The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-12-30
VOL. l..


Nh. PREsIDEST-I rejoice that to you
Sir, on this occasion, all speech is in the
| first instance to be addressed-to you, the
living representative of a name ever hon
ored in the councils of this State, and o
the United States, and of blood sacrificed
generation after generation, by the red
baptism of the battle field, Applause -te
You who, called from the retirement O
years at the voice Of your country's peril
stand in your venerable white hairs, lifted
by age far above those interests and pas
sions that may move US lesser men, and
stand there as monumental marble stat
ue of the better days ofthe Republic, loud
appl ause the fit patriot to preside over
this great assemblage of the aroused and
| uprising patriotism of Massachusetts -
| Renewed applause. Oh, sir, that Web
ster and Choate were here! Applause.
Oh, that Webster were here to utter words
of wisdom in those grave tones of his, like
the deep cloud voices of the sky! Oh, that
Choate we're here to stream upon you the
flashes of his mind, like the lightning Of
that sky. Oh, that Webster and Choate
were here, as, if living, they would be, to
rebuke treason together; to hurl upon its
foul head the blazing thunderbolts of their
scorn, their indignation, and their wrath
tumuItuous cheering, and cries of "Good,' y
"Good,' and to proclaim, trumpet
tongued, to earth and to Heaven, the fra
terual sympathy of the brave old Common
wealth of Massachusetts for the brave old
/ Colony of Virginia. Renewed applause
Alas, alas, they are gone; but on you, sir,
addressing Mr.. Everett) their companion
and their companion and their friend,
their mantle has descended. Applause.
Most nobly do you this day wear it, as, in
such thoughts and words Of transcendent
eloquence as you alone of living men
command cheers you have spoken here
for the peace ard for the honor of Massa
chusetts. For me, what rem aims? A hum
ble part on this occasion.
Now, fellow citizens, let me turn to
you. And before addressing to you those
reflections which occurred to me as peril
nent to this occasion, permit me TO offer a
word ofpersonal preface. L~t niie assure
you, most solemnly, that stand here with
no possible thought apart from the perfor-
nance of my duty to myself, in the at
tempt, at least, to utter worthy senti-
monts in behalf of the tarnished honor of
Massachusetts,. For that and that alone,
| stood upon this platform two years ago,
and | endeavored to show to the people of
Massachusetts, that this great Republic,
the glory of modern civilization, amid the
examinations and re examinations, North
aud South, amid the conflicts Of interest
and passions which were shaking it to its
centre, seemed to be on tie point of com
hitting national suicide, in a transport of
national madness. | endeavored to show
you how it was that handful Of highly in
tellectpal, but most misguided men, in
this State of Massachusetts animated with
the monomania Of fanatical devotion to
one single idea, had poisoned the con
sciences, and corrupted the judgments
of SO many Of their fellow citizens in this
commonwealth. | showed you how, IN
der the influence of their malign teach
ings, all party action, North and South,
was running in the channel of desperate
and deplorable sectionalism, and that,
aboNc MI, IItiS III hldSSdCIllStIIS, vi d!t lllc
political influences dominant in this State,
were founded upon the single emotion of
hate. Aye, hate-treacherous ferocious,
fiendish hate-of ouI fellow citizens in the
Southern States Applause, and cries of
Good, Good."l And | pleaded to you
Cancellation, mutual forbearance, recon-
element of conflicting interests, in order
that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
might resume her appropriate place as the
guide of these United States
Ipleaded unsuccessfully. | entered the
Legislature of Massachusetts,, there to at
tack this sectionalism in its stronghold -
| said to myself in moment of despon-
dency, why struggle in vain! Why draw
upon myself the odium of my fellow citi-
zens by struggling in vain against this ma
ign influence! What are time and tide to
me: | can play my part in the drama of
life, whether it be peace or war; and if
these misguided passions are to bring up
on our happy land the calamity of civil
war, devastation, massacre, ruin, God will
provide for me duty to perform, and the
head and the hand to do and to suffer, &C
cording to the will Of his good providence.
Applause
Bot, gentlemen, it seemed to me still
that there was hope. | resolved to try
the experiment, and see whether or not
| the heart of Massachusetts was sound. |
undertook the defence of three Of nv fel.
low citizens, indicted in the State Of Mas
sachusetts for the performance ofwhat they
/ thought to be duty 10 the constitution
/ of the United States and TO their country
although in violation of the unconstitu
tional law and unconstitutional opinion 0
the State of Massachusetts,; cheersl anC
there, in that humble village court hous
at Barnsta5le-there, in the presence 0
that upright Judge. of that conscienciou
jury, did find that the heart of the Com
monwealth was sound TO the core; grea
cheering that it needed only that me-
should be reasoned with frankly, undis
guisedly, in order TO djspel from thei
minds those delusions of one-ideaed fanal
icism, which seem to be hurrying tn
Commonwealth and hurrying the Uaio
into the unfathomable abyss Of destruC
ton. And now, fellow citizens. as stan
here, as | see representation Of the inte
ligence, of the wisdom, Of the virtue. {
the strong hearts and strong hands of th
people Of Massachusetts,, hope and conf
dence return to my heart. Applause /