In respect of his long and meritorious exertions to abolish slavery in the United States of North America.
Though no man can surpass me in a genuine love of native land, yet, where the principles of justice. the rights of suffering humanity, and the obligations of a common origin and destiny are concerned, I have no other rule of action than this-my country is the world, my countrymen are all mankind. By nativity, then, I belong to the United States of America: that is accidental. By human sympathy and affinity I belong to the whole human race that is both my choice and my destiny. The interests of all men and of all nations are to me alike, their liberties are equally sacred. I cannot allow geographical boundaries, nor differences of latitude, nor national distinctions, to sway my judgment or shape my conscience to the injury of any people. I believe that no prosperity can be real or permanent that has not right for its policy and equity for its support. I am sure that the nation which seeks to elevate itself at the expense of any other, not only deserves to be, but sooner or later will be, abased. I am equally sure that neither poverty nor ignorance, neither helplessness or depression, neither accident of birth or difference of complexion or sex, can justify exclusion from a fair chance in the world as pertaining to ' life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,' or the assumption of natural superiority and lordship on the part of those who happen to be more fortunate in their lot than others. Your own immortal Burns has summed it all up in a single line:-
'A man's a man for a' that.'
Unhappily, the nature and object of the Southern rebellion seemed to be utterly misapprehended in Scotland and throughout the kingdom. The leading journals in the kingdom, following the example of the London Times, gave utterance to the sentiments favourable to the South and unjust to the North, and especially to the administration of President Lincoln, whose memory none will hereafter venture to stain, for the civilised world now does justice to his acts, and with grateful appreciation places his name high in its roll of martyrs and benefactors. In making this reference to the press I can do no less than recognise the enlightened judgment and clean discrimination which characterised the Caledonian Mercury during the early struggle, giving as it did at all times a vigorous support to the policy of Mr. Lincoln, and the solidarity of the American Republic, and though the publication of that journal has ceased in this city my special commendation of it will not be deemed invidious or ill-timed, because justice and gratitude fairly require it of me in this connection. The hasty recognition of the Southern Confederacy as a belligerent power by the English Government and the successful departure of well-known piratical vessels from English ports to sweep the commerce of the North from the high seas by fire and pillage in furtherance of the treasonable object of that Confederacy, also added much in promoting bitterness and alienation of spirit in the United States in respect to the people and government of Great Britain. But in the universal gladness that is felt at the abolition of that cause which gave birth to the rebellion and to all the misconceptions and misdeeds attending it and in the success attending the effort to maintain the American Union inviolate on the basis of impartial liberty-there is happilv manifested on both sides of the Atlantic a growing desire to adjust all differences between the two countries in an amicable and magnanimous spirit, to let by-gones be by-gones where only passion was concerned and where no principle of honour or rectitude is involved, and to usher in the era of good feelings. We are all bound to keep the peace, by close consanguinity of blood, by a common religious faith, by the claims of civilisation, by the needs of commerce, by mutual interests: and, making a wide margin of allowance for mistakes and errors in the past growing out of such a stupendous and complicated struggle, there surely can be no difficulty in a generous settlement of whatever has threatened to lead to war and bloodshed. Not merely as between England and America I believe, but all over the globe, in the fulfilment of human destiny.
For a' that and a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
When man to man the world o'er
Shall brothers be for a' that.'
Gentlemen, if this testimonial which you have done me the honour to confer upon me means anything at all, it means that Edinburgh is solidly on the side of free institutions and of popular liberty throughout the world."