Page:Duties of Massachusetts at this crisis. A speech (IA dutiesmasscrisis00sumnrich).pdf/3



Mr. President and Fellow Citizens of Massachusetts: After months of anxious, constant service in another place, away from Massachusetts, I am permitted again to stand among you, my fellow citizens, and to draw satisfaction and strength from your generous presence. [Applause.] Life is full of changes and contrasts. From slave soil I have come to free soil. [Applause.] From the tainted breath of Slavery I have passed to this bracing air of Freedom. [Applause.] And the heated antagonism of debate, shooting forth its fiery cinders, is changed into this brimming, o’erflowing welcome, where I seem to lean on the great heart of our beloved Commonwealth, as it palpitates audibly in this crowded assembly. [Loud and long applause.]

Let me say at once, frankly and sincerely, that I have not come to to receive applause or to give occasion for any tokens of public regard; but simply to unite with my fellow citizens in new vows of duty. [Applause.] And yet I would not be thought insensible to the good will now swelling from so many honest bosoms. It touches me more than I can tell.

During the late session of Congress, an eminent supporter of the Nebraska Bill said to me, with great animation, on language which I give with some precision, that you may appreciate the style as well as the sentiment: “I would not go through all that you do on this nigger question, for all the offices and honors of the country.” To which I naturally and promptly replied: “Nor would I for all the offices and honors of the country.” [Laughter and long applause.] Not in these things can be found the true inducements to this warfare. For myself, if I have been able to do any thing in any respect not unworthy of you, it is because I thought rather of those commanding duties which are above office and honor. [Cries of good, good, and loud applause.]

And now, on the eve of an important election in this State, we have assembled to take counsel together, in order to determine in what way best to perform those duties which we owe to our common country. We are to choose eleven Representatives in Congress; also Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and members of the Legislature, which last will choose a Senator of the United States, to uphold, for five years ensuing, the principles and honor of Massachusetts. If in these elections you were to be governed merely by partialities or prejudices, whether personal or political, or merely by the exactions of party, I should have nothing to say on this occasion, except to dismiss you to your ignoble work. [That is it, good, good.] But I assume your are ready to renounce these influences and press forward with a single regard to those duties which are now incumbent upon us in National affairs, and also in State affairs.

And here two questions occur which absorb all others. First, what are our polit-