Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-11

stephen n. StOckwell OF Boston,
William NJ. Walker of Pittsield,
Joseph b. ThaXter Jr of Hingham,.
William T. Hollis OF Plymouth.
Thomas D. Gardiner of Boston,
Joel Hayden Jr. of Williamsburg.
Col. Bullock was conducted to the chair
amid hearty applause. Prayer was offered
by Rev. Mr.. Richardson of Worcester, after
which the president addressed the convention
as follows -
ADDRESS OF HON. A. H. BULLOCK.
Gentlemen of the convention: Thanking
you for your confidence, l assume the duties
to which you have called me.
The call under which the convention has
assembled is addressed to all who give support
to the government, state and nation. And
since the government at this time is charac-
terized chiefly by its relations to the military
crisis which is upon US and which greatly OBJ
scures other features of administration, and
since upon the one absorbing question we are
substantially agreed, 1 see not why there
should be any occasion for partizan spirit
within this assembly, OF cause for disapproval
without. In the present condition of our dis
tressed country-civil order threatened with
subYerslon, our arms alternating between
success and reverse, the grandest experiment
of constitutional liberty in all the centuries
now trembling in the balances of history
surely we behold abundant reason that our
oehDeratl0ns should be controlled by the
purest ana lolnest PATRIOTISM. PERSONAL pre-
lerences we are quite lKely to nave and va
rant opinions upon collateral queSuons' civil
anu nlliitary' we may wen enough De expect
ca as =, Ireehlen 10 express out even an these
siIouiu Nc nl''ue 10 converge III ulllted Pur-
pose " slanu ny tne president Vi the SiIseu
ot'teS upon "lloln an our ilopeS uepenu' fUI
upon mn ~ ouI cIioice are coIeeHlieu tle
:sPoisioilItlSs ol 'iilS supiiiiie epcch' Mnh
MN, II he 1all, we must share the lgnomlny
u lalufe' WIN hlhi' II ne succeed we SlaH
also Succee u 10 'le slorles Vi FeNerseu ia,
uolaly' 10 Ills support our couhSelS anu
oui ueNotloi are Pleugeu' % III IKE manner
we may wen tehuer the voice OF approDauoh
anu enooui aseHieht u tiie eAecutNe Vi Mass
achu'eItS' VINO from inc commencement OF
the war mas Iaoored WIN degree OF aDlilty,
patriotism, ana earnestneSs winch mas reflect
ca the mghest honor upon the state and upon
MN.
We have convened amid great public perils
which call for positive, decisive, and etlectual
action. But action Is most etiectual when it
proceeds from clear understanding and when
1t Is inspired with definite and earnest pur-
pose: 1t ought not to be expected that we
should disguise our thoughts. Massachusetts
Is loyal to tins Union, she has furnished and
Will furnish unto the end her full number of
gallant men to perish on sea and land in de-
renee OF ITS nag, and by her domestic and
commercial condition she will be called to pay
beyond the proportion Of any other state the
MASSIVE debt which is accumulating,-a
who then shall say that it is not the right and
the duty OF her citizens, with one accord, to
raise their voice touching the whole scope of
the crisis! Nor is it apparent to my humble
apprehension in what manner or for what rea-
son there should be any difference of opinion
among us all.
In the progress of twelve months we have
learned something. In the first place, we
have been borne by events to the conclusion
that hencetorth this is a war OF conquest. If
we do not conquer the rebellion, then the re-
bellon will conquer us. The government
could not live thirty days if it were to pause
10 consider the matter as only disloyal out
break OF the individual citizen. 1t is colossal
war, coming from entire states massed togeth-
er and surglng against US. The theories OF
peace and the hopeful expediencies which We
too fondly INDUCED one year ago, now give
way and bend before memorable military ne
cessity. And in the second place, we have
learned that African slavery on this continen
is so intimately connected with the war thai
the two things can no longer be considered
apart | could present no better illustration
Of this fact than has been furnished by Mr.
Secretary Seward, who in his letter to Mr.
Dayton, written shortly after the war broke
out, interdicted this topic as having no neces.
sary connection with the contest. while yea,
later in the communication to Mr.. Adams. re-
Gently published he has opened widely III,
discussion of the slavery question as now an,
hereafter part and parcel of the conflict
l submit to YOU. then. and to all men
whether it is not one of the dearest lesson
taught us by experience and humiliation. tina
slavery has been to the rebellion throughou
this struggle a source of strength and power
If this be so, pray you tell me why it is no
the duty Of the administration to deal with tn
subject precisely as all the policies of war sug
gest, and all the necessities of our case dc
mand The lawyer reminds us that, unde