Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-01-16

Marlboro
Earies-James NJ. W Yerrington of Bos.
s. D. Tourtelott of Worcester
taking the chair, Mr., Bird read the call
Convention.
ance Committees and Business Committees
appointed, after which MIR. Bird addressed
Convention in eloquent terms
the close of Mr.. Birds remarks. the E E4'nsch.
son family sang one Of theisSiiveO Old antislavery
fgs, which loudly applauded.
eev. T,,W. Higgnson said he had some seventy
sges of manuscript, in the form Of letters from
IN the notabilties Of the country, but time
buld permit him to read only extracts from a
lew Of them. The first read was a
LETTER FROM HON. AMAsA WALKER.
NORTH BRooKFIELD, Jan. 10th, 1857.
ear ir:-I have received your letter invit-
me, in behalf of a Committee, to attend a
veBtion to be held at Worcester, on the 10th
Slant, ito consider the practicabiity, probable
~ and expediency of separation between the
&c and slave States
do not now expect that my engagem ents will
low me to be present 1T your Convention.
build be happy to do so, for l am not in the
st afraid to hear the questions you propose TO
nsder, discussed in all their bearings, and to
fullest extent. holt it as settled princi.
:, that whenever it is authoritatiyely assumed
lat any subject, political or religious, is sacred
at no one has any right to examine it in broad
ylight and with perfect freedom, then we may
81 sure that the subject, thus tabooed, is one we
have especial occasion to investigate.
That your Convention and its proceedings will
be denounced in the most opprobrous terms
that the press universal will open its batteries
upon yous for even venturing to inquire into the
expedency OF separation of the free and slave
States feel quite assured; and that such are
four expectations, have no doubt. / therefore
admire your courage, in thus Drawing the news.
paper wrath OF the country, North and South.
For it is fact, as curious as it is significant
hat, while the Southern press teens with the
most violent and ultra dIshnion sentiments, the
9Ument any movement is made at the North,
tShtemp plating even the possibility of such an
gent the whole South is thrown into eonyul.
pms at our reasonable proceedings, and joins IT'S
a sor'hern allies in their aspersions and maledic-
& Yipns
10 cry up the Union, and cry down all those
30, IN the free States, in any way or manner,
fNwever calmly and discreetly, examine the great
aestion, whether our permanent national pros
perity and happiness can be preserved, while the
dead carcass of slavery is bound to the living
body Of freedom, seems at the present day to be
the great business of politicians and the press.
For one. must confess / am sick of much
cant about g the Union" | know perfectly we'll
that it is ieigned and false-that those who in
dnlRe in 1t do it because they think they must,
:. disunionists''-a name of reproach they dread,
far more than that of . traitors to freedom" Our
political men seem 10 feel, that, SO long as they
insist that they in favor of the Union, at all
hazards and in every emergency, they are safe
hence they are cons antly shouting at the top of
their voices. Great is Diana OF the Ephesian-!''
In my humble opinion, it is h gu time that this
hypocTltlcai buster was sileneed Bat that work
can only be done in primary assemblies OF the
yeomanry OF the country, like that you propose to
A-l1 a. r Il. L
best reason to know, are quite ready to take the
ground, practically, that they will have liberty
and Onion, or no Union whatever. They are ready
not only TO declare, but to act on the principle
that freedom shall be permanent and dominant,
that slavery shall surrender all claims control
affairs Of this nature, OF they will cut off all con
nexion with it. There never was time in the
history of this country when the people needed
bold and determined leaders more than at this
moment But such leaders the people must
themselves create by resolving that such men,
and such only shall receive their countenance and
support II the people will but exhibit the wight
spirit, they will soon have leaders of the right
Btamp. rs
No one thing, as it SCENE to me, is so threat
enng to all our great interests as the blind idola-
try which the press Of the country, whether liter
ary political, or religious, pays to " the Union;"
nothing is so calculated to cnsiave the people,
Supply the public conscience, and destroy all true
manhood. j have not the least hope for
land until this abiect, craven spirit is rebukef,
and men speak out boldly and freely on the
subject of 3 the Union . as they do on other
matters. sri
The Union, we should remember, is a means,
and not an end. While it can be used to pro.
mote the great interests Of freedom, and accel-
crate human progress, every man should give to
it his hearty and cheerful support the moment
il ceases to answer that end, or becomes an en-
CINE of tyranny and oppression, it should be at
once and forever repudiated. Such are my hon
est and earnest convictions, and ! will utter
them fully aud frankly, at whatever peril
am Union man. with all my heart and
soul, and desire most anxiousy that all the
States OF our great confederaey should remain
together in harmony and peace, provided the great
Sdeas Of The Declaration Of Independence be
fully realized By 1t, but certainly not otherwise
How this can be done seems now after all the
demonstrations we have had, more than problem.
Aticsl. Slavery and freedom are absolute and u.
reconcilabte alltagonsnas, that cannot by any hU-
man possibility c5eEist. There is not, was,
and never can be, any "coneord between Christ
and Beiiai"
NowlI think that the more fully and calmly we
examine this great question. the better it will be
for our comm0n country. The incessant stream
Of fulsome adulation of the Union, which flows
from the press of the North, degrades and disgra
ees u.s. in the eyes Of the people Of the South, and
leads them 10 despise and trample on us. They
regard 1t. as we'll they may, as mean, dastardly,
and mercenary. We shall never take one step in
the right direction until I'VE have, in the most un
equiyocal manner. announced 10 them, in Lam
guage they can neither misconstrue nor miaun-
derstand. that we are determined that freedom
shall be national, that slavery II allowed to exist
at all, shall be local institution to be tolerated
only withfn It's present limits, and that every pro-
per means shall be used 70 terminate it, as soon
az practicable that the General Government
shall not recognize it at all, or give it counte-
nance, either directly or indirectly.
NoVv.snir- n the INTACT nj pOursplf and vonr
associ ates is to AWAKEN the people to a Tree
and fearless discussion Of this great question,
with determination to act in such man.
ner as their conviction shall dictate, let that
action be what il may, then am with you !;
II not then you can, and doubtless will, go on.
very satisfactorily wthO IT me, but at all events,
/ am right glad that somebody has had the cour.
age TO move in this matter. The spell must be
broken, even at the risk Of broken heads, and
those who have the hardihood TO engage 10 such
4 work, are the men TO do il.
II is now twenty-five years since entered the
anti-slavery field, and engaged In active efforts to
stem the fearful tide Of oppression in our land.
The lapse Of time. the experience and obserya.
ton Or quarter Of a century, have more and
more oonvinsed me Of the terrible nature Of that
great system Of ehattel slavery by which. az a
people, We are diegraeed and demoralized. While
1 live, therefore. whether acting IN the neral or
political held IN the Church ur State, / hope and
Intend % be found faithful and true 10 the great
fnferGefh Of humanitf Under the hammer of