When I was a schoolboy, my school held its annual Speech Day and Prize Giving in an establishment called the Free Trade Hall, in Manchester, England. The original FTH was built in the 1850s, though the Hall I knew and loved was a rebuild after the original was destroyed by enemy air action in late December 1940 - what we called the Christmas Blitz. The Luftwaffe came on the night of 22/23rd, and set the city alight. Then they came again the following night. My grandparents were bombed out of their home in these raids, but that is another story.
The site of the Hall was Peter Street. In earlier years this had been open land called St Peters Field, and it was here in 1819 that the incident known as the Peterloo Massacre occurred, when cavalry was loosed on a peaceful public gathering which had assembled to hear speeches calling for extension of political representation and for repeal of the Corn Laws; tariffs on foreign grain imports.
When the original Hall was built, it was named to commemorate Manchester's role in bringing about the abolition of the tariffs. It was a place of public amenity, and in later years would become the home of the city's Halle Orchestra. It was also the venue of several dates between young soldier, Mr Llewellyn, and the gorgeous girl who I would marry, and for whom I have grieved these last two years. Amongst others we saw the Dave Brubeck Quartet at the height of their "Take Five" fame, and it is where a member of the audience shouted out "Judas" at Bob Dylan for playing electronic sets in May 1966.
Between 1861-65 Manchester and surrounding cotton towns were hit hard by the Cotton Famine, but the workers maintained their support for the Union and abolition. Seventy or so years later the next generation of cotton workers generously welcomed Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi, despite the fact that he had organised boycotts of cotton goods manufactured in Lancashire towns. The working folk showed that they placed freedom and justice before their own personal comfort and prosperity.
On New Years Eve, 1862, the day before the Emancipation Proclamation came into force, Mancunians gathered once more at the Free Trade Hall, under the chairmanship of Mayor Abel Heywood (himself a remarkable man) to show support for Mr Lincoln, and for abolition.
This is the address which they sent:-
"To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:
As citizens of Manchester, assembled at the Free-Trade Hall, we beg to express our fraternal sentiments toward you and your country. We rejoice in your greatness as an outgrowth of England, whose blood and language you share, whose orderly and legal freedom you have applied to new circumstances, over a region immeasurably greater than our own. We honor your Free States, as a singularly happy abode for the working millions where industry is honored. One thing alone has, in the past, lessened our sympathy with your country and our confidence in it—we mean the ascendency of politicians who not merely maintained negro slavery, but desired to extend and root it more firmly. Since we have discerned, however, that the victory of the free North, in the war which has so sorely distressed us as well as afflicted you, will strike off the fetters of the slave, you have attracted our warm and earnest sympathy. We joyfully honor you, as the President, and the Congress with you, for many decisive steps toward practically exemplifying your belief in the words of your great founders: "All men are created free and equal." You have procured the liberation of the slaves in the district around Washington, and thereby made the centre of your Federation visibly free. You have enforced the laws against the slave-trade, and kept up your fleet against it, even while every ship was wanted for service in your terrible war. You have nobly decided to receive ambassadors from the negro republics of Hayti and Liberia, thus forever renouncing that unworthy prejudice which refuses the rights of humanity to men and women on account of their color. In order more effectually to stop the slave-trade, you have made with our Queen a treaty, which your Senate has ratified, for the right of mutual search. Your Congress has decreed freedom as the law forever in the vast unoccupied or half unsettled Territories which are directly subject to its legislative power. It has offered pecuniary aid to all States which will enact emancipation locally, and has forbidden your Generals to restore fugitive slaves who seek their protection. You have entreated the slave-masters to accept these moderate offers; and after long and patient waiting, you, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, have appointed to-morrow, the first of January, 1863, as the day of unconditional freedom for the slaves of the rebel States. Heartily do we congratulate you and your country on this humane and righteous course. We assume that you cannot now stop short of a complete uprooting of slavery. It would not become us to dictate any details, but there are broad principles of humanity which must guide you. If complete emancipation in some States be deferred, though only to a predetermined day, still in the interval, human beings should not be counted chattels. Women must have the rights of chastity and maternity, men the rights of husbands, masters the liberty of manumission. Justice demands for the black, no less than for the white, the protection of law—that his voice be heard in your courts. Nor must any such abomination be tolerated as slave-breeding States, and a slave market—if you are to earn the high reward of all your sacrifices, in the approval of the universal brotherhood and of the Divine Father. It is for your free country to decide whether any thing but immediate and total emancipation can secure the most indispensable rights of humanity against the inveterate wickedness of local laws and local executives. We implore you, for your own honor and welfare, not to faint in your providential mission. While your enthusiasm is aflame, and the tide of events runs high, let the work be finished effectually. Leave no root of bitterness to spring up and work fresh misery to your children. It is a mighty task, indeed, to reorganize the industry not only of four millions of the colored race, but of five millions of whites. Nevertheless, the vast progress you have made in the short space of twenty months fills us with hope that every stain on your freedom will shortly be removed, and that the erasure of that foul blot upon civilization and Christianity—chattel slavery—during your Presidency will cause the name of Abraham Lincoln to be honored and revered by posterity. We are certain that such a glorious consummation will cement Great Britain to the United States in close and enduring regards. Our interests, moreover, are identified with yours. We are truly one people, though locally separate. And if you have any ill-wishers here, be assured they are chiefly those who oppose liberty at home, and that they will be powerless to stir up quarrels between us, from the very day in which your country becomes, undeniably and without exception, the home of the free. Accept our high admiration of your firmness in upholding the proclamation of freedom."
