Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-06
GBe 9allp SPg.
FEBRUARY G. 1888.
Senator CriffeuGen on she DisuniOn
Th~cnfs of Senator Mnson.

senator Criuendssn ON The Dis"niOn
Threats of Senator MasOns
Senator Mason of Virginia, the author of the
Fugitive Slave Law, it will be recOllected, is the
orator ftom the South whom the Union saving
hunkers Of Boston invited to lecture the people
Of New England, en- Bunker Hill, on the 18th of
June last, on the occasion of the Inauguration Of
the statue Of General Warren, upon their " du-
ties" under the Constitution Of the United States
the performance Of which ''duties' was essential
to the preservation of the Union. Disregarding
his own COUNSEL, insolently and hypoortically Of
Tered to the people Of the North. this same Sen
ator Mason goes home and to his seat IN Con
eress, and from thence becomes the chief of FIRE
eaters in the work of threatening to dissolve the
Union, unless the demands Of the ultra slavery
propagandists are complied with, however sun.
constitutional" may be those demands, how
ever contrary they may be to the voice and wishes
of the people of the free States, who constitute
majority OF two to one Of the people of the whole
Union.
But it is fortunate that the South has some
honorable men yet left, worthy descendants. in
character, of their predecessors of the Revolu-
tonary time. Prominent among these is the
gallant Cr,tenden of Kentucky. Senator Crit
tenden, in his speech against staving off the ap-
plication of the free State of Minnesota for adj
mission into the Union, until the admission Of
Kanzas, with IFS pro-slavery Lecompton Consti
tuition, shall also be communication arrange
ment contrived and advocated by Mason and his
slave-dfiying onfederates-alldded to the dis
union menaces of Senator Mason, in the follow
ing patriotic and eloquent manner;
With all these arguments and views, and in
almost every argument and controversy that
nov witness on this floor, are mingled, to give
them strength and point, either prOgnostics Of
the overthrow OF this government or threats
against its existence. This is the common
strengthening means now thrown into every ar
gument here. While we prize the Union, while
we would, sure-and the very gentlemen
who use this language would-do all they could
TO preserve and perpetuate the Constitution and
the Union, there is not day that we are not
doomed to listen here, over and over again, to
threats Of its overthrow predictions made little
prophecies thrown out, that to-day. to. morrow,
or at some day near at hand, this Government is
to be no more. Sir, this is the most unfortunate
and ominous sign that exists IN the whole coun-
try, in my judgment II such language can be
familiarly used, and thrown into every argument
as a make-weght-as dust in the balance-if
these threats can be made here against the exist
enee OF the Union, and II they can have any et-
feet upon the people of this country then, indeed.
sir, we may well apprehend that it cannot last
long.
I hope it will last forever; and if nobody
threatened it until l did, it would last forever.
applause in the galleres) Yes, sir, and it will
last much longer than gentlemen here, by con
tinual repetition, and reflection, and meditation,
believe TO be near at hand and it would last
much longer, perhaps, but for these medtations.
They prize it so highly that the remotest danger
affects them; and they forthwith begin to proph-
esy that IFS end is near at hand or they are pro-
voked at something which is done which they
think is adverse to the interests of the Republic
and the Union, and then they threaten; but all
this is promoting the very purpose and the very
end against which. | know, in their heart,
they are opposed, and with their hands would OPP
pose.
We should do well, think, to throw out of all
our ordinary course of argument these threats
and these prophecies. l believe the Union is to
live. not because wish it,oi you wish it, sir but
il is to live for ages l believe it is enshrined in
the hearts of the people, and they will be its sus-
tainers and maintainers, even if we should be
reereant to the part we are to act, and desire its
overthrow 1t is not in our power-thank God
it is not in the power of the Senate, or OF the
Congress of the United States-to overthrow this
Government and rejoice in it. tApplause in
the gaieIes.)