Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-09-21

IL the Free Democratic State COnueation, held
at Fitchburg, Thursday, Sept. Is 1858.
IRennrfed fnr the Common weaIthl

l try to speak of my Disappointment on this occa-
sion. When drew aside my curtain this morn
ing at what ought to have been SUNRISE and saw
instead the oyerhanging clouds and drenchiug RAM
my heart sank within me. ! forgot for moment
that Liberty is weather proof forgot what is
now gratefully forced upon me by this crowded
hall, overlooking with tumultuous enthusiasm,
that obstacles before which others faint and sink,
deter not the soldiers of Humanity. (AppIause)
And your courage has its own reward As our
organization for Freedom in this Commonwealth,
began In Storm and darkness, which have now
rolled away, so the gloomy promise Of the morn
ing has frightened into the deep and sunny blaze
of loon. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen of the Convention in this and every
political conflict, we have two notices on crest
and shield. The first is Down with the slave
power at Washington! This we never forget
Though engaged in a State contest, it is NOT abb
sent from our thoughts. Indeed, it is only by
sleepless vigilance that we can resist the machl-
nations of foe so subtle and powerful. By the
slave power we mean slavery in politics. And
that is not confined to Washington. Il pervades
the whole nation. and spreads its inalign, though
often invisible influence from the center to the
minutest and remotest ramifCations of the Re-
pubic. Nay, more, it crosses the ocean. 1t
raises its lmperious front in foreign courts; it
walks the decks of American ships on every sea,
and before It's baeful influence, at the ends OF the
earth, the star Of our national glory pales and
fades. Down with the slave dominion! Gap
plause } Down with that conspiracy against hu-
man rights, which perverts the Constitution aud
the laws to its deslestable uses; which envenoms
our statutes, and demorallzes our public men;
which debases the republican idea, at home, and
which makes the chained eagle the symbol of
America. (Renewed applause.)
The aroci:ers of slavery multiply. The fu-
gitive slave law is in full blast The air of the
free States resounds with the shrieks of victims
to It's nhuman and illegal violence. The ambi-
ton of the slave power does not sumber. 1t is
seeking to lead the nation into war and conquest,
to extend the realms upon Which it may feed and
prey. While it makes country as ravenous
for Cuba as highway robber, it will not allow
Nebraska to be organized into a territory because
it will be free. It's great object is to subdue the
nation 10 itself, and make America one powerful
Federal State, Of which slavery shall be the con-
trolling and Internal spirit. Against a power so
deadly in its Designs our organization was found
ed TO wage war Of determination [Cheers
We are here for IFS. That long and dark in
dictmen!, which freedom, and humanity, and re.
liglon, have joined in framing against American
slavery, we are here to read and try before The
nation and the world [Applause.] The great
culprit laughs alike at US, his humble prosecutors
and at the august tribunal at whose bar he stands
He may long evade justice, but the decision must
come; when does, the verdict will be guilty.
the sentence, death. Hearty applause.
Gentlemen, we have State as we'll as 4 Ma
organization, and this is necessary to our
,ence. We breathe the national ali, but our
lee are planted iii the soil of massachusetts,
[Cheers.l Many earnest anti-slavery men feel
small interest in State elections, because they do
not directly touch the question of human bondage
I lint think this NJ 81
party live in this country, without a State
policy, Stale platforms, and State candidates.
Deprived of the power which loothold in the
State gives, we must dwinde and melt into other
organizations.
Besides, in our case, there is natural alliance
between liberty in America, and liberalism in
Massachusetts. The men who are agitating the
slave power in Washington, must naturally cry.
Down with toryism in Boston. This is our Sec
ond watchword. National slavery and Massa-
chusetts toryism are Siamese twins. Applause
When we broke loose from our former political
parties in l848, and commenced the warfare in
which we are now engaged, we found ourselves
suddenly opposed by Massachusetts Influences
which we had not foreseen. We discovered that
great oligarchy which sustains slavery, had found
ed, unknssssass-ss, branch in cur very midst;
and no part of the whole army of American des-
potism was more aggrieved at onr action and oh.
| Ject than the Boston regiment. We saw forth
with that there was something rotten in the State
| as well as the nation; and the first step towards
purifying Massachusetts, was to destroy the dom.
lnant party. Hence arose the collilon, whose
origin was not the work of political leaders, but
the spontaneous instinct of the people. The ma
jority of the people of Massachusetts, composed
ofdifferent parties, ard lmpeed by different rea-
sons, with sagacity at once intultive and ire
sJsfIh NIT cd tn hat l,ft Id T.
Whiggery 10 die. Whiggery | say. For Mas
saehusetts Whiggery was Massachusetts toryism
That conviction is ours to day. (Cheers.)
But, gentlemen, we found that Massachusetts
torysm had been able to lay its plans for perpet-
nal power, strong and deep, during the quarter of
century Of its rule. 1t had not only dictated the
laws, bat controlled the CoNsTITUrIoN of The
State. We saw that we must begin at The foun-
dalion. We went for reformed Constitution,
and have obtained it. [Cheers) We have now
to ratify ii.
The moment when revised Constitution is
inaugurated by the sovereign voice of the people,
Is only less august and sacred than that when
that people rise from the bloody chaos Of revou.
ton, and create an organic law. That moment
approaches, and trust we shall not allow either
the silence or the camor Of our opponents TO be.
| guile us from our duty. The old Constitution, no
one defends; it is obsolete by the unanimous con-
fcssion of all parties, and all The people = he
new Constitution is good; not perfect, but good.
Let it be adopted. 1t is our sacred and solemn
duty 10 take this new Constitution, all fresh from
the wise and strong and skfu hands Of popu.
lar Convention, unequalled, q measure my
words) unequalled for native genius and acquired
political wisdom, by any ever convened in Amer
lea, and raise it to its place on high. Warm
applause.)
Gentlemen, believe the new Constitution to
be safe; and the air ever contained prophecies,
should likewise say that it is this day full Of
omens that our candidates for Stale officers will
be elected [Cheers.l The Free Democracy of
Massachusetts have just begun 10 live. Re
Dewed cheers s We are full of life, and pith,
and vieor And if the movements of our oppo-
nenls testify their expectations, should say
that they design 10 be defeated Governor Cliff
ford respectfully and earnestly declines Laugh
ter and cheers.] Mr. Choate was in the Constl-
inllonAl CnnYanlInn. lie knnus The rnnn he has