Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-07
THE UNION AND THE CONSTITUTION,

Certain gentlemen in Boston, 1t is SAID pro-
pose to hold Union Meeting" in Faneuil
Hall. The purpose of this meeting is not stat
ed very clearly but, according to the Boston
Courier, it is to reassure our brethren in other
parts of the country" Reassure them on
what point? Nowhere in the country is there
more true regard for the Union and Constitu-
ton than here in Massachusetts. Massschu-
sets has always performed her duties under
the Constitution with great fidelity She can
not be accused in this respect. If she has
failed at all, the failure has been on the other
side; and the only proper inquiry concerning
our Federal Relations is, whether zeal for the
Constitution and the Union has not sometimes
been allowed to trample on legitimate State
Sovereignty.
But, the prime movers of this meeting are
the Boston Courier aod the Boston Pest and
this fact tells very plainly what it means.
These journals make it their chief business to
msrepresent and libel the northern states, and
mlslead the judgment of their readers in re-
gard to the views and aims of the Republican
party. They describe to the south condi-
ton of sentiment and purpose in the great ma
jority of our people which does not exist, and
thus do everything in their power to create
misunderstanding. What care they for any
patriotic appeal, SO long as they can hope that
dishonesty and falsehood may gain something
for the Democratic party In such journals,
and in the men whom they represent, the pro-
fession of lofty zeal for the Union and the Con.
stitution is the most ineffable hypocrisy
Moreover, if the effort to get up the propos-
ed demonstration really meant what is profess.
ed, there would have been careful consultation
with those who represent the views of Massa-
chusetts. The whole country knows very
well that the Courier and Post represent but
few persons in this state-the Post speaking
only for the federal office holders, and the
Courier for very insignificant number of gen
temen who usually act with them politically.
What can there be, in demonstra ion of these
people, to re-assure men in other parts of the
country? They do not represent this Com
monwealth and while they continue SO ma
ignantly to falsify the views of our people,
their Union Meeting will not pass for much
anywhere. If they wish to "reassure" any.
body, let them begin the work by retracting
those falsehoods about the Republicans, in
which we are described as enemies of the
South"
Under ordinary circumstances there can be
no reasonable objection to patriotic demonstra-
tons of regard for the Union, and there are
occasions when they are peculiarly appropriate
But there are times when the destinations pa
rade of such demonstrations means treason to
the Republic; and respectable gentlemen who
engage in them at such times do not consider,
as they should, that they set bad example to
others and put in jeopardy their claim to the
respect of good citizens. Union Meetings held
in response to southern threats of disunion are
little better than conspiracies against the con-
stitution, and they do more than anything else
to stimulate the treason that seeks to destroy
it. Such measures of the slave power are
employed as means to perpetuate its rule of
the country. They are intended to beat down
opposition to its sway, and help its agent, the
democratic party, crush out free principles in
the North as well as the South and we shall
hear them uttered in every tone of voice that
is deemed terrible, as long as there are news
papers and men in the north to bid us tremble
when they are heard, and maintain that the de
mands of slavery and the claims of the consti-
ton are identical. And, observe, it is always
from the democratic party and its abettors that
we hear these menaces. In the South the
leaders of that party never fail to agitate the
slavery question for political effect; but when
their cutlery no longer secures Union meeting
responses in the free states, it will be discon-
tinued as worn-out humbug.