The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-10-04
Conservatism in Massachusetts.

at advertising rates. ..............-
Conservatism in Massachusetts.
The following extract from an able ano
philosophical speech ON public affairs de
Iiyered at Fanuiel Hall, in the city oi
Boston, gives an assurance that even in
this hot-bed of Radicalism there are those
who revere the Constitution in its origi
nal purity, and desire the perpetuation Of
the Union upon the principles laid down
by the founders ofthe Republic. The au
thor of these sentiments is JOHN QUINCY
ADAMS, son of the present Minister to
England, grandson of President John q
;, Adams, and consequently great-grandson
of President John Adams, one of the
trainers of the Constitution. The para.
graphs quoted embody a platform upon
which the conservative element of the
whole country might unite to bring about
permanent peace and prosperity: xe~7
Gentlemen, my solicitude in this mat
ter is not so much for the South. But. |
love and admire the people of the North
and revere the frame of Government
handed down to US from the fathers OF
the republic, and when l see that great
charter of our constitutional liberties as
sailed by the same passions which have
proved fatal to SO many similar plans OF
regulated liberty-when [ see q victori-
GUS majority inhamed with all the enmi-
ties and demoralized by the license of a
long war, forgetting its vencration for
our last safeguard, cannot refrain from
urging in such feeble words as Ican com:
mand, patience and constant recurrence
to the Constitution. [Cheers.] Let us
never forget ourselves nor weary in re-
minding our fellow-citizens, that even it
this Congressional scheme were best for
ten or even twenty years to come, yet
the vision of the philosophic statesman
stretching forward for centuries, when
almost the memory of this episode in the
magnificent annals of the. great republic
shall have faded away, will discern how
to secure trifing temporary good which
in little time must have come inforeed
the politicians of the day yielded TO
temptation and first infringed the.organic
law.
Then the people lost something of their
reverence for it.. At the next emergency
the majority, more bold, tears away a
larger mass of the rampant, and. the
apathy of the people is heavier, until at
last, the ruling faction knows no guide
but it's own passing whim, and the nation
stands ready to fall a prey to any man
who will rescue it from the intolerable ty-
ranny of an unrestrained majority. Does
this picture seem too dark? My friends,
YOU need study but little the brief annals
of the people who have put their faith in
paper constitutions before our great ex-
pertinent, to see that l sketch the process
which they all passed through. Always
lust here the strain grew gradually too
fierce for the popular fortitude and virtue
to. withstand. But L have an abiding
faith that as in tac past this great people
have shown themselves faithful at the last
to their self.imposed bonds for the gene
raj and permanent welfare, so to-day
their sound sense will yet return to save
the work of their great men, and that
God may still be to us as he was to those
venerated fathers. [Cheers.
-, Gentlemen, there's but one safe path for
our feet, but one unerring guide for our
steps. IF we stray from that path for
any temptation, no matter what its offer
,ed,delight may be-if we abandon our
guide, we shall wander long in blind paths
and may probably perish miserably at
the last That path is tho teachings OF
the men who formed the Union, and that
guide the Constitution of the fathers of
the Republic. [Cheers.] And, in con-
clusion let me call to your minds the
memorable words which stand in the
front of our own State Constitution, aud
pray you to ponder we'll their old-fash-
Toned wisdom, GA frequent recurrence to
the fundamental principles Of the Consti
tuition, and q constant adherence to those
of ,piety, Justice, moderation, temperance
industry and frugality, arc absolutely ne
cessary to preserve the advantages of lib
erty and to maintain a free government
The people ought consequently to havo
particular attention to all those principles
in the choice of their officers and repre-
sentatives; and they have right to re
quire of their law givers and magistrate
an exact and constant observance OF then
in the formation and execution of tn
laws necessary for the good administra
ton of the Commonwealth" Long AM
continued applause.]
"A few nights since, some youn!
mon, going from New York to Albany il
the cars, were getting rather noisy an
.r,rofane when o gentleman in a whit