The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-12-28
Speech Of Caleb Gushing.

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The following is an abstract of the
Speech of Hon. CALEB CUSHING at the
celebrated Union Meeting at Boston:
Mr. PREsIIENT: 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 name ever
honored insthe councils of this State and
of the United States, and of blood sacri.
feed, generation after generation, by the
red baptism of the battle field, applause
to you. who, called from the retirement
of years at the voice of your country's
peril, stand here in your venerable white
hairs. lifted by age far above those inter-
ests and passions that may move US lesser
men, and stand there as monumental
marble statue of the better days of the
Republic, Cloud applause, ] the ft patriot
to preside over the great assemblage of
the aroused and uprising patriotism O:
Massachusetts,. Renewed applause. il
Oh, Sir, that Webster 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 skyl Oh, that Choate
were here to stream upon you the flashes
of his mind, like tho lightning of that sky!
Oh, that Webster and Choate we're here,
as. if living, they would be, to rcbuke
treason together; to hurl upon its, foul
head the blazing thunderbolts Of their
scoru, their indignation and their wrath!
[tumultuous cheering and cries of "Good"
'Good;' and to proclaim trumpet-toneued
to earth and to heaven, the fraternal SYM
pathy ofthe brave old Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, for the brave old Colony Of
Virginia (Renewed applause. Alas.
alas, they are gone; but on you, Sir, lad
dressing Mr.. Everett, their companion
and their friend, their mantle has descend.
ed. (Applause.] Most nobly do you
this Cay wear it, as, in such thoughts and
words of transcendart eloquencs as you
alone of living men command, Echeers,
you have spoken here for the peace ind
honor Of Massachusetts,. me-what
remains9 A humble part upon this oc-
casion. ,s,a,gf fs1 sffesas as
Now, fellow. citizens, let me tnrn to y on.
And before addressing to you those refec-
tioDs which have occurred to me as per-
tinent to this occasion, permit me to offsI
q word of personal preface. Let me as.
sure you, most solemnly, that stand here
with no possible thought apart from the
performance of my duty to myself, in the
attempt at least, to utter worthy thoughts
d in behalf of the tarnished honor of Mas
sachusetts. For that, and for that alone
I stood upon this platform two years age
and endeavored to show to the people o
Massachusetts that this great Republic
the glory of modern civilization, amid th,
, examinations aud recriminations North ani
South, amid the conflict of interests ant
passions which are shaking it to its center
, seemed to be on the point of committing
national suicide, in q transport of nationa
madness l ,endeavored to show you how j
was that handful ofhigh!y Intellectual bu
most misguided men in this State of Mas
8 sachusctts, animated with the monomanii
!, of fanatical devotion to one single idea
e had o soued the consciences and corrupt
t ed the judgments of SO many of their fel
p low-ci,izens in tho influence of their ma
i iign teachings, all party action, Mort
and South, was running in the channel {
s o desperate and ldeplorable sectionalisu
J, and that. above all, here in Massachusett
: all the political Influences Gorinant in thi
d State were founded. upon the : emotion (
K hate-aye hale-treacherous. ferociou
6endish hate---of our fellow citizens j
the Southern States Applause an
. cries Of "Good, . "Good"1 and 1 pIeade
: to you conciliation, mutual forbearanc
9 reconcilement Of conflicting interests,
n order that the Comm onwealth of Mass,
chusetls. might resume her, appropria,
It place as the guide of the patriotism
!. of these United States. Ipleaded unsu,
Is cessfully. I entered the, Legislature
,e Massachusetts, there to attack this set
+ tionalisr ia its stronghold. l failed
III of success. said to myself in a momel
"a despondency, why struggfein vain91 WI
r. draw upon myself the odium of my fellow
Is citizens 6y struggling in vain against tn
,e malign, influence? What are time an
b tide to mes 1can play, my part in Il
i. drama of life. whether it be peace or VI,
,ei fcheers and il these misguided passion
Re tare.to bring upon our happy land the CT
" lamity of civil war, devastation, massacr
% ruin, God will provide me q duty 70 pc
a form, and the head and the hand to d
(. and to suffer, according to the will of II
of good providence. Applause.
BIT But, gentlemen; it seemed to me ST
y that there was hops Iresolved9 to Il
IN the expefiment, and see whether or n
,e the heart of Massac chusetts was sound.-
Y. / undertook, the defense of three of y
d fellow citizens, indited by the State
/. Massachusetts. in the performance Of VIII
d they thought to be duty to the Cons,
At tuition ofthe United States and to the
country. although in violation of the u
constitutional law aud unco6stitution
!, opinion of the State Of Massachuset
q cheers ]; and there, in that humble villa
: Gourt house aft RarnetahIa thors sn3 !,