 1861 46

The "Xew York Herald Letter," which caused so much hostility against

Mr. Train in England 50



22 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE.
Speech delivered Nov. 25, 1861, in the Lecture Hall at the Mechanics,
Insiitution, Hanlej, on the subject of the " Civil War in America,"
the profits being devoted to the benefits of the "Borough," and the
Bryan Street Ragged Schools 51

Letter of Xov. 25, 1861, on " the American Pirate Nashville." 58

Speech at Aldershot, Dec. 6, 1861, on "the American Crisis," for the
benefit of the Aldershot Institution for the Mental Improvement,
and Social reform 59

Speech on " the American War " delivered at Tunstall-on-Trent, Dec. 10,

1861, on behalf of the Tunstall Athenaeum and Reading Room 63

Impromptu on witnessing the dignity and calmness of England in the

imagined outrage to her Flag 68

Speech at the "Forum," Dec. 23, 1861, on the "Trent." 68

Speech at the "Forum," Dec. 30, 1861, on the "Emperor of the

French." 11

Speech at Islington Debating Hall (the Bclvidere) Jany. 4, 1862, in

"Discounting the Future, and in Defence of Mr Seward " 73

Correspondence with Sir Richard Mayne, on the American Flag 76

" Mr. Train after Mr. Yancey with a Sharp Stick." His letter of Jany.
28, 1862, in reply to the letter of Mr. Yancey's, which appeared in
the "Daily News" of Jany. 25, 1862 76

"Another Recantation — Mr. Train turned Secessionist." His speech at
the "Temple Forum," Feby. 10, 1862, on the question, "Is the
North or the South right?" 78

Opinions of the Press leaders from the "Morning Chronicle" of Dec. 11,

1861 82

Testimonial to George Francis Train, from the Commercial, Financial,

Literary, and Political citizens of Philadelphia 84

Anniversary of Washington's Birthday, Feby. 22d, 1862, celebrated by a
public breakfast, at the Freemason's Tavern, London ; Rev. Charles
P. Mcllwain. D. D., Episcopal Bishop of Ohio, in the chair 86



Tl^AIN'S UNION SPEECHES.



JOIIX BRIGHT AND FINANCIAL REFORM.

\Froni the Northern Daily Times, Liverpool, 1859.]

[This speech is -vrorthy of recording in order to aTral<en attention to the outrageons Ocean Postage System,
where some twenty thousimd dollars a tou are cliarged for letters.]



In the absence of a distinguished gcntle-
maa, John Bright, Esq.. M. P., who was to
respond to the toast of the evening — Mr.
Train was suddenly called upon by the chair-
man, Mr. Charles Millner. — Gentlemen,
this toast is to be responded to by a gentle-
man on my left hand, and I shall not antici-
pate the observations which he will make,
but will simply say. that although not a
citizen of Great Britain, yet, having lived
in British colonies and under British rule,
he thoroughly understands the political con-
stitution of Great Britain, and he can tell
us something, too, of the political institutions
of the United States. I call upon you to
give him an impartial hearing, quite satis-
fied that he will tell us some truths worth
the knowing. In conclusion, gentlemen, I
beg to propose the toast of " Mr. John
Bright," coupling with it "Parliamentary
Reform," and I call on my friend Mr.
George Francis Train to respond to it.
(Cheers.)

Mr. George Francis Train, of America,
rose to respond, and was received with loud
cheers. He said: — I know not why, Mr.
Chairman, you have thrown so Royal a
mantle over my shoulders when others sur-
round me, so to the manor born it would fit
them and suit you better. I like responsi-
bility, but to respond to the sentiment on
which you have called me up is weightier fiir
than chartering ships or negotiating con-
tracts. This noble welcome almost makes
me forget where I am or what to say. For-
get that I was born in another land, in a
distant country, forget that I am a citizen of
England, for by your courtesy and your
cheers you have made me one of you. (Ap-
plause.) \Vhat have I done, where is my
right to this high honor ? 'Tis true, I was
active as a merchant iu despatching ships



