Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-17
THE UNION MEETING IN BOSTON
speech of Edward Everett.

on any occasion of a political character; and
bad This meeting been OF party nature or
designed to promote any party purposes,
should not have been here. When compelled.
by the prostration of nv health. five years
ago, to resign the distinguished place which
l then filled in the public service, it was with
no expectation, no wish, and no intention of
ever again minging in the scenes of public
life. | have, accordingly, with the partial re.
storation OF my health, ahsiaincd from all
participation in political action of any kind;
partly because | have found a more congeni-
al, and, as | venture TO think, q more us,.ful
occupation in seeking to rally the affections
of my countrymen North and South to that
great name and precious memory which is
left almost alone of all the numerous kindly
associations. which once bound the different
sections of the country together; and also
because, between the extremes of opinion that
have long distracted. and now threaten to
convulse the country, | find no middle ground
of practical usefulness, on which a friend of
moderate counsels can stand. think do il
little good try to in my waning years, in
augmenting the funds of the charitable nsti-
tlons-cOmmemorating from time to time
the hUnOrcd dead and the great events of past
days; and chiefly in my humble efforts 10 res
cue from Dissertation and the vicissitudes of
private property the home and grave of Wash
ington. These, sir, seem to me 10 be inno-
cent and appropriate occupations for the de-
aline of life. | am more than coRtentcd with
the favor with which these, my humble labors,
are regarded by the great majority OF my
cOuntrymen; and knowing by experience how
unsatisiying in the enjoyment are the bright
est prizes of political ambition. gladly re-
sign the pursuit of them to younger men.
Sir, the North and the South, including the
Northwest and the Southwest, have become
fiercely, bitterly urrayed against each Other.
There is no place left in public life for those
who love them both. The war OF words--Of
the Press, of The platform, of the State Legis-
latures, and. must add. the pulpit?--has been
pu, he'd to point of evaporation, which. on
the slightest untoward accident, may rush TO
the Lloody arbitramcnt of the sword. The
great ancient master of political science fAris
toIle) tells us, that though revolutions do not
lnke place for small causes, they do from
small causes. He means, sir that when the
minds of the community have become hope
lcssly emhittrred and exasperated by long
continued irritation. the slightest occurrence
will bring on the catastrophe.
In fact, il seems to me that we have reach
ed II state of things which requires all good
men and good patriots to forcgo for time
all mere party projects and calculations, and
t abandon all ordinary political isl e which
calls, i'll a word upon all who love the country
and cherish the Union. and desire the contn-
uance of those blessings which we have till
lately enjoyed under the Constitution trans
mittcd to us 10y our Fathers, and which re-
gard the noblcst work of political wisdom
ever achievcd-to meet as one man and take
counsel for its preservation. 1t is this feel
ing that has brought me here to-day.
1t will probably be said, Sir. that those
who entertain views like there exaggerate
the gravity Of the crisis. / wish | could
think so. But fear il is not we who exag-
eerate, but those who differ from us. that
great y-and soon. l fear it will be. fatally
undcrrDte the ominous signs of the times.
fear, Sir, that they are greatly mislcd by the
one-sid, views exclusively presented by the
party press, and those who rely upon the
party press exclusively for their impressions
and that they are dangerously ignorant of
the stare of opinion and feeling in the other
great section of the country. / greatly fear
that the mass of the community, long accus-
toned to treat all alarm iOr the stability of
the Union as groundless, all protested anXi-
ETY. for it's prcserv alton as insncere. or If sin
cerc. the result OF nervous tim. dIty, have I'M
fitted themselves to measure the extent and
the urgency of the existing danger. II is
nv own deliberate conviction, formed from
some opportunities of per,onal observation,
and from friendly correspondence with other
parts of the country (thOugh / carry on none
of political nature), that we are on the very
verge of n CONFUSION which will shake the
Union TO it's foundation; and that a few
more steps forward, in the direction in which
affairs have moved for few years past, will
bring us to the catastrophe.
| have heard it urged on former occasions
of public alarm, that il must he groundlcss.
because business goes on as nSual-and the
theatcrs are open, aud stocks keep up. Sir.
these appearances may all be dclusivc. The
great social machine moves with momentum
that cannot be suddenly stopped. The ordi-
nary operations of business went on in
France, in the revolution Of 1879. till the
annihilatiun of the circulating medium put
stop to everything thatr quir'd its use. The
theaterS aud all the other places of public
amusement were crowded TO madness in The
reign OF terror. The French stocks never
stood better than they did In Paris on the
2lst OF February, ls4s. On the 24th Of
that month Louis PHILIPPE was flying in dis
guise from his capital: the Tuillerics was
sacked. aud the oldest monarchy in Europe
had ceased to exist.
/ hold IL tn he time then, sir, ms | have
said, for good men and good patriots, casting
aside all mere party considerations. and post
poning at least ali ordinary political issues,
TO pause; to look steadily IN the face the
condition of things 10 which VIC ARE approach
ing; and 20 ak .lseir own consciences
whether they can do nothing TO avert the
crisis, and bring about happier aud bet
ter state of things. | do not ask them to
search the past for topics Of rcproach or re-
elimination on men or parties. We have
had enough at that. and II has contribute
materially to bring about eur perilous condi-
ton. Ia all countries where speech aud the
prcSs are free, especially those countries
which by controlling natural canses fall iatn
two great sections, each possessing indepen-
dent local legislatures and centres ~ opinion
and influence, there will, in The lapse OF
time. unavoidably he action and reaction OF
word or deed. Violence OF speech or Of act
on the one eide, viii unavoidably produce
violence of speech and act on the other.
Each new grievance is alternately cause and
eflect-and If. before rsorting 10 healing
connsels, we are detertninyd 10 run over the
dFeary catalogue, To see who was earliest
or who has been mott Ia biame. We engage
In a controversy ia which there is no arblIeF,
and OF which there can be no solution.
But without Ieviying the angry or SORROW
ful memories OF tue past, let me, Ia all friend
illness, ask the question, Nhat has either
section to gain by dissolution OF the Union.
with reference TO that terrible question
which threatens To destroy H. / asA patri-
o-lS men IA DOH sccll"ns ~ Inh "Nei az t.''"
minds the causes OF complaint which they
have, or think they have. la the existing
state Of thing, aud then ask iheaiSelyes dir
passionaIriy. whether anything Is Ia be
gained, anything 10 be hoprd. by pushing tbS
present alienation 10 thai ialal bourne from
which as ironI death, there is 10 Tetnrag
VIII the South gain any greater stability FIR
her social system. any larger entl ance into
the vacant public territories Viii abe
North have effected any one object, which
by Epen of any shade OF opinion, extreme or
moderate, IL deemed desirable on the cor
trary, will not csery evil she desiFes 10 ne
medy be confirm and aggrayatedf II this
view Of the sublect BE- correct. what can be-
more UNIV ise-- hat more suieidal--thsn To
allow these deplorabla dl-seasions 10 result
n regolution, which ali leave two great
actions VI The county ia = worse condition