Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-21

5pEECH OF CHARLES SUMNER


al the Reps5licea Conrcntion at Worcester,
September IN, 1851.
Mr President and fellow citizens of Massa-
chuselst After months Of anxious, constant
service inaolhcr place, away from Massa-
chustts, an prcmitod again to stand among
you, my fellow citizens, and to draw sstisfac-
ton and strength FROM your generous presence.
(Applause} Life is full oil changes and con-
trasts. From slayc-$eil have come to free
soil. tApplause.) AVID the heated antag-
cnism Of debate, shooting forth its fiery ciu-
lcys, is changed into This Drumming o'crhow
ipg welcome, where seem to lean on the
great heart of our beloved Commonwealth, as
it palpitates audbly in this crowded assembly,
aloud and long applaase.)
Let me say at once, FRANKLY and sincerely,
that | hasc NOT come here to receive APP
plause or to give Occasion orany tokens of
public regard but simply to unite with my
fellow citizens in new VOWS Of duty. GAP
pIauss, And yet [ would not be thought
inscnsibe TO the good will now swelling from
50 many hottest bosolns. 1t touches me more
than can tel.
During the late session of Congress, an
eminent supporter OF the Nebraska Bill said
tc mc, wi'h great animation, in language
which give with come precision, that you
May appreciate the style as well as the sen.
timsnt 1" would not 60 through all that you
Ido on This n'gyrr quc,tion for all the the
Offices pnd hcnprs CT she country" To which
| naturally snd promptly replied " Nor
would for ail this otsices and honors of the
country" l.aughtor and long applause. i
Not in these things Gun be found the true in
ducements to this warfare. For myself. II
have been abe to TO any thing in any respect
not unworthy Of you, it is because thought
rather OF those commanding duties which are
above otico and hcnor, lCries of good, good,
and ond applausc.)
And n9", on the eve Of an important cleo
ton in this State, We have assembled to take
counsel together, in order to determine in
what WY best to perform those duties which
wc owo to oar coWmoa country. We are to
checse IL Representatives III Congress; also
Aoysv, or. and mcnsbc,s Of the Legislature.
which last will CHOOSE iseiio,or OF tho US.
tc UPHOLD fer FIVE years enruing the principles
aud honor OF Massachusetts. II in these elec-
t0ns, you were to be governed merely by
Fartialities or merely by the exactons of
party, | should have i.ething to say on
this occasion, except to Dismiss you to your
igncble work. That is it. good, good,) but
| assame that you are ready to renounce
these influences and press forward with II
siase regard to those dutiss which are now
Incumbent upon us in National affairs and
also in State affairs.
And here two questions occur. which absorb
all othsrs. First, mAat arc oar political du-
ties berc in Mass, at the present time; aud
sreeadiy, how, and by what agency shall they
be performed. What and how? These are
the tvs questions of which I shall briefly
speak IN their order, attempting no elaborate
discussion, but simply aiming to state the case
50 that tmay be iuteligible TO all who hear
mo
L And frst, what are orr duties here in
Mass, ut the present times In unfolding
these nend not dwell OF The wrong and
shai"e Of slavery, or on the character Of the
Slave Pc~er,--' that oligarchy ol shareholders
-.wheh rsw rules the republic, These you
undsrr'an4, Aud yet thore ara two outrages,
fresh in your recollection, which ] must not
fail to oppose, as natural rAo.iiestation OF
slavery AID slave power. One 10 the repeal
of the prohibition Of slavery Ia saa vast Mis-
soud territory now knceh as as Kansas
ard Nsbr~sks. contrary " tiwa,lonored