Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-14
speech of Charles OsConOr, Esq, at the
Great Union Mass Meeting Cooper AnSti-
fuf In 81. G.

nealtny response 70 tile glorious CAL WHICH has
been made upon the patriotism OF the people OF the
City OF New York.
You have been called together, gentlemen, pursu-
ant to an authority emanatDg from political par
ty from no partial faction, from no friends Of any
particular man, from friends of particular tenn
porary measures OF policy but pursuant to an au-
thoriCy emanatng directly and spontaneously from
yourselves, the people You called together for
the purpose of determining momentous question,
involving neither more less than this simple 10
sue Shall this great and glorious union cease with
the year 1861, shall 1t be perpetuated forever!
fCries of For Ever."l That is the questlon-that
is the question, gentlemen, which originally ciied
you, the citizens OF New York, together, ana ieu
you to constitute the Committee who have now MADE
their report That Committee have dehDerateu,
they have acted and have made their report lou
are now summoned TO pass upon 1t, and 10 determine
whether the ends thsy aimed at were worthy, ana
whether the means they have employed were hoA-
orabe and whether the MEANS II lalth1ully ana
vigorously enforced, are adequate secure inc Cd
iect proposed-the preservation OF our Union. Ap-
plausel That is the question to be considered by
you this evening
notieal life in our city and IN our State we have
ALWAYS had some single individual at the head of
the political party which we were attached,
whom we presented to our iellOw-citZens for the
highest office in their gift in whose virtues in whose
moral qualities and talents We relied for the accom-
plshment OF tie objects in view by the approaching
election.
3ut now. gentlemen, we have come together, set
ting aside tor the moment all considerations men
setting aside for the moment our consideration
for Mr. Breckenridge, setting aside for the moment
our admiration Of Mr. Douglas, setting aside for the
moment our admiration of Mr.. Eel forgetting
Names forge ting men, sacrificing all personal pre-
elections all private interests all personal partia
ties and enrolled ourselves under principle dear
to the heart of every true. honest, and patriotic
American-the principle written on the banner over
your Presidents char: Union for the sake OF
the Union. [Cheers] Gentlemen, is this great
sacrifice of the PASSIONS feelings and interests,
which affect us in this life, honorable Is the sacrl-
fee demanded? Gentlemen. what is at stake
Why let us look at our condition. Let us look and
see what is threatened by the political party against
whom we are now arrayed, and ask ourselves, Is or
is not every sacrifice of this description demanded
IN the impending crisis and is not persiStency in
it demanded? Are we not called upon by every
principle that should the heart of patriotic
citizen to make all the sacrifices IN our power which
can promote the accomplishment of the objects
which this meeting has in view? Applause
Gentlemen we occupy position which attracts the
admiration of all who hate US, and, may say, the
envy of all in other climes who love US. Cheers
They envy our cOnditiOn-feeling that sentiment to
a reasonable and honorable extent, they envy our
condition SO far thas they would desire to par
ticipate in it, and as have said, those who hate
US cannot withhold the tribute of their admiration.
[Applause.l
This country let me remind you. gentlemen. is
now in state of prosperity unexampled in the
history of past times-a prosperity winch Is not
only national but individuals prosperity which
pervades all classes of society," prosperity that
reaches all classes of society, even including
the negro slave himself [Applause.l Gentle
men, we now enjoy that state of prosperity. 1t
has been the result Of our magnitcently con-
ceived, and, [ think ! may say, of our divnely
framed Constitution and system of Government.
We have been carried on under its administra-
ton to pinch of prosperity that few can imagine,
and which words can adequately describe.
We are held together to-day by the ties of come
mon fraternity. But we are informed, in Language
too plain to be misunderstood by the anti-slavery
party-if they succeed in eecting their candidates
they will devise means through the forms offered to
destroy the institution upon which the prosperity of
the South depends Their object now plainly, dis
tincty and unequivOcally aVOwed, is to discover the
ties that bind the negro servant TO his white master
This has been announced in a distinct form. The
conflict with Southern interests has been described
as irrepressible. All that constitutes the wealth
and prosperity of the South is to be destroyed in
this conflict What, gentlemen, what can we ex-
pect from the success of party organized on such
a basis? Certainly one Of two things. Either that
the people of the Southern States will submit to be
virtually denationazed, subjected to Colonial vas
salage as Canada Is TO Britain Ireland has lonL
been and as many an oppressed country has been
by foreign monarchical tyrants. They must either
submit to that willingly or they must be made to
submit to it by the power of the sword. Thus,
Northern arms are crush and PROSTATE the liber-
~ and independence of the South. Are you pre-,
pared that your strength the influence of your
State and of your tellow-citizeBs throughout the
North shall be employed in a WORK so unholy ?
