The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-06

sachnsetts thus but because, seeking to extend
the benign influence of civilization, which she
cultivates at home, she stands forth the faithful,
unseduced supporter of human nature. Wealth
has its splendor, and the intellect has its glory
but there is grandeur in such a service which
| is above even the regard of good men, and will
have the immortal life of history. For this, she
has also the reproach and contumely which,
throughout all ages, have been poured on those
who have striven for justice on earth. Not now
for the first time in human struggles has truth,
when most dishonored, seemed most radiant in
gathering glory, even out of obloquy. When
Sir Henry Vane, courageous champion of the
English Commonwealth, was dragged on a
hurdle up the Tower Hill to suffer death by the
axe, one of the multitude cried out 70 him,
You never sat on so glorious a seat;" and
again, when Russell was exposed in the same
streets, on the way to the same scafold, the
people, according 10 the simple narrative of his
biographer, imagined they saw Liberty and Vir-
tue sitting by his side.
Massachusetts, is not without announcement
in her own history. She has seen her ports
closed by an arbitrary power-has seen her
name made by-word of reproach-has seen
her cherished leaders, Hancock and Adams,
excepted from all pardon by the Crown; but
then, when most dishonored did Massachusetts,
cause of us all and now, when Massachusetts,
is engaged in a greater cause than that of our
fathers, how serenely can she turn from the
scof and jeer of heartless men. Her only dis
grace will be in the disloyalty to the truth
which is to make her free. Worse oh, far
worse than the evil speaking of others, is the
conduct of some of her own children. 1t is
hard to sever the scholarship which has been
drawn from her cisterns, and the riches which
have been accumulated under her hospitable
shelter, now employed to weaken and discredit
the cause which is above riches or scholarship.
1t is hard, while our fellow citizens in Kan
sas, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh,
plead for a delversnce from cruel usurpation,
and while the whole country, including our own
soil, is trodden down by domineering and
brutal despotism, to behold the sons of Massa-
chusetts in sympathy, open or disguised, with
the vulgar enemy; quickening everywhere the
lash of the task-master, and helping forward
the Satanic carnival, when Slavery shall be fas-
| tened not only upon PROSTATE Kansas, but upon
all the Territories of the Republic; when Cuba
| shall be torn from friendly Power by dishonest
force and when the slave trade itself, with all
| its crime, its woe, and its shame, shall be
opened anew, under the American flag. With
such have no word of controversy at this hour ;
| but, turning from them now in my weakness,
trust not to seem too severe, if l covet for the
occasion something of the Divine power:
ITO bend the silver bow with tender skill
While void OF pam, the silent arrows kl.n
Gladly from these do turn to another char
acter, yet happily spared to Massachusetts,.
whose heart beats strong with the best blood of
the Revolution, and with the best sentiments
| by which that blood was enriched-the only
| child of one of the authors of American Lib
erty-for many years the able and courageous
representative of Boston on the floor of Con-
gress, where his speeches were the master
| pieces of the time. Distinguished throughout
a long career by the grateful trust of his fell
w-citizens-happy in all the possessions of a
well-spent life, and surrounded by love- honor,
obedience, troops of friends-with an old age
which is second youth-Josiah Quincy, still
erect under the burden of eighty four winters,
puts himself before us. In the ardor of youth,
or the maturity of manhood, did he show him
self so grahdly conspicuous, and add so much
to the heroic wealth of history. His undaunt-
ed soul, lifted already to gimpses of another
| life, may shame the feebler spirits of later
| generation.
| There is one other Parsonage, at another pc
riod, who, with precisely the same burden OF
! winters, has asserted the same supremacy OF
| powers. 1t is the celebrated Dandolo Doge OF
Venice, at the age OF eighty-four, of whom the
| historian Gibbon has said, In words which are
strictly applicable to our own Quincy: "He
shone in the last period of human life as one OF
the most illustrious characters of the time.
Under the weight of years, he retained a sound
understanding and manly courage, the spirit
of hero and the wisdom of potriot.' This
old man carried the Venetian Republic over
the crusaders, and exposed his person freely to
all the perils of war, so that the historian de-
has IL
day, saying: " In the midst of the conflict, the
Doge-a venerable and conspicuous form
stood aloft, in complete armor, ON the PROV OF
the galley, while the great standard of St. Mark
was displayed before him." Before the form
of our venerable head is displayed the standard
of greater Republic than Venice, thrilling
| with its sight greater multitudes than ever gazed
| on the standard of st. Mark, while a sublimer
| cause Is ours than the cause of the crusaders.
| For our task as aot merely to ransom an empty
! sepulchre, but to ransosn the Saviour himself,
| in the bodies of his innumerable children. Not
merely to displace the infdel from distant
| foreign soil, but to displace him from the very
Jerusalem OF our Liberties.
May it please your Excellency, forbear to
proceed further. With thanks for this welcome,
accept, also, my new VOW of duty. In all sim
! plicity let me say that seek nothing but the
| triumph of truth. To this offer my best eff.
| forts, careless OF Office or honor. Show me that
l am wrong, and | stop st once but in the
complete conviction of right shall peEseyere
against all mptstion-against all odds, all
| perils, all threats-knowing well that whatever
may be my fate, the right will surely prevail.
Terrestrial place is determined only by Celestial
observation. 1t is only by watching the stars
that the mariner can pursue his course, and it
| is only by obeying those lofty principles which
are above men and human passion, that we
can make our way safely through the duties of
life. In such obedience hope to live while a
servant of Massachusetts"
Mr.. Sumner sat down faint and weary amid
terrific cheers, and the crowd slowly dispersed.