Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-05-13
Gbr 9alIp Spg.
Catch Cushing ON Massachusetts.

Caleb Cushing Massachusetts.
C,,ph Cushing, in his late reception speech at
Ncvburvport. had great deal to say in reVile-
nsnt Of Massachusetts, because of her attach
usnt and adherence in these days of general
government degeneracy, to those principles OF
liberty which stimulated the souls and character
lied the acts of our revolutionary ancestors Inc
burden Of his complaint is, that Massachusetts
has always opposed the general administration IN
its ..march. march, march" ling schemes of sla-
very aceraudixement; including in his denuncia-
tons Of her course, her opposition to the put
chase of Louisiana as slave territoryi to the ad-
mission OF Missouri, Arkansas. Florida and Texas,
as slave states into the Unioni to the prosecution
of the Mexican War. for the conquest of more
territory to spread slavery in; and her later oppo-
aiton to the enactment of the fugitive slave laws
to the repeal of the restriction against slavery
in Kansas and Nebraska, and to the internal de-
cision of the Supreme Court in the bred Scott
case, nationalizng slavery all over the Union
Gen Gushing says
..why is itso? Why is it that for so many
years Massachusetts has perseveringly opposed
whatever is, and persstently endeavored to pre-
vent whatever is to be
look around in my native State, and seeing 1t
1t IS, cramIneQ fuil Win auteiUBencE anu aC.
complishment of the highest order in all the pos
sibiies OF life and ask myself if she be not, and
if she be not why she is not the head, the brains,
the thought. the soul Of the American Union?
1t is not that the men Of Massachusetts, with
admitted high intelligence, lack courage. Quite
a. often as otherwise they have this in excess,
plunging into the strife as if they could mas
ter it,
sand with strong hand hold in the rearing world"
and occasionally manifestins somewhat of that
hardihood Of unreason which plants he outtlng
bull in front Of the locomotive machines full ca
reer.
Nor is it because of interested views on the
part of Massachusetts. She is singulary dlsln-
terested, governed by ideas rather than by mere
interests She manifests this even IN her pohu
cal alterations She opposes all policies of the
Federal Government, sometimes merely because
they are such
Why is it. again let me ask, that Massachu-
sets has not, instead Of opposing always, rather
assumed her post, in conscious tight OF mtelli-
gence and courage proudly at the van of the
march of the Unions Why finger in the rear al
ways to pull back to critcise, to complain OF the
Federal Government
cannot say sohy il is see ho1o it is. She
permits herself to be pre- occupied with some sec
ondary incident of the great event, and works
herself into rage that. until she has lost all
thought and of the great event itself, and of
the part which in it she might and should play.
AT the present time when human wit is at the
maximum Of creative and productive action
when the steamship, the railway and the electric
telegraph, marvels though they be, are but FAINT
signs of the progress around us when earth and
sky, air and sea, and all which in them is, ami
mate or inanimate, pprtakes of the great move
ment, and are instinct with its spirit-at such a
time the public mind of Massachusetts stands
still, and grows passionate over the question
IOhether certain black men citizens ofthe Uni
ted States or not.
We know that by law they are not we know
that Massachusetts, cannot make them such we
know that, however that may be- whether accord
ing to our canvietlon or to the opposite one OF
others, matters not in the consideration OF any
practical end. Aud we forget That, while we SIT
by the wayside, angrily discussing these nege,
not dl6scites Of hours Of idleness the world is
rushing silently by, leaving VS. in the lureh.
Must it be so forever Will Massachusetts,
choose always to be the drag or brake on the
wheels, and never the motive power itselfF VIII
she constantly struggle 10 clog the march OF the
great event? If she reflect, she will be satlsheo
that she cannot stop it, nay, she will see that It
is her own event, it is her very self, that she is
vainly striving to stop.
Now, there was time when Gen. Cushing
himself both public orator before the people
and a representative in the State Legislature
and in Congress, commended Massachusetts, in
the most exalted terms for this very q lanatical
cause of hers, which he denounces above, in her
opposition to certain schemes Of policy Of the ma
tional government. Indeed, we can find no bet
ter antidote to the pernicious pro-slaveryism ad-
vanced by the Caleb Gushing of 1857, than to
copy, side by side with the above, extract from
the Caleb Gushing of twenty years ago. No bet
ter answer can be given to his recent address at
Newburyport than the following, from Gen.
Cushing's speech, in 1886, when he so eloquently
and forcibly defended his mother Commonwealth
from the imputations then as now cast upon her
for the steadfast maintenance of her principles
and her integrity in the face of the seductions of
the central power at Washington. A wondrous
change, truly, circumstances have produced in
the mind and course of Caleb Cushing, in twenty
years. He said, in 1886 -
. Nor is any imputation to be cast upon the fair
fame of Massachusetts,. She has nailed her flag
10 the mast. There will 1t fly, amid sunshine and
storm alike, proudly to the end, though it have
to stream like the thunderdrt against the wind. >
There fs in her neither vaIiabeness nor shadow of
change, Whatever allurements may cross her
-Th' imperial votaress passes on
u maiden meditation fancy free.
She yieldyherself only TO the voice of duty and
affection. She has refused to be seduced by the
Establishments Of the charmer, charm he never SO
wisely; no force could ravsh from her the
priceless jewel of her undefled virginity. Her
untainted purity has never humbled itself in the
dust to receive the embrace of power, though it
should have descended upon her, like to the arms
of Danae, in shower of gold. Her opponents
have set themselves down in perpetual Lacquer by
her camp; but have never gained entrance with
in it's lines, except in hour of truce to receive
the hospitalitins due 10 gallant foe. And if, in
the contest for constitutional liberty, it be her des.
tiny to stand alone, alone toiI she stand, self
poised like the solid earth itself, IN her o0n eLe.
mental principles. She
simply moves right onward in the march of con-
sistency and honor, mistaken, unseduced, unter.
rifed.S
OHIO FREE STArE.-The Supreme Court of
Ohio, Judge BARLEY alone dissenting, have de-
cided that slave coming into that State by the