Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-21
CITY AND COUNTY.


The second lecture of the Lyceum course
was delivered last evening in Mechanics
Hall, by Hon. Owen Lovejoy of Illinois. His
theme was the great question on which the
country is now conyulsed. He said he had
heretofore urged the claim of the slave to his
freedom, on the ground of humanity ind
christian right; but now, while remaining of
the same faith, he would consider the subject
from another standpoint, and show that
emancipation is essential to the safety and
perpetuity of the republic.
All the modern nations of Europe had found
it necessary to abolish slavery, out of regard
for their own safety, and how can our boosted
republic be expected to do less for its own
salvation? We must meet this question at
some period Of our national history. There
could be no peace except by a destruction OF
slavery. The issue had been put off, until
further delay was out of the question. The
present war was but the eliminated effect OF
the great cause, human slavery, which had
proved at the yitals of the republic from its
origin, and must be destroyed, or the govern
ment itself go down. The fundamental, CEN
trail idea of our government is the equality of
men; but the foreign, discordant element of
I slavery had thrown it out of gear. Out OF the
denial of this grand central idea of equality,
by Calhoun and others, had arisen the present
troubles. The question now was, whether
we can afford to let any section of our coun-
try trampie under foot these principles of
equality and right. The tree Of evil itself
must be destroyed, instead of merely killing
its fruits, before peace can again come.
As long as the tyrant slavery lives, its vo-
taries will adhere to it and hug it, to the sac
riice of the Union. o. for some Cromwell
to bring the great American Stuart to the
block. Thank God, Abraham Lincoln prom
Uses to make good Oliver. tremendous
applause.) Let him eXterminate the whole
race of Stuarts. The reconstruction of the
Union desired, was the dcliverance of the Sc
coded states from the demon of slavery. In
the name of God and liberty, slavery must be
exercised. (Long continued cheering) The
only solution of the present troubles was the
abolition of slavery so incompatible is it with
the theory OF republican institutions.
Then let us make the president firm and
immovable in his avowed purpose: (Renewed
applause.) Mr.. Lovejoy defended the right
of the negro to fight the battles of the coun-
try on the same terms as the white man,
strengthening his argument by reference to
the action of the Rhode Island assembly dur
ing the revolution, and to the examples of
Washington and jackson, who gave slaves
Referring to the alleged constitutional scru-
pies of the conservatives" as to the procla-
nation of the president, he said Jehovah
had no scruples in his expulsion of Satan
from Heaven. The great law of self-preserv-
alton was safer guide than mere preeedents.
He made an appeal in behalf of union
without slavery, the only safe union, and the
only one we can have. Liberty is 'pro-
claimed throughout all the land to all the in
habitants thereof" after the first of january
next. The people had made up their minds
to this, and the gates of hell cannot prevail
against it.
The lecture occupied more than an hour in
the delivery, and was listened to with earnest
attention and applause throughout.