TCries of NO neyer.] Then, if you are not willing
that your swords shall be thus employed-that the
strength of your Territory shall not be thus employ
ed as the South will not tamely yield to such sub
iugatIon-the necessary cOnseQ lence then is that
he will tp hex feel hat hoy
are entitled enjoy equal privileges with all the
members of this COntederaCy, and unless allowed
those privileges Trey Will not remain in IL Are you
willing that this glorious Union, formed in 76 shall
perish in 1861? Are you prepared for this! trust
you are not know you are not. [Cries of'No, no =
And now felloR-citlZens. need hardly say to you
that the aims OF the Black Republicans is longer
matter of disguise. There was time when the most
eminent statesman in tleiF ranks hoped to become
their leader2nd to be their candidate foe the Chief
Nagistracy lie hoped to reach the Presidency, and
probably intended TO disappoint their expectations.
Doubtless he designed attempting to satisfy the South
by giving them tOlerably Conservative Admins
traIion. Then, while proving false to his party and
to his implied promises he might by possibility have
held the North and South together. That cunning
Statesman his return from his recent trip to Eu-
rope found the whole Southern country excited by
the raid of John Brown, and becoming alarmed he
made what called a moderately conservative
speech, in which he gave the public to understand
that under his administration the country Wouid be
safe and the Union by no means endangered. This
gave rise TO presumption that he would kic; away
the ladder by which he had raised himself TO power
-trample upOn the means that had elected him to
and play the part of tOleraby well behaved
dent Well, gentlemen. what followed? The
Republican party in the secret councils of Its mana
gers and leaders, controlled by its extreme men and
by its philosophers held consultation here and
sultati0n there and finally to the conclusion
that this little Billy Seward. of Auburn, would
make a tOlePaby good President Ofthe United States
and that therefore, he was not the man for their
money so they disappointed him The man who
could talk so well about irrepressible conflicts
and then say that he did not seriously it, and
intended TO be very conservative and constitutional
Iaw-abidng President, would not suit them. After
all the South might get along with him very well
Well Mr. Seward did not know that these consul
tatlons had been held and slept in perfect secur
ty. He was not one OF the " Philosophers. lie
was only stump orator and politician, who denied
office intending to make good a use Of it for him
self and his friends he could He was one of
those men who have resort to any novelties for the
purpose of pleasing what is sometimes called the
multitude, but who mean nothing whatever by It,
On this principle he has always acted. and always
failed He has if may say it, paid his addresses, in
succession 70 three old ladies, with each OF
whom he has been rather unfortunate Applause
He first made court, in his gay and gallant youth 80
an old women who went by the name OF Anti (aunty)
Masonry do no not know that there was an actual
marriage between them but their relations very
intimate and continued until the old woman died at
last she did die and WIN. II. SEWARD was left wild
over. uaughterl Then he cOurted another old
woman who had not quite so large estate as his
first love She was called Ambient. But here his
correspondeuce was of shorter duration. The old
Iadv fell sick and if not absolutely dead she is very
near it. Her people have still little place up in the
heidelberg mountains but whether she is actually
dead or not cannot affirm, but that is presumption,
for our law is positive its provisions against the
crime of biQamy, and Mr. Seward has taken to him
self another mate. He left Aunty Rent and gained
the affection of another old woman, whose name is
NOT unfamiliar to YOU nean Aunty-Slavery.
RI augbterl That was his third and last association
in welded life [Lsughter,l And he succeeded
nerfectly with this good lady until he made that
unfortunate conservative speech. His new found
Conservatism began Immediately TO operate against
him and the old woman became jealous Laugh
teri She called all her friends and philosophers
ouietlv about her, to talk over the case OF VIM H.
Seward His fidelity subject to rigorous
scruntiv. he was tried IN the balance, and found
,vantinc This however was keptsee ana was not
iii one bright morning when the party was IN coun-
I'll at Chicago that all of q sudden. the sentence
Of the philosophers was read. to the astonlshe1 FOL
lowers of Seward " Bill Seward was repudlated,
and it was announced that the old woman had thaS-
an a new busbrnd, and remarkable hHndsame one,
TanpIause and laughter abraham Lincoln, The
Illinois rail-splitter. [Renewed lsughter.l Inc
philosophers choice of Lincoln went upon positive
iact and very insignificant one,-it was tAatthe