Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-02


burthen of this discussion, and also the heavier
burthen Of obloquy, which has long rested
upon all who pleaded for the slave. 1t is
Massachusetts, who with patriotic ardor, first
leaped to the rescue, when the capital was
menaced by slavery, and by happy coinci-
dence on the 18th of April of this year, con,
secrated herself anew by the blood of her
children; thus beine at the same time first to
do and first to suffer 1t was also Massa.
chusetts general who first in this conflict
proclaimed that our camps could not contain
slave; and it was an illustrious Massachu-
sets sta 'sman who first untoIded the benef.
cent principle by virtue of which, constitution
ally, legally, and without excess of any kind,
the president or commanding general may
become more than conqueror,-even
liberatOr.
Massachusetts will be false to herself if she
fails ut this moment. And yet, l would not
be misunderstood, Feeling most profoundly,
that there is now an opportunity such as rare.
ly occurs in human annals, for incalculabe
good,-seeng clearly that there is one spot,
like the heel OF Achilles, where this great re.
bellion may be wounded to death i calmly
deliver the whole question to the judgment of
those on whom the responsibility rests con.
temting myself with reminding you that there
are times when not 10 act carries with it great
er responsibility than to act. 1t is enough for
us to review the unquestioncd power OF the
government to handle for moment its
mighty weapons, which are yet allowed to
slumber,-wlthout assuming to declare that
the hour has come when they shall flash
against the sky.
But may Il good providence save our gov
ernment from that everlasting regret which
must ensue il great opportunity is lost by
which all the bleeding wounds of war shall he
staunched-by which prosperity shall be again
established, and peace be linked forever with
liberty. Saul was cursed for not hewiIg Agag
in pieces when in his hands, and Ahab was
cursed Tor not destroying Benhadad. Let no
such cursos ever descend upon our govern
ment.
$50 many slaves, so many enemies % I'm.
less this ancient proverb has ceased to be
true, there are now four millions of allies to
the national government. Can we afford to
reject this natural alliance, inspired by com
mon interest, and consecrated by humanity
| There is another motive to such an alliance
which cannot be forgotten. Without it insur.
rectiOn will be inevitable, and when ii comes
it will be wild and lawless. This should be
prevented, if possible. But ii liberty does
| not descend from the tranquil heights of pow
er, it will rise in blood, amidst the confusion
OF families All this was toreseen by the En-.
| peror OF Russia, when on the 2lst of Septem-
| ber 1858, he called upon his mobiles to unite
| with him in emancipation, (which he nobly
| declared, 'ought to begin from aboUe to the
| end that it may not come from 6e{OU:" and
now this very year twenty millions OF Russian
| serts have peacefully passed out Of the house
Of bondage. Cheered by this great example,
| let us not forget that it began from abovs.
There is another practical advantage where
! the action proceeds from the government.
The interests OF loyal citizens can be protect
| ed. Compensation may relieve the lardshps
| of individual cases nor can l object. Never
| should any question of money be allowed TO
interfere with human freedom. Better an
| empty treasury than single slave. a bridge
of gold would be cheap if demanded by the
| retreating tiend.
Fellow citizens-I have spoken frankly ;
for such has always been my habit. And
never was there greater need of frankneSs.
Let patriots understand each other and they
cannot widely differ All will unite i'll sus-
tanning the government, and in driving back
the rebels. But this cannot be done by any
half way measures, or by any lukewarm con
duct. Do not hearken TO the voice Of slavery
no matter what its tones of persuasion Be.
| lieve me, its friendship is more deadly than
| Its enmity. If you are wise, prudent, con
| servaive, practical, you will strike quick and
| hard-strike too where the blow will be most
| tet-strike at the main spring of the rebellion.
| Strike in the rame of the Union, which only
in this way can be restored-in the name Of
Peace, which is vain without Union, and in
the name OF Liberty also, which will bring
both Peace and Union in her glorious train.
Mr. Sumner was often interrupted with
warm expressions of approval of his senli
ments, and at the close was cheered with the
hearty enthusiasm OF the convention Rev
James Freeman Clarke of Boston present
ed resolutions, following very properly, he
said, the speech the convention had just lis
tened to. His resolutions were as follows -
Resolved, That while the people of Massachusetts
have confidence in the wisdom of the national adj
mnistration, and are ready hereafter, hitherto,
to give their blood and their treasure in answer to
lis call yet, believing that slavery is the aud
cause OF this rebellion, they will rejoice when the
time shall come, in the wisdom OF tile government,
to this radical source of present evils.
Resolved, That when the proper time shall arrive,
the people of Massachusetts will welcome any act,
under the war power of the commander in chief,
which shall declare all the slaves within the lines OF
our armies to be free and accept their services in de-
fence of the Union compromising all loyal owners
for slaves thus emancipated and thus carrying iber
ty for all human beings wherever the stars and
stripes shall float.
The resolutions of the committee as above
reported were adopted after warm discussion,
and pending the consideration of Mr.. Clarke's
additional resolves, the committee on the rest
of the state ticket returned. and their report
was received through their chairman. Mr..
Claflin, as follows:
For lieutenant governor-Edward Dickinson, of
Amherst.
For Secretary of state-RichaId rockingham, of
Charlestown
For attorney -general-Dwight Foster, of Worces-
ter.
For state treasurer-Henry X. Oliver of Law
renee.
For Auditor-Leyi Reed, of Abingdon.
The motion was made to adopt the report
as whole, which was subsequently amended
by considering each name separately The
committees nomination for lieutenant gov
ernor was adopted without much dissent The
nomination of Mr. rockingham was more
severely contested, and after hot discus sion
the name of Oliver Warner, present secretary
of state, was substituted in his place, by vote
of 296 to 1853, The question next arose on
the committees recommendation for attorney
general. Thomas Ii. Russell of Boston moved
to substitute the name of Judge Abbott of
Lowell in place Of that Of Dwight Foster of
Worcester. Col. Bullock of Wore ster ex
pressed his surprise at the introduction of
measures in the convention which had been
rejected in the committee, and spoke warmly
and with very fine effect against the effort to
break the nomination of Mr.. Foster. The
discussion was continued by several gentlemen