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

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enemy and strengthen the loyal cause only as
we advance to conquer. Besieged at the cap
itol. invaded within our own borders, the
5rutpm fitlmea of mere words will only
please the heart with momentary and illu-
sivc solace. To arms, to arms, the nation
cries, and Massachusetts responds. With no
sympathy from any quarter of the world we
are waging alone its battle for republican lib
erty and democratic government. If the vast
and costly heritage can be saved by the life
and treasure of generation, this Union
shall not fall.
At all events let Massachusetts, while abid-
ing in her holy and traditional faith, hold her
self in harmony with her sister states in con-
stancy and in sacrifice to the last. Let her
so conduct through the remainder ofthe strug-
gle. that if we succeed, as succeed we must,
to her annals shall be assigned by consent of
all a full measure of the common glory. Let
her so conduct, that if by reason of short
coming elsewhere, in the providence of God
we fail, falling back within her own dominion
she may at least point with pride to the efforts
and fidelity Of her sons.
In the words of one of the great departed,
the door of whose tomb by the side of the
sea was opened but yesterday to receive an
other and last offering to the government
he loved and served so well, uttered
thirty years ago in yonder chapel:
''At least let the star Of MASSACHUSETTS
be the last which shall be seen to fall from
heaven and plunge into the utter darkness of
disunion. Let her shrink back, let her hold
others back if she can, at any rate let her
keep herself back, from this gulf, full at once
of fire and of blackness; yes, as far as human
foresight can scan, or human imagination
fathom, tull of the fire and the blood of civil
war, and of the thick darkness of general
political disgrace, ignominy and ruin. Though
the worst may happen that can happen, and
though she may not be able to prevent the
catastrophe, yet let her maintain her own in
tegrity. her own high honor, her own unwav-
ering fidelity, so that with respect and decen-
cy, though with broken and bleeding heart
she may pay the last tribute to glorious, de-
parted, free constitution
The convention listened to the speech with
lively interest, which was interrupted by fire.
quent and cordial applause. j. Q. A. Griffin
of Charlestown moved that a committee of
one from each congressional district and
seven at large be appointed to report rcsolu-
tons to the convention. Richard Ii. Dana Jr.
of Cambridge preferred that there should be
no lengthy resolutions adopted by the conven-
ton. He entirely agreed with the sentiments
so eloquently and beautifully expressed by
the president-that the issues now pending
were to be settled by war and not by words;
not by promises of speech which might raise
false hopes. 1t seemed to him that while the
enemy was laundering at our gates it was no
time for the refnemcnts of lawyers, or nice
vanities of speech. He proposed that the
convention should nominate the old state Off
GERS by reclamation, adopt some simple reso-
lutions of fidelity to the government, if any,
and then adjourn. He submitted the follow
ing =
Resolved, that Massachusetts with all her
heart and soul and mind and strength, will
support the president Of the United States in
the prosecution of this war to the entire and
final suppression of the rebellion.
Mr.. Griffin was called for and said: In
spired by what had been so well said by the
president, and so well reinforced by the gen.
tleman from Cambridge, the convention would
be disappointed il it expected an adversary in
him. While he agreed with them both, he
yet thought that the heaviest blows of Massa-
chusetts soldiers were those backed by Mas
chusetts opinions. The voice of Massachu-
sets was an element of strength. With some
further remarks he modified his motion for
on resolutions, and offered the fol-
lowing resolve:
Resolved, That we recognize and acknowl-
edge the pre-eminent merits and services of
our senators in the congress of the United
States, the Hon. Charles Sumner and the Hon.
Henry Wilson. In the posts of duty assigned
them by the suffrages of their brother senator's,
one as chairman OF the committee on foreign
and the other as chairman Of the
committee on military affairs, they have
cordially and unreservedly and with man
y ability supported all governmental meas |
ures and fifty represented the Common |
wealth as among the most cheerful and en-
thusiastic defenders of the government; and |
now that the second term of our senator is |
drawing to a close, we desire to express our |
warm appreciation of his course and apprecia-
ton of his services, and to commend him to
the suffrages of his fellow citizens, whom he
has served so well, that the commonwealth
may again honor itself by returning to do duty
Il
and man of whom any republic in any age
might be proud.
Rev. Mr.. Richardson advocated the passage
of resolutions by the convention. Our ship
was on the rocks, and the helmsman wanted
our opinion how to direct the ship. He would
have us give him the opinion of Massachusetts,
One word about slavery-one opinion from
assachusetts-should be passed to represent
the state: Charles Davis, Esq. of Ply
mouth, protested against sitting the voice of
Massachusetts. 1t was time for it to be
heard. He would give the convention the
opportunity to express its approval of the SEN
timents of the speech of the president (Mr.
Bullock as Mr.. Dana had expressed his APP
proval of them. He closed by moving the
reference of both resolutions to a committee
constituted according to Mr.. Grifins orig
inal motion. Further remarks were made
by Messrs. Robinson of Marblehead, in
favor of recommending emancipation, Blake
OF Braintree, against the passage of any res
olutions, or of Mr.. Dana's at the most, Cobb
Of Boston, in favor of endorsing senator
Sumner, and Hoar of Worcester. Mr.. Hoar
closed the discussion by favoring the motion
to refer to a committee, and advocating the
adoption of some expression of the sentiment
of the state, that it was the duty of the gov
eminent to strike slavery where it is weak
est. The motion prevailed by large ma.
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