The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-05-31
MlisteIlaneous.
THE UNRIGHTEoUs WAR
vAGED BY THE SHAREHOLDERS.

On the sth inst Hon. EDWARD EVERETT delivered
the following speech at ROxbury, at a meeting
for the benefit Of the Volunteers,
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The object which brings us together. even
IL il had not been so satisfactorily stated and
50 pcrsuasively enforced by the gentlemen
who have preceded me, sufficiently explains
itself. At the call Of the President, second
ed with the most praiseworthy and almost
unexampled energy by the Governor OF Mas
sachusetts, a numerous force Of volunteers
has patriOtically FASTENED to the defence Of
the Capital Of the United States, threatened
by invasion. The war, for a long time tho
in profound peace prepared for, has been
openly commenced by the South, by the sell
xure of the undefended forts, arsenals, dock
yards, mints and custom-houscs Of the Uni
ted States, and the plumber OF the property
contained in them; in aasrant violation OF
the law Of tho land, If the South is still in
Union, and equally Hagrant violation Of every
principle of international law, If she. is out
of the Union. But even these acts Of trea.
son and rebellion. for such they are. arc
thrown into the shade by the last unuttera-
BILE outrage upon the aaS Of the Union at
Fort Sumter, Ia fort which no more belongs
to South Carolina than it does to New York
or Massachusetts,, which has rallied twenty
millions TO its defence.
Following up tho unprovoked and un-
righteous war thus inaugurated, formidable
military force, portions Of which have been
long organized and drilled, is now supposed
to be advancing on Washington, under
most able and energetic leader, who has the
oath Of God upon his conscience to support
the Constitution, rs Senator of the United
States, an Office which he has not resigned.
/ or the nature Of this war, in constitution
al point Of view, shall presently say a word.
will now only remark that, il the accounts
from the South can be trusted, larger mill
tary forces than were ever before arrayed on
the soil Of America, are now on their march
Northward. or concentrating in Virginia, to
assault and il possible capture, and failing
that, to lay in ashes the city baptized with
the sacred name Of the Father of his coun-
try, the Capital Of the Union, the seat of its
its government, the depository Of its archives,
and as such the heart, If | may 50 say, of the
body polite.
While this formidable movement is in pro-
grcss in front, the Government has been as
sailed in the rear, between the Capital OF the
Union and the loyal States Of the North,
(from which alone the Constitution, grievc
to say, in this hour of its extreme peril, is
receiving support against open hostility, and
treaeherOus neutrality, not less dangerous
than open hOstility,) by fcrOeiOus and
blood thirsty mob, audaciously warning
against the Government and its defenders
with brick-bats, paying-stones, and all the
other cowardly weapons Of the assassin, by
burning bridges and tearing up railroads
and cutting telegnphic wires, as If it was
not enough to commit murder and treason,
unless war is wagcd at the same time against
the noblest works Of civilization and the most
bene6cent structures Of peace. In this un-
exampled warfare, Providence, US in l775,
has accorded to Massachusetts, the fearful
glory Of furnishing the frst martyrs in the
, cause Of the country, and what would before
have been thought impossible, has crowned
even the 10Th of April with new wrea,hs Of
immortal fame.
In this State Of things, the President Of
the United States has called upon the people
to rally to the rescue OF the National Capi-
tai, and to the defence OF the Government OF
the country. Wide as the summons has
9 gone forth, il has been obeyed, with an alac-
{ rity and unanimity that know no parallel in
. our history and the volunteers OF Massa-
, chusetts have been the first in the field. I'm.
warlike in their habits and tastes, a full pro-
1 portion Of them, in our recent keen but al
/ ready forgotten party divisions, entertain
/. ing, as have ever done. the kindest feelings
towards the South, they have hurried from
. the lawyers Office, from the counting-room.
, from the artists studio, in instances not a
: few from the pulpit; they have left the fish,