Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

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[117] and indivisible. (Cheers.) If such were not the case, then the efforts put forth upon so many occasions by the immortal Clay and Webster, to secure the perpetuity of this Government and all our interests and liberties, were utterly in vain. And since we were constituted one Government, I say those individuals who have broken off from us, and pretended to have established another Government, are--

(A Voice, “Traitors.” )

Mr. Appleton--Yes, they are traitors, and were guilty of a crime of the greatest atrocity. Although I did not come forward to claim your attention for any great length of time, when I know there are other speakers better qualified to interest you, there is one fact to which I wish to advert, that tends to aggravate the criminality of those States which have seceded from the Union. It is this: At the time they seceded, our country was in a state of the greatest prosperity; therefore there was no reason which would satisfy any rational mind to justify that act. Had we not sustained the transportation of the mails in those States? Had we not built the forts within their limits, and in every way provided for their defence, and, in the case of some, actually purchased their territory? It was under these circumstances, so aggravating, so unprovoked, so unjustifiable, that they have gone off; and now it devolves upon all the people of our land to lend their influence, their lives, their sacred honors — to use all the means in their power to perpetuate our Constitution and our Government. (Cheers.) Remember, my friends, that you have inherited from your fathers a glorious legacy; you have inherited from them a Constitution which is justly considered the most glorious upon earth. To these young men before me who have inherited these glorious privileges, who have inherited the liberty they so richly enjoy, let me say, when the occasion occurs, lend your personal effort, lend your strength and vigor, lend your lives, if need be, to preserve the honor and integrity of your country. (Cheers.) These old men upon this platform have all served their country in her hour of trial in the past--(cheers)--and they now call upon you to unite in her defence at the present moment of her peril. War, I know, is a great evil; but there are other evils greater than war. It were better that we should perish, than see our glorious country destroyed forever. O, think of it! The loss of our rich inheritance, the loss of all the glorious privileges and liberties we enjoy! Let us all unite, then, in saying, in the language of John Adams, “Live or die, sink or swim, we go for our country and for its blessed liberties.” (Cheers.)

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Speech of Mr. Abbott.

Mr. Abbott, a veteran of 1812, was next introduced to the multitude, who received him with loud demonstrations of applause.

He said that in the year 1812, this great nation reposed in quiet. They then had their commerce shut out from any foreign power, an armament of vessels on the ocean, besides thousands of adopted citizens. Well, the war ensued. He had been everywhere in that war with General Scott--(cheers)--consequently he had seen the Stars and Stripes floating proudly in the breeze, enveloped in smoke, while the shot from cannons knocked the earth from beneath their feet. (Applause.) But now the question was, Shall we have a Government?--(A voice, “And stand by it?” )--and shall the Government be supported? (Cries of “Yes, Yes,” and cheers.) Or shall history write the extinction of the best Government that has ever existed on this earth? ( “No, no,” and loud cheers.) Did all of them answer in the negative? ( “Yes, Yes.” ) Now, how should the Government be supported? By strong arms and brave hearts. (Cheers, and cries of “We have got them.” ) He saw them before him. Oh, if it were necessary for him to go with them and fight, old as he was, he would not hesitate a single moment. (Cheers.) But, although his heart was young and his whole soul enlisted in the cause, yet his limbs were withered and aged; but he saw smiling, firm faces enough around him, which proved to him that there were men enough in the city to go out and battle with the foe. (Cheers.) He wished to remark to them, that the present issue was more desperate, the cause more important, than in the former war to which he had just alluded. He never saw, during the war of 1812, the extreme enthusiasm and excitement which now prevailed in this city. Who among them did not feel his blood run chill when he heard of the manner in which their flag had been treated, in being fired upon by a foe uprising from their own country? Therefore he urged them on to the contest. He begged of them to be firm, and to remember that they might not die in the battle-field. If they did die, they would die with honor. (Cheers.)

The Chairman here rose, and said that beautiful and inspiring air, “The Star-spangled banner” --(cheers)--would now be sung, and he hoped all who could would join in the chorus. The song was then sung by thousands of voices in the most enthusiastic and thrilling manner.

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Speech of C. H. Smith.

fellow-countrymen--(Loud cheering, which lasted for several minutes.) Fellow-countrymen — for on this occasion I know of no one here but my fellow-countrymen — we are assembled to-day in the glorious cause of our country. (Cheers.) There is no question of politics to-day to divide you and me. It makes no difference where you or I was born, though I hail this city as my birthplace, and you may have been born in old Ireland, or in Germany. (Loud cheers.) They had assembled in one common brotherhood, to take measures for the protection of that glorious old flag which had been borne through the Revolution of ‘76, baptized in the blood of our forefathers, and sacred to the memory of liberty and popular institutions. (Applause.) I tell you, my countrymen, to-day, that this is no child's play. It is a question of manhood, of freedom, of liberty, and of popular Government. (Cheers.) The question is, Shall we be overridden by those who have assailed us for the last fifty years--by those who, the very moment their hands are taken from the public pocket, presume to insult our flag, and try to conquer us? Shall we submit to that? (Loud cries of “No, no.” ) We are not men if we submit to it. We would deserve to be what they have driven all their lives — black slaves — if we submit to it. We won't submit to it. (Several voices, “Bravo! Bravo!” ) We won't submit; and to-day the common sentiment that thrills the common heart of the North is, Our country and our country's flag. (Tremendous cheering.) Born on this island, which contains to-day one million of souls, in all the pride of