The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-05-25
j patriotic Speffb.
Speech of Edward Everett.

Below we publish the speech of Hon.
Edward Everett at Roxbury. Mass. at a
meeting in aid of the volunteers from that
city. His humorous admirers will be pleased
to find him on the side of his country.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
The object which brings us together, even if
it had not been so satisfactorily stated and
so pei sunsively enforced nv the gentlemen who
have preceded me. sufficiently explains
itself. At the call Of the President, seconded
with the most praSeworthy and almost uncx.
amplcd energy ofthe Governor of Massachus.
ctts, numerous force ofvolunteers has patriot.
ically fastened to the defence Of the capital
Of the United States, threatened with invasion.
The war, for q long time thoush in pro found)
secretly prepared for has been openly com.
menc.d by the South, by the Seizure of the
unattended forts, arsenals backwards. minis.
and custou-houses of the United States, and
the plumber of the public property contained
in them, in fragrant violation of the law of
the land, if the South is still in the Union,
and equally fragrant violation of every priu.
ciple of internaiiond law, il she is out of the
Union. But even these acts of treason and
rebellion, for such they are, are thrown into the
the flag of the Union at Fort Sumter IA for,
which no more belongs to South Carolina than
it does to New York or Massachusetts,, which
has raj lied twenty millions of freemen as one
man to its defense.
Following up the urprovoked and unright.
eous war thus inaugurated, formidable
military force. portions of which have been
long organized and trained. is now supposed
to be marching on Washington, under a mos,
able and energetic leader. who has the oath
of God upon his conscience to support the
Constitution, as a Senator of the United
States, an Office which he has not resigned.
VI the nature Of this war, in a constitutional
point of view, shall presently say word.
Will now only remark that if accounts
from the South can be trusted, larger MILITARY
forces. than were ever before arrayed on the
soil Of America, are now on their march
northward or concentrating in Virginia, to
assault. and ii possible capture, and failing
that, to lay in ashes. the city baptized with
the sacred name of the Father OF his Country
the capital Of the Union, the seat of its Gov
eminent. the depository of its archives. and
as such the heart, if may say SO. of the
body polite.
While this formidable movement is in pro.
gress 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. I prieye
10 say, in TINS hour of Its extreme peril. is
receiving support against open hostility, and
trcacheions neutrality, not less dangerous
than open hostility by ferocols and blood
thirsty mob, audaceusly waIring agains, the
Government and its defenders with brickbats,
pav'ng-stones, and all the other cowsrdly
weapons Of the assassin, by burning bridges
and tearing up railroads, and cutting telegraph
wires as II 1t was not enough to commit murder
and treason. unless war is waged ut the same
time against the noblest works of civilization
and the most b'ncficent structures of peace
In THIS uncxampled warfare, Providence, as
IN 1915. has accorded to Massachusetts the
fearful glory Of furnishing the first martyrs
IN the cause OF the country. and. what would
before have been thought impossible has
crowned even the 10Th Of April with new
wrealhs Of immortal fame.
In this state oflhings, the President Of the
United States has called upon the people to
rally to the rescue, of the national capital, and
to the defense of the Government of the coun-
try. Wide as the summons has gone forth,
1t has been obeyed. with an alacriiy and the
volunteers Of Massachusetts have been the
first in the field. Unwariikc in their habits
and tastes, full proportion of them, in our
recent keen but already forgotten party divi-
sioHs, entertaining. as | have done, the kind
lest feelings toward the South, they have