here some ten years ago. That I paid large
sums of money to your docks, your mer-
chants, your bankers, and your tradesmen.
It is true that I took a deep interest in your
commerce when I was among you, and the
hospitalities which were tendered me I never
forgot, when serving in other and far-ofi"
lands. A boy in New England, a youth in
Old England, a man in Young Australia, I
know something of all the Saxon lands. In
an English colony I was asked to represent
the diggers in the council, but I was not a
politician. I was simply a merchant; not
an English merchant, but an American mer-
chant ; and as a colonist, I was an advocate
for Reform in pilotage, Reform in tonnage
dues. Reform in the sales of land. Reform in
the modes of transacting business. The
Australians will give me credit, while not
mixing iu their local politics, for being a re-
former in the Melbourne Chamber of Com-
merce, on the land question, and the Liver-
pool merchants will also give me credit for
being a reformer in removing some of the
restrictions upon their shipping ! (Ap-
plause.) If that is why you thus honor me,
I accept the honor, but decline, as I did in
Australia, to interfere in your politics or
your government. If I can respond to the
toast in an off-hand way, I will do so. You
permit it — I proceed. Americans like John
Bright, (Hear, hear.) Senator Douglas
told me he considered him one of the ruling
minds of Europe. I like the man ; I like
the speaker; I like the matter that he
speaks. In the intellectual forest, Mr.
Bright is an oak; — (cheers)— among the
animals, a lion 1 in commerce, a steam-ship
of two thousand horse power! a Mout
Blanc among the mountains ; and among
the nations — he is England ; if his reforms
will benefit England, I hope that it will



24



TRAIN S UNION SPEECHES.



succeed. With his name I see connected
Parliamentary Reform. Now I must, in
speaking to it, ask you to remember, that I
am not a politician. I am a merchant. I
make books. I make speeches. I write
letters, but not as a politician, only as a
merchant; and in speaking of Parliamentary
Reform, I will respond to it as an American
— and only as an American, as a guest, and
not as a member of your association. In a
few words I will define my position. If Re-
form means placing men in Parliament who
will cultivate American friendship, who will
disdain to misrepresent her ; who will bear
towards her the affection that America bears
to England ; who will study her geography ;
examine her institutions, appreciate her pro-
gress, and not slander her character — if
Parliamentary Reforms means to elect
members that will spend a hundred pounds
or so, and run the risk of a little sea-sick-
ness on the water, and a little extract of
tobacco on the land by visiting America —
If that is one of the virtues of Parliamentary
Reform, you may count on me as one of
your mosteuthusiastic supporters ! (Cheers.)
The people of America want to know the
people of England — I wish you knew us
better, and we wish to know you better.
Reform is the offspring of knowledge. Re-
form means improvement — a desire for
something better. There are many things
that I wish Mother Pmgland would reform
in — but none more than reformation in her
opinions regarding America ! I want her,
as a matter purely experimental, to turn her
philanthropy to Africa during the next ten
years, and buy our cotton at present prices.
In other words I want her to look through
the practical eyes of commerce instead of
the theoretical glasses of Exeter Hall.
(Cheers.) Englishmen and Americans do
not meet often enough over the social board.
I believe in the aristocracy of good dinner,
but more in the aristocracy of intellect.
The physical treat should be hidden in the
shadow of the mental. I believe in the
aristocracy of good nature, the aristocracy
of good fellowship, the aristocracy of a
good hearty laugh, and would advocate that
aristocracy in Parliamentary Reform that
would remove all taxes on the mind. (Ap-
plause.) I should say to the statesmen.
Tax the belly — not the brain ! Remove the
tax on knowledge, but tax bachelors, tax
widows, tax young men parting their hair
in the middle, tax crinoline, and, above all,
tax grumbling, but remove the tax on pa-
per! (Laughter and applause.) Here is a
field for Parliamentary reform. Why pay
out of 3'our pocket £2,000,000 for educa-
tion, and then force half of it back again in
taxing the chief agent of education — paper !
I am a free trader. Free trade in ship-
ping, free trade in finance, free trade in
theology, free trade in education, free



trade in newspapers, free trade in parlia-
mentary reform. Remove the tax on paper
and everybody would read, editors would
write kindly about America, and people
would become better acquainted on this
matter. I gladly reply to the toast John
Bright, and Ocean postage reform. Remove
the taxes on newspapers. Remove the high
protective duties on letters, and be a free-
trader in the expansion of the mind. Why
is it that Englishmen know so little of
America ? Why is it that members of par-
liament like Mr. Roebuck cannot come
within 30 per cent, of any American statis-
tics—as to number of States— or number of
population ? (Laughter.) It is because
that England takes our money for her iron,
her coal, her manufactures, and we take hers
for our cotton, our sugar, and our tobacco,
but the free trade in geography, and in his-
tory is all on our side, simply because she
needs some Parliamentary Reform in re-
moving the tax on knowledge — by reducing
the Atlantic postage — and the tax on paper !
No other land, barbarous or civilized, in
this respect, follows England's example.
Strange as it may appear, England is the
only place on the face of the globe that
levies a tax on paper ! (Hear, hear.)
Through the courtesy of Charles Mackay,
of the Illustrated Neivs. I was present as a
correspondent to the New York Herald at
the delegation that waited upon Lord
Derby. 1 heard Milner Gibson, Chambers,
Frazer, Cassell, and others plead their
cause, and I was surprised to see the cool-
ness and the boldness with which a Prime
Minister would dare to snub a hundred
editors. " You have told us nothing new —
and the treasury is short — good morning !"
(Laughter.)

