The daily union., 1854-10-26
SPEECH OF GEORGE B. LoRING,
OF SALEM, MASS.

Essex county, Massachusetts,, October TO- 1854.
Mr. President The convention having expressed this
hatterng wish hear me desire TO make few remarks
upon the first resolution adopted here to-day which
dorses in full the action of the democratic party OF this
State their convention recently held in Lowelli not
that consider that the resolution will require special
support before the democrats of Essex county, but that
deem it necessary reply attacks made upon the action
of that convention and upon the administration from
quarter protesting be democratic On previous
sion Yielded the floor eloquent champion of demo-
cratic principles and now ask the democrats here as
sembed hear what have to in defence OF the adj
ministraton and of the platform adopted by the democra
cy of this State No place is more appropriate than this
for defence of democraeyhere IN Essex county where
the of democrat has been considered almost equva
lent to capital offence and where this very resistance to
democratic principles seems to have aroused the most fear
less champions in their support And speak with the
more confidence because believe that those measures
which have stamped the policy of the democratic party
in this country will day meet with their heariiest
support here where fanatiesm RACES with such tary
feel still called upon to speak here because the at
tack which made upon the unequivocal endorsement
of the administrator Lowell fell with peculiar force upon
the democrats this county The berest vial of wrath
was evidently reserved for of our body whose
ability and commanding position have secured for him
seat in General Perces cabinet the constitutional adviser
Of this administration do not feel called upon to follow
those gentlemen who assa Gen Gushing personally in Or
der to give Misrepresentation and perveson of public
opinion currency their political attacks have not one
word to say for those political byenas who reye IN the
graves of long buried opinions and with savage terocy
present them TO public gaze with all the changes and
decay which the lapse OF time throws over them
despses such work. and OF honesty which recognises
the falsehood and Misrepresentation which lie underneath
do propose to explore the path by which every man
in this country reaches the highest honors in the country
especially when he brings to his work the most commanding
capacity; have the crowd of vunres and wolves
chhang of every aspiran and pubic
distressing and perverting him while alive and devourng
him when dead. There are no words OF contempt strong
enough these vioators of every confidential relation
every sense of honor every sentiment which ought
to pervade mans breast the success OF his tellowman
do not conceive that Gen. Cushing needs defence against
such assalans these But faithful and able mem
Der of the national administration whose acts have
been called in question, think he is entitled TO that de-
fence which democrat should give another whenever
! an occasion arises
| against the administration both based upon
sumed violation of the Baltimore platform.
The first charge s that the letter written by Cen Cush-
ing year upon the dongs Of the democratic party in
this State violates that clause in the platform which de-
cares that the American democracy place their trust in
the intelligence, the pntriosm and the discriminating
Justice Of the American people, and that it in
collision with the great constitutional doctrine Of the
rights of the States. Now, sir, what that letter?
| 1t was an expression OF OPINION conveyed from one
democrat TO another, upon the conduct OF portion
of the American democracy 1t went on to say that
democratic President had set his face like flint
against all the sectional factions which are disturbing
our country 1t was saying 10 us TINT President Pierce
not abolitionis whig but just that pure traght
forward unerrfed democrat whom we voted for sir with
so much pride and satisfaction 1t expressed regret that
any democrat in Massachusetts should be far to
his principles to vote for who were nhaming this
whole county against the administration 1t was ukase
no proclamation oecIes but simple declaration that
the first and highest duty of democrat Is an open sup
port of the principles Of his party This letter. sir was
nothing less than this IT has been denounced
as laaslre of the administration measure for what
sir? 1t established no law it directed no governmental
policy it had bearing upon any conceivable point OF
political economy or social OF civil privilege me idea
that The correspondence two Massachusetts demo-
sthng the cabinet and the other wearngaway
his life in the harder duties Of editors chashoud be
called an administration absurd for than
And VAT
is measure of the administration and that s an inter
ference with the right of the people 10 govern
Now, sir whose right was invaded! solrs or mneY nd
you not feel authorized vote as you pleased even after
the issue of the letter? Did not my ancoaiton neghbor
feel that his views had been strengthened and that the
leading democrats of the country on his sdef bile
ono man "a he was checked in his politician
and his tactics were confused another just good dem
ocrat rises the strength of new impulse and feels that
at last the administration is bis side Who then, lost
h -nuative because Gen Cushing wrote 70 Mr. Iroth-
;ngba hot tho Aiient dsked tree-soer as much as
YOU and do sir and had aa-nce IN the true sound
democracy, in accordance with whose faith es NV %
his life stood recorded? 1t is compliment, sir to the
courage of the people the value Of their rights and
compliment ones estimate of popular rights to
duce them to the level of snch invasion as this would
allow that any cabinet officer has it in his power to
send forth his word and stay my hand at the ballobox
would not insult American people by dcnomnating
those nrgues which under the rebnke of fair ex-
preston of democratic opinions, popular rights have
heard enough, sir Of this letter violation OF the rights
Of the people and of the States What rights, sir? The
PROVIDES tne powers ucieEaIeu 10
the United States by the constitution, prohibited by it
to the States reserved to the States respectively or 10
the people, Now, what popular or what State rights were
invaded by this letter conceive these rights to be the
power which each State possesses control its civil
and municipal institutions Can tell what Sori of
an institution coalition s This letter expressed dis
approval Of those democrats who voted for reesoilers
] for Office. Is voting for frce-soer an institution
Is the ree-soil party Of Massachusetts State institution
organization founded upon any organic law of this Com
monweth sacred to the universal heart OF the people, that
not one word should be said in reference its party
tics? No, sir the only institution which this letter inter-
fered with the eternal and supreme institution of SELF
which has possessed the mids Of few eesoeTs ia Mas
sacusets that the universe revolved for their benefit and
the democratic party and the administration mere
servants to do their bidding That day is gone Time
the great purifier has done much to dspe that Illusion
The letter of General Cushing did much towards it, and
/ the irresistible decrces of the people will do than
either. We have had enough OF that extravaganza which
has nAamed the community by every appeal TO popular
prejudice commenced its operations by buryng every
particle of private and public honor that came within its
reach That party, whose estimate of the greet democratic
doctrine of State rights limited to its party nirgaeg
to bargain it has struck for the debauchey and de-
aruction of all who listen to its profcr to the power
which denagogue possesses to deceive the passions
Of men, has had is day. That the letter of General
Cushing should have pressed hard upon their estimate
OF State rights not wonderful at All Any honest dem
ocatc opinion conceived in the atmosphere OF gepuine
democratic principle could not but interfere with such
rights they camed But for the great and glorious doc
trine OF The rights of States laid down in the eonsti-
tuition patty grgues iactious ambition lay claim
TO its protecting embraces re the mouths of to be
closed before the supreme power of p on the theory Of
State rights Is every political nanTuvre to os ranked
with those foundations of government which rest in the
hands of the people and which the wisdom of the founders
Of this Iep9bc guaranteed? When consider the