Year: 1859

SPEECH OF SENATOR CRITTENDEN.


The following is a newspaper sketch of


the patriotic speech Of Mr.. Senator Critten


den, delivered at Chicago on Tuesday last,
on the occasion of the opening Of the Ma


tional Agricultural Fair;


Mr.. Crittenden said: | came from home,
among other things, TO avoid politics. and
forget there was such thing in the world,
such cloud pervading the country. A
speech upon party politics nothing upon
earth would drag me into.


| am a Kentuckian, and am not only


Kentuckian, and proud Of the State which
has given me favor and distinction to some
degree, but have another title-a more
elevated One-one that both and YOU, every
one of ycu, no matter under what local iu-
risdiction he may live or what State he may
lnhabit, recognizes with gratitude in his
heart when he says 10 the world, 81 am an
American citizen" Loud cheers am
at home here, though came with very few
aGauaintances and friends in this part Of the
eountry; yet the whole land is my country.


The Union makes us one people; may God
preserve that Union Loud applause, and
cries Of "good,"" good."1


These matters of party politics, gentle
men, are very transitory affairs. We are
made to look upon them as things of great
consequence. when tomorrow will bury
ITEM in oblivion. There are some things
which in their nature are of some conses
quence. 1t is of Importance that We should
venerate the Constitution which our fathers
idc, whether il pleases US in all particnla
or not. II was made by hands which ought
10 render il sacred among US. II is the only
way to preserve the Union. for the Union
and the Constitution 60 together. Preserve
the Union. and that is all we want--that is
all our people need. Preserve the Union
and the Onion will preserve YOU and make
YOU the mightiest people in the world. Great
applarse.


Nov. there are times when the passions
of the people are disturbed. There are times
when preiuhices are excited. and the people
Of one section of the country, far removed
from another section. get it into their heads
that those distant people are their enemies,
that they have evil designs and wicked pur-
poses, that they are bad people. Perhaps
those distant people have the same sort Of
preiudices instiled into their minds against
vou If we took half as much pains to in
culcate and teach good feelings one to an
other in every section Of the country as is
taken to separate the people and ALLEVIATE
their feelings. what different state of things
would exist in the land We are prejudiced
against each other, and therefore we do not
know one another as we ought 10 do. and we
do not know each other, and therefore we
are preiudiced. We won't know one an
other, and therefore we are prejudiced, and
we are preiudiced simply because we do not
know one another. Laughter and ap-
plause


Why all our impressions Of our distant
kindred ought to be that they are just such
a we wish them to be. When we hear evil
stories about them, let them pass by Us. Only
let little Of that common benevolence which
is in every human bosom be INDUCED in
among US. and this Constitution is not only
honh Of union. but bond of benevolence
anl affection from one end Of this Union 20
the other. aud we are really bound together
| in the bonds Of family as well as bonds of
law. We are bound together by that tie that
i considered strongest among men-our
furefathers she'd their blood together in a
common cause. II Is no figure Of speech TO


saw that their blood actually run together
npon fields of battle, where they struggled
/ in noble emulation. amid disaster and hard


ship. 20 conquer that liberty and establish
t that Government which we now enjoy. Ap.
planse.


T let Us forget our preiudices, and teach


oar brethren to forget them. Let Us endeaycr
Ia be rid Of all such feelings. and when our


brother is accused demand the testimony.
a Ii.


until il is proved beyond cayil or dispute.
| Let US be


"Ta their virtues very kind.


To their faults little blind"


That. IL seems 10 me, is the spirit and the


feeling thatpatriotism aud beneyoence would


encourage. That is what our religion teaches
and impresses upon US. daily to renew offers


and acts Of kindness to all our kindred and
people. wherever they NAV be.


! Fcllow-citizens, we have only, as | said
before, and will conclude with enforcing


/; again- I'VE have only to cherish these kind


feelings 10 be the happiest as well as the
greatest people in the world. Our worst
enemy il in nur own hearts. In the yicis-
situies uf politcs-in the history Of the va


riaus parties which have sometimes prevail
ell throughout this land, we have allowed
ourselves to believe things Of our brethren
at distance which have created some con-
csrn and unhappiness; but the enemy is
really in our own hearts and in their hearts;
expel it, anil all is prosperity and peace. and
this becomes not merely union Of laws, but
a union Of hearts. such as ought to make Us
one people. lou speak the same language
everywhere throughout this great country.
The same uniformity Of speech does no; ex.
Isl over one.half the space 10 any other part
Of the habitable globe as exists among vs..
Take this crowd. and can choose man
from each State ol this Union. A far apart