Year: 1861

Mr.. Crittenden's Farewell Speech.


The following is the latter portion of Mr..
Crittenden's farewell speech, delivered on
Sunday night, March 3D.:


Now, in regard to the border states,
would have then trust to the Union and to
the people. The north has given assurances
of their sympathy for them, and justice will
be done. l believe it. There are assurances
given of kindness and patriotism that will
be redeemed that sympathy and that kind
ness which exists in the north will attract
others to it; its standard of liberty and
Justice will be raised from one end of the
country to the other, and the people will
crowd around it until states shall come and
make peace offerings to their brethren.
That day will come, and it will be happy
day. believe this, and l would have the
south and the border states believe it. Our
northern fellow citizens have entitled them~
selves to confidence by their action upon
these very resolutions thousands and tens
of thousands have come here with petitions
in their favor states have petitiOned for
them; and in all this l recognize spirit of
kindness which should bind the hearts of
southern men. l will say, l am for the
Union | am not for secession. No, sir.
And as to my native state, will say to her,
more than to others, l desire to see you stand
by the Union of the country. Do not 60 off
unless an imperious necessity forces you. You
have given to the world long-continued evil
dence of your consistency, your patriotism,
and your fidelity to the Union Stand by it.
You have stood there heretofore why not
nowS You have literally founded your
state upon a rock. Yes, sir, upon a rock
that state is founded, and you have engraven
on rock your testimony to the Union.
The stone you sent to be a portion of
the monument to George Washington bore
upon its Kentucky marble front these
words: "kentucky was the first to enter
the Union after the adoption of the Constitu.
ton; she will be the last to leave it," That
sentiment she has engraved upon marble, and
it now stands sanctifed still more by FORM
ing PORTION of the monument to George
Washington. want to see her true to
that great and noble sentiment. 1t swells
the heart within me. There is moth.
ing, it seems to me, in all the hope of tri-
umph--nothing OF the manly and heart
swelling character of the feelings which this
noble and patriotic sentiment has called
forth Let her stand there with US; and
stand by those sentiments. Let her be the
last to leave that Union which is covered
with so much of glory, so much of triumph,
anu so much of blessing. This is the only
government on earth under which man can
control his action, can speak bis own
thoughts, and where no man is imprisoned
unlawfully from one end to the other-from
San Francisco to Portland. What if our
treasury is empty and our money spent, and
our government badly administered Still,
with all these faults, it is the best govern
ment in the world. 1t is here only, in the
arms of this great and mighty Empire, that
liberty was presented 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, whUse little territo-
ries are too small to attract the ambition
or cupdity of imperial power, there liberty
is kept as thing to be looked at and
petted but here she stands 10 all her ma
iesty and might, with her arms stretching
across continent Who does not love this
great country, with its mighty benefits to
to every citizen? The name of his country
goes before him like host, and is shield
over him. The very name contains charm
| and spell which attaches to him in every
region of the world and its greatness and
blessing is magnifed still more every day. l
say | hope Kentucky will stand for the
Union. Try it, and try it again If one
Congress does not judge rightly and does
not act right another will it is princi>
pie OF our government that these frequent
changes will give US justice, and every state
in the Union should exercise patience and
forbearance. Let us wait and when, if it
be our sad fate, rebellion and revolution
shall have past over the whole land, want
to see old Kentucky standing up, even in
that day of issolution-standing up with
unabated strength and with the flag of our
Union in her hand--standing upon her con-
auered fields like the last soldier of brave
and gallant band and then, when the
Union is no more, and she stands then the
image of patriotism, honor, heroism 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 Union--com'
promise: do anything for it. 1t is the
palladium of government. Take care OF it
and it will take care of you.


Mr.. President, have occupied more o
your time than intended. l am about to
part from all my friends here, whom l shall
be sorry to leave. II | have offended OF
grieved the heart of any man, never 80
intended. l have spoken what in soberness
and truth l believe, and what to some ex
tent, coming from the region which l do,
may say know as fact. have endeav'
ored TO give you warning, but not tt
threaten. | have long ago learned not t.
threaten. 1 may warn; it is one of th'
duties of brotherhood; it is one of the du