The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-19
From the Boston Courier
SPEC CHI
OF THE HONORABLE CALEB CUSHING.
DELIVERED AT LOWELL, ON TUESDAY EVENING
OCTOBER IL, 1912.

OCTOBER IL, 1912.
On Tuesday evening last Mr.. Gushing went to
Lowell to meet by appointment, his constituents OF
that city and vicinity The place selected for the
meeting was the City Hall, and after seven
O'Clock it began to fill up, the gallery being reserved
for ladies' BY the time set for the meeting the hall
was filled, and it is probable that not less than two
thousand persons were present.
Mr. Thomas Hopknson welcomed him in behalf
of the people of his district, and introduced him to
the audience as the able aud fearless advocate Of
their interests, their Representative IN Congress
After Mr. Hopkinson had concluded, MIR. Cush-
ing stepped forward upon the platform, and was
loudly cheered by the meeting. He spoke as fol
lows
thank you, sir for the kind reference you have
made TO my services Representative IN Congress
from the State of Massachusetts. And still more
heartily, gentlemen, do rejoice in the opportunity
which this occasion offers me Of addressing you--o
standing here in the presence OF my constuents--o
casting my eyes over this ocean of human faces-o
seeing before me so many of the people represent
care not to what party you may belong-what YOU
individual opinions may be upon public measures
what estimate you may put upon myself or my ef
forts since have been in Congress- Suffice it that
you, as am always ready to render, an account OF
my stewardship; to enter, if may be permitted in
to frank and free discussion of the principles of the
federal government. Gentlemen, am permitted ?
(Applause) May be heard' (Cheers.) Am au-
horzed face to face, lifting the veil which conceals
party affairs and party designs casting aside
party ambition--thus to speak to your Cheering.
| rejoice 10 believe that, whatever may be your pre-
possessions, you will hear me with candor-as indeed
feel assured--and will weigh what offer with in
a. L.. ,f.,, - -. H..
bosoms of the people of this Commonwealth.
Coming from scenes of agitation which was told
| should see repeated before me, ] am mpelled to
ask myself-to ask you-what are the topics of the
controversy which now convuses the people of the
United States and threaten to satter the constitution
under which we live; Much has been said by the
public press and by public speakers-much enmity
has been manifested towards the Executive for his
course But what these acts for which he is re-
preached and condemned Gentlemen, challenge
adequate cause for this hostility Are we bound to
hostilities against him IL there dement's, are
there no merits to counterbalance Them in the Ad-
minstration Ausion has been made to the con-
duct of our foreign affairs. What have been the
events of the last eighteen months, upon which we
are called TO pass judgment:
Gentlemen, it was one Of the highest boasts Of the
Roman republic that in whatsoever part Of the habi-
table globe of its citizens might be castwherev-
err, among civilized or uncivilized nations he might
be thrown--he still had the Roman Egis cast around
him for his protection; he had but to excaim, 81 am
a Roman citizen" and he was safe. How is it with
us In entering upon this investigation, begin by
calling attention to the fact that in the midst of the
complex controversies between the United States and
the Mexican republic-inyoving important claims
and great questions of national right--when, last
year, certain citizens Of the United States were
seized and held captive by Mexico, this administra-
tion--the administration of John Tyler-issued Pc
renptory orders to our minister to demand their
sta release and to leave the country if this demand
wer, not complied with-that this spirited act was
followed by he instant release Of the captives Was
not this honorable to the Government But this IS
not all.
1t may not be known to you-for the newspapers,
in devoting their attention to the trivial topics of ac
cusation against the Executive, have too often neg
lected to inform the community of important facts ;
il may not be known to you that citizen of the Uni
ted States lately subjected to indignty by the re-
public of Uruguay power you may not all have
heard of, recent has been its establishment but
which is republic formed of portion of Spanish
America. And, gentlemen, who was this cizen;-
powerful and wealthy man, with extensive means
and influence within the United States' No. An
humble persona colored man. But he made known
his injury, and the government of the United States
instantly, and without stopping to inquire who or
what the individual was--ths horrid administration
of John Tyler issued directions, through the De-
partment of State, to Commodore Morris, TO proceed
in the ship of the line Delaware to Monte Video, and
demand instant redress. (Applause.) II was DONE
and the Delaware only proceeded up the river, and
displayed the broadsde of her fire mouths when ex-
plantations, apologies and PREPARATION were obtained
Was not that honolable' Is there no appreciation of
good things done by this administration as well as
condemnation Of bad? (Sensation)
And, gentlemen, for twenty years the nation has
been perpetually distracted by apprehensions of
war with the most powerful nation of Europe-one
with whom our relations the closest our connex-
ions the most important-with whom we speak a
common language, and to whom we bear the dear
relation of daughter to her mother-I mean Eng
land. During the whole of that period owing to the
Importance variety, and compexity of the questions
at issue, we have been momentarily expectation of
a war that would have been little less than matric-
dal in its character Gentlemen, the dissolution of
these masses OF controversies the triumphant lust
ment of all these difficulties, was as high an honor
to the Chief Of the Administration to the member
of the Government through whose immediate instr,-
it effected. And ask if no common
dalton is due for this' ask if it be possible tina,
here-upon the soil of Massachusetts, in the city of
Lowell--as in New York, thunders of applause
should be given Queen Victoria, but not one token
of appreciation bestowed upon our own Government
Great cheering) rejoice that il is not So re.
joice that from your bosoms the facts should exort
the approval due to the authorities of the land.
But gentlemen, the history OF the past eighteen
months, signaliscd il has been by great events
events of unparalleled magnitude in foreign policy,
has it nothing worthy of approval in our domestic
affairs Let us be Just to country. Whatever
may be our personal or political prejudces, let us
not refuse honor where honor is due Go TO the be-
ginning Of the extra session, and thence down. Our
ears ring with language of extraordinary denunca-
ton against the Executive in the perplexiDg dssen-
sions between Congress and the President Congress
has all the credit of possessing right impulses which
were prevented and thwarted by the Presd nj. But
what the facts On how many Of the vast multi
tudc of questions before the Government has there
been controversy Reflect, gen,emen-refect upon
l.. -
hundreds of pages of acts passed in concert and up
On but two only two topics, has controversy existed
between Congress and the President.
And what were the great acts on which there was