The Press is greater t^han the Commons
— the Lords — even the Sovereign! The
Press, said De Tocqueville, is the only en-
gine that can place the same thought before
millions at the same time ! When Sir
Robert Peel removed the dead weight from
the springs of trade in 1844, industry pros-
pered, and the revenue was more than re-
covered. So would Lord Derby find it with
the paper duty — more newspapers — more
magazines — more printed matter would re-
quire more paper mills and more workmen.
Prosperous workmen buy luxuries, and back
comes the revenue. Painters were afraid
of photography — now thousands of artists
are employed. In reality, the Press is the
first, not the fourth estate ; and as Dr. Mac-
kay said at the Washington anniversary in
London, on Tuesday last, '• The Press should
be first on the list, not last." But the noble
Earl smilingly bowed out the delegation —
and I saw these words in a hundred edito-
rials on the perceptive faculties of a hundred
editors, remove the paper duty, or tve tvill
remove you! AVhile responding to this im-



TRAINS UNION SPEECHES.



25



portant toast, I have one equallj- important
to propose. I am an advocate for reforin.
I would sweep out the corners — brush down
the cobwebs — scrub up the floor — clean out
the Cabinet — and put the House in order.
(Laughter.) This can only be done by as-
sociation. It is the Creator's law — united
•we stand — dissever we fall. Association is
the lever that acts upon the balance of re-
form, and removes the Aujrean accumidation
of abuse. Insects move in masses — fish in
shoals — birds in flocks — animals in herds —
fruit in clusters — trees in forests — so the
association of virtuous men can make an
empire more rapidly than an association of
vicious men can break one. (Cheers.) Free
discussion is the way, says Macaulay. to
winnow the grain of virtue from the chaff of
vice. While none respects the advanced in
years more than myself, I believe in the
united action of young men. I soon dis-
covered, in moving among the world's lead-
ers, that, as many clerks are cleverer than
their employers, so many secretaries furnish
brains as well as hands for their ministers.
(Applause.) Think well of yourselves ; your
fathers did it before you. The old Chinese
proverb says, that if a man is not tall at
twenty, strong at thirty, wise at forty, rich
at fifty, he will never be strong, tall, wise or
rich. I like Liverpool, I like London, I
like Old England; but I do not like to see
her misrepresent her best friend — Young
America. I like your pavements, your po-
licemen, your penny postage ; but you are
pound foolish upon the Atlantic, though
penny wise upon the land. I advocate, par-
liamtntary reform in the Ocean Penny
Postage, lam a free-trader in thought
and in letters — in pamphlets, in printing.
One shilling the half ounce on a letter to
Avxerica is a serious tax on knowledge.
(Hear.) Thirty-six hundred pounds ster-
ling is too exhorbitant a freight to pay for
one ton of letters ! Reform is wanted here ;
and John Bright is the man to oil the lohecls
of legislation, and bring the ttvo countries
together by an Ocean Penny Postage.



(Cheers.) Before proposing the sentiment
of "The Reform Club of Liverpool," I want
to ask of it one favor. While your are re-
forming your weights and measures — while
the Central is working its way on the Corn
Exchange, and decimals are being intro-
duced in selling grain, preparatory to dis-
placing the cumbrous machinery of pounds,
shillings, and pence — while Parliament is
agitating political reform — I am anxious to
see some reform in the education of your
children — reform in your school houses. It
is morally wrong to place in the hands of
3'our children a geography that devotes but
one half page to the United States of
America! (Hear.) Children should be
taught that Americans are not all Filibus-
ters and slavedrivers- — not all practisers ou
the bowie knife and spittoon. How many
present can tell me the population, the num-
ber of States, of the Union ? Who knows of
our progress in canals, in railways, in educa-
tion ? Who is aware that America has
.3.300,000 square miles, and forty-one States
and Territories, while all Europe has but
3,750,000 square miles, and fifty-five States
and Territories ! (Hear.) Reform your
school books, and teach your children that
the only true friend you have on the face of
the earth is America ! While the four mil-
lions of armed men point their bayonets
towards you from Europe — because they
hate your freedom, while the volcano of dis-
content is seething, boiling and bubbling on
the Continent — let England turn towards
America, who loves this old land as much
as England will permit — and there she will
find more true friends than among those of
a different language, a different religion and
different institutions. (Applause.) AVhat-
ever may take place on the morrow, England
and America will be strong and steadfast
friends. Gentlemen, I give you what I should
have proposed before 1 occupied so much of
your time — I give you the sentiment of
"The Reform Club of Liverpool, success to
it and may it prosper." Mr. Train resumed
his seat amid loud and prolonged applause.



