The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-05
THE UNION MEETINGS.

THE UNION MEETINGS.
The Union meetings which have been he'll,
in the Northern cities have been got up by
combination of the political and mercantil
toadies of that region, whose patriotism has it
fruition in the honors and spoils of Office or tn
profits of trade. Everybody knows this to b.
the case; and nowhere are the hollow an,
hypocritical demonstrations of loyalty to tn
Union more correctly appreciated, or held il
profounder contempt, than in the South. A
Georgia newspaper, styled the Southern Con,
.federacy, says:
The recent Union meetings at the Nortl
meet with no response at the South. We woult
be glad to see it, if we could have confidence
We regard these Union meetings at the Nortl
as an inherent ebullition of treacherous philan
thropy-a false pretence of Southern ympathy
actuated from mercenary motives, and con
cocted by speculative swindlers."
The Charleston Mercury says:
"The angry South must be appeased for the
tme--protestatons must be made, and some
body nnst make them. This part of the iobbinQ
falls to the lot of the so-called Conservatives.
The Conservatives are very useful 1institu
ton at the North. They answer a yerv GOOD
purpose, and are an essential part of the North
ern policy. They are the gerry rearouard o,
Abolaionism. The Republican army marcbe,
forward to the battle of Abolitionism. and the
Conservatives cover their progress by diver
sions, and parleying, and by-play. We are
neither speaking paradoxically, nor lightly, mol
preJudicially. 1t is very grave and momen.
tous fact. We will illustrate our meaning
The Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, of Massachu.
sets, is Conservative The Hon. Rober,
Z. Winthrop was the first gentleman who in.
troduced Abolition petitions into the House OF
Representatives. The Hon. Robert C. Winthrop
was elected from his seat in the Senate, some
few years ago, by such thing as Charles Sum.
ner. The Hon. Robert c. Winthrop declared
in Faneuil Hall, in 1854, that his tongue would
cleave to the roof of his mouth, and his right
hand be Topped from his body, before he would
either vote tor any measure, or set his hand to
any bill, by which Slavery should be allowed to
enter another foot of our Territories. The
Hon. Robert G. Winthrop is turned out of the
Senate because he is too Conservative a man.
Mr. Everett, and many other distinguished gen.
tlemen at the North, are quite as violent in
their opposition to Slavery as Mr. Winthrop.
But Mr.. Everett is nowhere-he is run over
lett behind. These gentlemen are 'Conserva.
The difference between the Conservatives ,
and the Republicans is just the difference be-
tween Lucifer and Satan"
AT every crisis in the history of the Gov
eminent, when the South has cried out with in.
dlgnatlon and protest against unconstitutional
Legislation "nd outrage, th1-a L.s ;.--.-~l:-..Iy
arisen conservative demonstration at the
North, but the Conservatives are always one
day after the fair; and the conservatives ,
are always in a most convenient minority.
They are admirable skirmishers, and cover the
retreat of q bold sallying or marauding party
with great skill and eclat"
Th- following remarks of the Baltimore Err.
change are too good to be lost:
The latest Union demonstration in the CITY
OF Philadelphia has certainly not been of char
acter to merit the appreciation of good men and
honest citzens IN any portion of our country.
Unless the loyalty of the Philadelphians can
be attested in some less Objectionable way than
by stoning building in which an Abolitiopist
lecturer is advertised to speak, we think our
neighbors had better let their patriotism be
suspected, than incur the reproach which such
lawless proceedings are certain to entail. A
mob like that which gathered and ragged around
National Hall on Thursday night, on the occa-
son OF Mr. Curtiss lecture, is scarcely in &C.
cordance with what should be the pacific char.
acter of the City of Brotherly Love- and
clearly in conflict with the mild and tolerant
tenets of its founder, Penn. If the action of
the ten thousand people who then and there
assembled to testify their Interpretation of the
sentiments of the lecturer savored somewhat
Of mob violence, and recalled passages in the
past history of Philadelphia which were best
when soonest forgotten, the course of the
Mayor and Sherif-of the former in ordering
. flag to be removed which was suspended in
root of a building in which an Abolitionist
Fair was being held, and of the latter in at
empting to break up the Fair altogether--par.
'ook strongly Of the character of official perse-
,ution. Our Philadelphia friends,
IN the other hand, have, we fear, somewhat
,vershot the mark. They have carried their
orotestations of sympathy with Slavery to a
ength which may almost justify suspicion of
heir sincerity. They are so exceedingly friendly.
hat we scarcely know how to take them at
heir word, particularly when, in the very heat
md fervor of their patriotism-the very tor
ent tempest and whirlwind of their passion
hey have not forgotten, it seems, to keep a
harp eye to windward. Wise in their genera. |
ion, and noted for their thrift and close atten.
ion to business, the children of Penn have ever
'een; but never, we think, did they manifest
he force of early training more strongly than |
vhen they directed the proceedings Of their |
ate Union meeting at Jayne's Hall to be pub |
lshed in the Philadelphia Commercial Last, |
md ordered twenty thousand copies for distri. |
'ution among Southern merchants. If our |
riends and neighbors would have credit for |
onesty and good intentions, they must take |
eed to let their patriotism smell less strongly |
f the shop, advertise it less widely, and mani |
est it not quite so uproariously. Fewer paving |
tones, Messieurs, for the heads of the Adolf. |
onists, and fewer and less transparent bids |
Or Southern custom, and perhaps we of the
outh shall respect you more, and not confde
q you less !"
The Savannah (Ga.) Express has the follow.
,g delicate allusion to the Philadelphia meet
lg:
Notwithstanding these manifestations of
atriotism and these eloquent speeches, doubt
ests in the minds of the Southern people, as to
lie amount of credit that should be given to
nch protestations, and a suspicion that they
lay be induced by other than patriotic motives,
estroys that confidence which they might
therwise create.
:" The truth is, the South have no confidence
/ these profers of sympathy and friendship,
r they believe them to be based upon inter.
It, and know them to be hollow and insincere.n
The same journal is still more compliment
y to the Boston demonstration. 1t says:
ave cannot but regard this exhibition of
cling, at this juncture, as induced more by
terest than by sense of propriety, or from q
al wish to yield to the South her reasonable
ID constitutional demands. We are support.
|, in forming this opinion, by the concluding
ntences of one the Posts articles: ne fear
is of retaliation, sOhich sOM seriously damage
Ir fishing, shipping, and manufacturing IN
rests Not that we have sinned
,ainst the laws of brotherhood and moral and
duty, but we have exposed our
to the stormy gales of Southern