The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-21
Hon. Edward EYorett's great Speech
before the Boston Union League.

Hon. Edward EVorett's great Speech
before the Boston Union League.
We need make no apology for the
length of our extracts from this noble
speech. 1t will be read with the deep
est interest
REBET LEADERS DID NOT WANT PEAoEABLE
SECESSION.
Had the majority Of the citizens of the
cotton growing States desired TO leave
the Union, which was VIGOROUSLY not the
case had they instead Of "being precipi-
tated into the revolution" by ambitious
demagogues, whose language quote, by
deliberate legislative acts or conventions
of The people; called after mature public
discussion of the question, authentically
announced that fact and their willing
ness to leave to the United Stftes the for
tresses necessary TO protect the naviga
tion ofthe Gulf of Mexico and the con-
troll of the Mississippi River have little
doubt that a requisite majority of the
| States would have agreed TO to the
| amendments Of the Constitution neces-
sary to carry such an arrangement into ef-
| feet sure as il was in few years by its
perfect madness TO cure itself. But this
| did not suit the ambitious leaders in cot
ton growing States. They well knew
that no such expression of popular opin-
ion could be obtained, for the good reas-
on that no such opinion existed They
knew that a separation thus peaCeably
brought about would be an experiment
as short-lived as suicidal. TLey knew
that the border States would stand aloof,
and that the first revolution in domestic
| politics, probably the next Presidential
election, would consign TO political ruin
the authors OF the movement and bring
back the seeding States TO the Union.
This they knew, this they felt, this they
in effect confessed. They did not wish
to be allowed to ago in peace" All pro
fessitns to that effect are delusive and
hypocritical. Ii was for the wicked pur
pose OF "firing the southern bearp by the
shedding of blood, thus exciting the bor-
der States to take part with the Cotton
States, and what was Of equal importance
overawing and silencing opposition at
home, tbat Fort Sumter was attacked.
II ever the secrets Of this conspiracy are
disclosed by the publication of the cor
respon dence that passed between Rich
mond, Charleston, and Montgomery, in
that inauspic0us winter of 1860 81, what
| now affirm will be found in black and
white. In truth it was substantially
. avowed in the columns of the Charleston
journals and in the speeches of the dema'
: gogues who we're sent from Virginia tC
fan the flame Of treason.
The blow at length was struck, anC
/ but too successfully. With the outbreak
of the rebellion a reign of terror as mer-
ciless as that of Robespierre was inaugu'
rated at the South, and every man bu
y the noble and amented Petigru quaileC
" before it. Virginia, insnared in th'
meshes Of her hair-splitting metaphysics
aud fearful Of being deprived of th
70 wretched privilege of supplying the plan
tations of Mississippi and Louisian.
X with the surplus of her slave population
{, in known opposition 20 the wish of th
l. majority of her people was engineere'
into the contest; and a war not merel.
: of aggression but of cold-b blooded ealcu
lation on the part of the South, and O
> self-defense, Of d1ty, and of necessity o
the part OF the North, was inaugurateC
THE rebellion AGGRESSIVE.
?, With every month of its prosecuto
N this aggressive character Of the war ha
he been more and more displayed. On tll
'h 18th of April, 1861, and while the new
of the bombaFdment OF Sumter, was pass
inr over the wires TO Mon igomery, an
before its little band Of heroes had bee
= compelled TO yield 70 the overwbelmiu
force by which they were surrounde'
the intention of capturing Washingto
was, as we have seen, publicly announce
n by the Confederate Secretary OF wa
Of Washington is the capital Of thirty-foI
he States. AT the time this insolent threi
- was uttered the Confederacy was cor
fined TO the seven cotton-growing State
What riaht could this rebellious group
J States. far of on the Gulf of Mexic
NJ with a sum total of little more thc
nd two and a half million Of white inhab
tants. have 20 the metropolis Of the Dnio
Seven days later, the pavement of BALI
2 timore was stained with the blood
Massachusetts men, fastening in OBJ
ca dience 60 lawful Authority 10 The defen
IS, of the Capital. Events have shown Il
,ill unshaken loyalty of Maryland. Not
voice WAS raised in all her borders in r
ce- sponse 10 the proclamation OF the Co
or federate General who crossed the Pot
SEQ mac last September with an army
'n' $1,000 men, TO libcrate oppressed Mar
sn land" Western Virginia was uext q
'er tackled, Mr. Senator Mason, in a pu
- hshed letter, signed by his name, b
nd told the citizens of that part OF the Sta
~' (who had no more intention than I
Western counties Of Massachusetts
sccede from the Union), that if they pi
snmed even to vote against the ordinan
they must leave the State, such being Il
OK gentleman's understanding OF the prin
.ssR Die that government must rest on
ith consent Of the governed. Ia further
-. lustration Of the principle, Western v
pinia was overrun by the Confeder
:. troops. till they were driven out by Ro
ood Grams and Mcclellan. Kentucky a
Missouri we're next invaded, There,
the progress OF events has disclosed,
A, the part of the masses OF the people,
NY unshakon loyalty TO the Union but u
siA. bnye been oyerrun, plundered and dey
tated by The armies OF this spccilic y
federacy which asks for nothing but
4 be let alone and allowed 20 so in pea'
- Though the titst act oi the Secession
a.; p.ntrlofe nftpr thg murderuus aft