"YOUNG AMERICA" ON DISSOLVING THE UNION.



[To the Editor of the London American.]

[This letter, written a year since, before the great uprising of the Union men of the North, shows ;
Mr. Train's power in foresliadowing events.]



raphically



Dear Sir: — How about the Comet?
Where is Dr. Cumming? Elements war
with elements ! Opinion fights opinion, and
General Nightmare commands the World's
forces ! Men's minds are unsettled, and
people are growing madder and madder.
Old institutions, like old vases, smash with
the slightest touch of the hammer. One



hemisphere competes with the other to see
which shall produce the most excitement.
The pit is delighted, and the dress circle is
amazed. Such audiences the world never
saw. Political earthquakes everywhere
shake the nations. One wonders to see the
sun shine amid such war of elements, wreck
of matter, and crash of thrones. Asia shakes



26



train's union speeches.



as with tlie palsy — Europe quakes with the
volcanic fires of revolution. Syria swept off
the Christians in a single night, lil<e grass
before the locust, or cattle with the mur-
rain ! Never before were such stakes played
for; and the bystanders seemed more ex-
cited than the players. Garibaldi, not satis-
fied with conquering ten millions with his
company of red shirts, is loading his guns to
redeem some other nations, while Mazzini is
preparing the cartridges. England all the
time is calm as a May morn, while the Gal-
lie Emperor amuses himself by skating.

While the fire slumbers in the unexploded
shells of European politics, the armies rest
ui)on their expectations to gaze with as-
tonishment on the strange scene in the
"Western World. Wheels of finance are
getting clogged ; wheels of commerce are
being blocked, making merchants look timid
and bankers look blue; when Greek meets
Greek, then comes the tug of — accommoda-
tion paper ; all talk America ; leader after
leader thunders forth from the British Press,
showing love of America by rebuking Se-
cession. England, however, takes advan-
tage of our quarrel to bag Anderson, which
she would not have attempted three months
ago. Had he been a white man, he would
have been given up at once. Why is it that
England feels more deeply injured at the
loss of one negro than at the butchery of a
thousand Chinese ?

As our nation rose with one voice to show
love of England in welcoming England's
heir, so England shows friendship for Ame-
rica by praying that we may hang together,
even though it may be necessary to let a
few hang separately !

All talk the American crisis. Go into
Belgravia or Lombard Street, and Ameri-
cans battle with Americans, representing
their respective States, in ex]ilaining to the
English the merits of the question which
none of them understand. 1 laugh at dan-
ger, and tell them, with Governor Banks,
that there can be no peaceable dissolution.
AVhen two people make an agreement, the
contract is not broken because one objects.
Man and wife canuot be separated without
Sir Creswell Creswell's edict ; neither is a
Sovereign State out of the Union because
she has voted herself out. Our National
school of forty scholars is not broken up
because some of them are playing truant for
a day or two ; wait till the Federal master
discovers that the rules are disobeyed, as he
has already begun to do. The terms used
now are too mild by half. Secession is Be
hellion; Nullification is Revolution ; Dis-
union is Hi'jh Treason ; and Disunionists,
whether Northern or Southern, are Traitors,
and should be shot !

It seems but the other day, that I penned
the following thoughts in the concluding
page of a small book ou slavery, written for



publication in England (where I proved that
American slavery for the black and just the
revei'se for the white man, was a stepping
stone from African barbarism to Christian
civilization). They were aimed at the Bene-
dict Arnolds of my own land as well as the
Judas Iscariots of foreign countries, and
were strong enough for the most violent
pro-slavery man.

These men may yell for dissolution, but
they must not touch the Union of our States.
No Northern abolitionist or Southern fire-
eater dare act. The constitution allows
them to talk, so let them howl and scream.
Let them rant, and swear, and curse. The
Union will live in spite of the death-rattle
croak of the Union-destroying knaves.

No, the Union is safe; mark the vision;
the acquaintance ; the courtship ; the doubt
and fear; the association of States; the
dowry ; the children ; the grandchildren ;
observe how they cling to the parent stem ;
the constitutional oak ; how small the acorn
and how massive the tree ; how deep-rooted
the trunk, and how wide-spread the branches ;
like the great banyan in Calcutta's garden,
towering high in the air, our American ban-
yan stands out, the patriarch of the race.
Note its hundred branches, like a general
with his officers, regiments, and companies ;
like an admiral, with flag-ship and fleet.
The Union is safe, in spite of those who
would do it harm. Virginia, the first, is the
centre of a hundred States.

America bathes her feet in both oceans,
and laves her brow in gulfs on either side.
Oceans, lakes, gulfs, valleys, have been
joined by canals, steamboats, railways, and
telegraphs, all binding the Union of my na-