Year: 1861

Mr.. Crittenden's farewell speech. deliver


ed on Saturday night, March Sd:


Now. in regard to the South and tb


Border States, | would have them trus


to the Union and to the people. Th


North has given assurances of their sym


patby for them. and justice will be done


] believe it, There are assurances siyer


of kindness and patriotism that will b,


redeemed; that kindness which exists il


the North will attract others to it; it,


standard Of Liberty and Justice will b


raised from one end Of the country to th.


other, people will crowd around it unit


States shall come and make peace offer
iDgs to their brethern. That day will


come. and it will be happy day. be.
lieve this, and | would have the South and
the Border States believeit. Our Northern
fellow citizens have entitled themselves
to confidence by their action upon these
very resolutions; thousands aDd tens OF
thousands have come here with petitions
in their favor; States have pettioued for
them; and in all this recognize spirit
of kindness which should bind the hearts
of Southern men. l will say. AN for
the Union; an not for secession. No,
Sir. Aud 80 to my native State, will
say to her, more than to others, | desire
to see you stand by the Union of the
country, Do not 60 off unless an imperi-
Gus necessity forces you. You have Civ
en- to the world long continued evidence
of your consistency, your patriotism, and
your fidelity to the Union Stand BY it.
You have stood there heretofore; why not
now1 You have literally founded your
State upon a rock. Yes, Sir, upon q
rock that State is founded. and you have
eugraven on rock your testimony to the
Union. The stone you sent to be por-
tion of the monument to Washington
bore upon its Kentucky marble front
these words: Kentucky was the first
to enter the Union after the adoption of
the Constitution; she will be the last to
leave it," That sentiment she has en-
graVed upon marble, and it now stands
sanctifed still more by forming portion
of the monument to George Washington.
i
noble sentiment 1t swelIs the heart
within me. There is nothing. it seems to
me, in all the hope Of triumph-nothing
Of the manly and heart-swelling charac
ter of the feelings which this noble and
patriotic sentiment has called forth!--
Let her stand there with u; and stand
BY those scrtiments. Let her be the last
to leave that Union which is covered with
so much OF glory. so much of triumph,
and so much of blessing This is the on,
ly Government Oh earth under which ID an
can control his action, can speak his own
thous hts, and where no man is imprison
ed unl fully from one end to the other
from San Francisco to Portlsnd.--
What if our Treasury is empty and our
money spent, and our Government badly
administered Still, with all these faults, it
is the best Government iD the world. 1t
is here only. in the arms of this great and
mighty Empire. that Liberty was presen-
ted to the world, in all her might, and
all her glory, and all her usefulness. In
the little Republics in the Alpine hills of
Europe, whose little territories are too
SIN alt to attract the ambition or cupidity
of imperial power. there Liberty is kept
as a thug to be looked at and petted; but
here she stands 10 all her majesty and
might, with her arms stretching across
continent. Who does not love this great
country, with its mighty benefits to every
citizen, The name of bis country goes
before him like host. and is shield
over him. The very name contains a
charm and a spell which attendance to
bin in every region of the world; aud its
greatness and blessing is magni6ed still
more every day. | say hope Kentucky
will stand for the Union. Try it. and try
it againl If one Congress does not judge
rightly and doesnot act rightly. another
will; it is principle Of our Government
that these frequent changes will give US
Justice, and every State in the Unoin
should exercise patience and forbear-
ance. Let US wait; and when, if it
be our sad fate rebellion and reVolu
ton shall have passed over the whole
land, l want to zee old Kentucky
standing up. even 10 that day Of dissolu-
tiou-standing up with undated strength
aud with the Flag of our Union in her
band-standipg upon her conquered fields
like the last soldier of a brave and gal
liant band; and then, when the Union is 20
more, nd she stands then the image Of pat
riotism. honor, heroisD and fidelity to the
Union to the last; then. and not till then.
| would have her consider what next is
to be done for herself. My principle is,
take care of the Unon-compromise: do
anything for it. 1t is the Palladium Of
Government Take care OF it, and 1t
will take care of you.


Mr.. President, | have occupied more
of your time than Intended | am a.
bout to part from all my friends here,
whom | shall be sorry to leave. LII L
have offended or grieved the heart of any
man, I never so intended. | have spok-
en- what in soberness and truth | believe,
and what to some extent. coming from the
region which | do. | may say | know as