Year: 1862

honorable Edward Everett the origin and character Of
the war The lecture delivered under the arspees
OF the Now York Mercantile Library Association, and the
immense numbers who were present bore testimony to
the popularity OF the lecturer and the Importance Of the
theme which he had chosen for his lecture.


The platform was crowded by many Of our leading
citizens and on the arrival Of tho Of the evening
he was greeted with loud applause.


The honorable George opdyke. the present Mayor Of
the city, met with and enthusiastic reception
As tho gentleman advertised to introduce Mr. Everett he
spoke as follows:--


GESriEMEN AND IADIEv-I esteem it a very high honor
TO DO called to occupy tho chair with such audience
and such an orator Many Of have heretofore had the
pleasure OF listening to his eloquence In these halls


He then dclneated TO In words Of eloquenco the
character OF him who the chief architect rearing
tae temple OF liberty wheh we enjoy He now comes to
Ing to destroy that tomple II is we'll that we should


listen TO discourse on the origin and character of tho
utterly groundess the pretoxts by which the traitors
VINO are attempting to overthrow JUS
tined IN their acts II Is well that we should know that
We are now lighting for the Of govern
mont that We are lighting in the interests Of humanity
preserving popular institutions for in knowing these
things, II will nerve hearts and hands to prosecute
with vgor the for the suppression OF this
belon (Applausel These truths will be given to US
with that fulnoss grace and eloqusnce which this dis
tinguishod speaker can 50 well rerform And without
dstaning you lotgr from that sodusnce, have great
pleasure IN introducing to you the Hon Edward Everett
VI m1ssacnuseIs. (AppiauSc)


The Hon. Edward Everett was loudly applauded on
coming 10 the front Of the stage. He said:-


LADIES AND GsNIlxMxN:-Permit me at the commence.
OF the new year 10 congratulate you that the old
yeahas passed away without greater dcsolaton than
have witnessed and that now we meet together i'm
nedatey after Its last hour hoping for the dispersion Of
the clouds Of war which are still impending the
land And in rendering TO you that s to each individual
OF this intelligent and immense audience, my best
wishes for your success and the countrys happiness
the the present year, allow mo to give utterance to
the republic Of which are oil the children may be
restored 10 its former prosperity, peace and power
and therefore to that indispensable condition leading
al these-to its union and integrity. (Applause) Wo
havs son,atn,as heard that tharA has
discussion and that this season has thers
no doubt that this s the period alluded to- Tho
OF action is come. (Appause) do not know when the
season of wordsreay begun This has always been pow
erfu motive, but words of little use aud blows
TO be better understood II has been the fate Of
united people to see their country divided without jus


abe cause within period less than year. The loyal
people Of heSates have faithfully stood by tho govern
nent and BY the Unon battling for the rights for which
their fathers struggled and which arc worthy Of oil tho
things concerning which 1t Is necessary that the public
should be enlightened, lot this conflict be decided
way or the other There can be no doubt that the pub
Union It is natural that this should be So and II s
on topics so interesting to every patriot that he had the
honor 10 appear to offer few passing remarks And In
tho first place no would proceed 10 consider the
objection which como people have not been slow to
make-whether the war in which the government and





gree war Of oppression eggrosson the part OF
the Northa And whether II is the desire the antic
patton Of the North to subdue and crush the South by
tho weight of Its power and the force Of its arms'
Every who knows anything about the policy and
the ideas of the government will at see that these
are charges without foundation The orator here went
Mt sonno length, ana in his usual cloquepce, to
describe the origin Of secession in South Carolina
showing how for years the lcayen was working in
all it's activity until its 1rst cuminaiiou In 1928
II from this period that small number
Of mpetuous spirits, especially In South Carolina, began