Well this is a long post. If any interest is shown by Forum members I will finish off the story - Lincoln's reply, his statue in Lincoln Square, Manchester, and US Grant's visit and speech, differences of opinion between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester . . . . .
The site of the Hall was Peter Street. In earlier years this had been open land called St Peters Field, and it was here in 1819 that the incident known as the Peterloo Massacre occurred, when cavalry was loosed on a peaceful public gathering which had assembled to hear speeches calling for extension of political representation and for repeal of the Corn Laws; tariffs on foreign grain imports.
When the original Hall was built, it was named to commemorate Manchester's role in bringing about the abolition of the tariffs. It was a place of public amenity, and in later years would become the home of the city's Halle Orchestra. It was also the venue of several dates between young soldier, Mr Llewellyn, and the gorgeous girl who I would marry, and for whom I have grieved these last two years. Amongst others we saw the Dave Brubeck Quartet at the height of their "Take Five" fame, and it is where a member of the audience shouted out "Judas" at Bob Dylan for playing electronic sets in May 1966.
Between 1861-65 Manchester and surrounding cotton towns were hit hard by the Cotton Famine, but the workers maintained their support for the Union and abolition. Seventy or so years later the next generation of cotton workers generously welcomed Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi, despite the fact that he had organised boycotts of cotton goods manufactured in Lancashire towns. The working folk showed that they placed freedom and justice before their own personal comfort and prosperity.
On New Years Eve, 1862, the day before the Emancipation Proclamation came into force, Mancunians gathered once more at the Free Trade Hall, under the chairmanship of Mayor Abel Heywood (himself a remarkable man) to show support for Mr Lincoln, and for abolition.
This is the address which they sent:-
"To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:
As citizens of Manchester, assembled at the Free-Trade Hall, we beg to express our fraternal sentiments toward you and your country. We rejoice in your greatness as an outgrowth of England, whose blood and language you share, whose orderly and legal freedom you have applied to new circumstances, over a region immeasurably greater than our own. We honor your Free States, as a singularly happy abode for the working millions where industry is honored. One thing alone has, in the past, lessened our sympathy with your country and our confidence in it—we mean the ascendency of politicians who not merely maintained negro slavery, but desired to extend and root it more firmly. Since we have discerned, however, that the victory of the free North, in the war which has so sorely distressed us as well as afflicted you, will strike off the fetters of the slave, you have attracted our warm and earnest sympathy. We joyfully honor you, as the President, and the Congress with you, for many decisive steps toward practically exemplifying your belief in the words of your great founders: "All men are created free and equal." You have procured the liberation of the slaves in the district around Washington, and thereby made the centre of your Federation visibly free. You have enforced the laws against the slave-trade, and kept up your fleet against it, even while every ship was wanted for service in your terrible war. You have nobly decided to receive ambassadors from the negro republics of Hayti and Liberia, thus forever renouncing that unworthy prejudice which refuses the rights of humanity to men and women on account of their color. In order more effectually to stop the slave-trade, you have made with our Queen a treaty, which your Senate has ratified, for the right of mutual search. Your Congress has decreed freedom as the law forever in the vast unoccupied or half unsettled Territories which are directly subject to its legislative power. It has offered pecuniary aid to all States which will enact emancipation locally, and has forbidden your Generals to restore fugitive slaves who seek their protection. You have entreated the slave-masters to accept these moderate offers; and after long and patient waiting, you, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, have appointed to-morrow, the first of January, 1863, as the day of unconditional freedom for the slaves of the rebel States. Heartily do we congratulate you and your country on this humane and righteous course. We assume that you cannot now stop short of a complete uprooting of slavery. It would not become us to dictate any details, but there are broad principles of humanity which must guide you. If complete emancipation in some States be deferred, though only to a predetermined day, still in the interval, human beings should not be counted chattels. Women must have the rights of chastity and maternity, men the rights of husbands, masters the liberty of manumission. Justice demands for the black, no less than for the white, the protection of law—that his voice be heard in your courts. Nor must any such abomination be tolerated as slave-breeding States, and a slave market—if you are to earn the high reward of all your sacrifices, in the approval of the universal brotherhood and of the Divine Father. It is for your free country to decide whether any thing but immediate and total emancipation can secure the most indispensable rights of humanity against the inveterate wickedness of local laws and local executives. We implore you, for your own honor and welfare, not to faint in your providential mission. While your enthusiasm is aflame, and the tide of events runs high, let the work be finished effectually. Leave no root of bitterness to spring up and work fresh misery to your children. It is a mighty task, indeed, to reorganize the industry not only of four millions of the colored race, but of five millions of whites. Nevertheless, the vast progress you have made in the short space of twenty months fills us with hope that every stain on your freedom will shortly be removed, and that the erasure of that foul blot upon civilization and Christianity—chattel slavery—during your Presidency will cause the name of Abraham Lincoln to be honored and revered by posterity. We are certain that such a glorious consummation will cement Great Britain to the United States in close and enduring regards. Our interests, moreover, are identified with yours. We are truly one people, though locally separate. And if you have any ill-wishers here, be assured they are chiefly those who oppose liberty at home, and that they will be powerless to stir up quarrels between us, from the very day in which your country becomes, undeniably and without exception, the home of the free. Accept our high admiration of your firmness in upholding the proclamation of freedom."
Well this is a long post. If any interest is shown by Forum members I will finish off the story - Lincoln's reply, his statue in Lincoln Square, Manchester, and US Grant's visit and speech, differences of opinion between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester . . . . .
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