William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[114] the door. [Applause.] The war is not of aggression, but of self-defence; and Washington becomes the Thermopylae of liberty and justice. Rather than surrender it, cover every foot of ground with a living man. Guard it with a million of men, and empty our bank-vaults to pay them. Proclaim that the North is under the stars and stripes, and no man is in chains.

He said the North is all right and the South all wrong; that for thirty years there has been no exhaustion of conciliation and compromise. ‘We must,’ he said, ‘acknowledge the right before you send Massachusetts through the streets of Baltimore, and carry Lexington and the 19th of April into the Southern States.’—‘During long and weary years we have waited. Massachusetts blood has consecrated the streets of Baltimore, which are now too sacred to be trodden by slaves.’—‘When the South cannonaded Sumter, the bones of Adams rattled in his coffin; and we might have heard him from his granite grave in Quincy say, “Seize the thunderbolt, and annihilate what has troubled you for sixty years.” ’—‘There are four sections of people in this struggle: First, the ordinary masses, mingling mere enthusiasm in the battle; Second, those that have commercial interests,—the just-converted hunkerism; Third, the people,—the cordwainers of Lynn and the farmers of Worcester,—people who have no leisure for technicalities; Fourth, the Abolitionists, who thank God that he has let them see salvation before they die. Europe, and some of you, may think it a war of opinion; but years hence, when the smoke of the conflict shall have cleared away, we shall see all creeds, all tongues, all races one brotherhood; and on the banks of the Potomac the Genius of Liberty robed in light, with four and thirty stars in her diadem, broken chains under her feet, and the olive branch in her right hand.’

Mr. Everett made his first speech in the war on Saturday the 27th of April, to a vast crowd of citizens in Chester Square, Boston. The people who lived in the south part of the city had erected a lofty flag-staff, and from its height the national banner was to be unfurled that afternoon. The ceremonies were opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Hepworth, and national songs were sung by the school-children. Mr. Everett was