secession and, worse still, In tho fratrc!dal
raging between the two sections OF o great country.
came to inllsms tho mind Of the South sgainst tho
North thus paving the way 10 all the evils which have
snce befaen u.s. Tho local interests OF tho North
not forgotten a. points freely open to attack and the tariff
was the first thing which the attempt made.
The speaker hore went on 10 explain at length the
relations between the States, both North aud South
gancing at their productions and tho extent OF
the cultivation Of their various staples The timo
was whom We had President who did not understand
the constitution OF the United States as Mr. Buchanan
understood IT, That President General Jackson ZAP
p!ause) This President did not and did belisvo
unchecked to the danger of true government and he
therefore requested Livingstone TO set forth the fnda
mental law as the people understood II. II is manifest
10 that have chief in the present had
in ths past, for in General -(applause)-we end
the consummae wisdom aud discretion united to
the skill, frmness and decision which made Jack.
great In life and immortal in his death Aud
with the other great men of America. The
rnercia tariff brought forward by Clay had tho enoc





days could make progress except In inglorious
treat. But II would have been better porhars for tho
country II this reasonable work had bsen allowed 10
It's natural course and TO have pershcd In its natural
termination. u could not have gone much farther th
cut meeting with It's end. n tho nucatcn OF 1882 had
been crushed out compctcy the hydra would not have
been able lift up lie dreadful head 10 the year 1s6e Zap
plRuse Thero be no doubt that dsunIon always
the true object of South Carolina. This seemed to have
been evident TO General jackson when he acted in
firm and decided manner. The slavery question
tho next one that tended TO excite and divide
Tho
through all its stages, both In this country and else
where, and yet thcro has been no hna decision pro-
Bs dd evsryns s power " 70 pnt set
down the African slave trade; out tho United
States was the very first government, except Den
mark, that actually put down the slave trade (Appsuse)
And having done this thoy called upon the British gov
ernmcnt 10 follow their example. sir Everett noxt
spoke OF the Missouri Compromlso and OF the exeroas
which made during number Of sessions 20 se,tlo
the question concerning tho noniDtroducon of slaves
into the FREQ Territories. He next alluded 10 the attempt
sorvile insurrscion IN South Carolina, begun by
Denmark Vesey In the year 1889, occurrence which
greatly excited the minds OF the people OF the South
and difficulties which have arisen out OF the slavery
question, and which have eliminated in tho temporary
division Of tho Union, the orator continued to re-
mark that tho fault wns divided botwoon North
and South, although the South Is now and al.
ways has been most TO blame Tho South always most
pcrssently made this slavery question OF party
politics For his own part at the very outset he dcprc
Gated this growing difficulty, always forosselng that
must end in this manner. Ills object always was to



and By tho Influences Of peace 10 avert tho csanos Of
war, supposng that thero was one golden cord of
principle 10 recover that which lost or, failing this,
TO bind together oucc moro as band OF brothers
(App!ausc.) Nothing could possibly havo been moro
magnificent for his desire and attempt was 20 give roh
power and reverence 10 the name Of Washington, aud
moro sacred regard 10 tho place OF his birth.
The South had no wrong or grievance 10 complain Of
mono whatever. Perhaps they had boon rritaiod and
annoyed In the progress OF this sectional dcuson but
had tho North II tho North choose TO 30 irratod
they could have VOL been from the tone of tho
Southern journals and listening 10 the debates IA Con
gross for many provoking things were said against
the North aganst the South say that thore
wrong grievance oppression that the Soath had 70
complain Of In this respect. On the contrary, abe has
been tho spoiled the pettod the fondled child Of tho
union--.aiways grahed aud always nurscd Not TO g.
TOO back when the great acquisition Of Mexican terri
tory was made the % Of February 1s4S, tine South
debated substantially tho terms Of its organization
and admission into tho Union; and In 1850 sho Do
mandcd a stringent Fugitive slave law, aud ~
was granted In 1862 both the great political parties
that then divided the country passed resolutions thet
tho rights Of tho south should be scrupu0rsy respected
by them and then that year hs President CT the Uutod
..rltf.a nQ. An gg ltftr