Defence of Massachusetts: Speech of Hon. Anson Burlingame, of Massachusetts, in the United States House of Representatives, June 21, 1856 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Defence of Massachusetts: Speech of Hon. Anson Burlingame, of Massachusetts, in the United States House of Representatives, June 21, 1856

This edition of Mr. Burlingame's Speech is printed at the suggestion of some of his constituents who have heretofore been his political Oppo neuts, but who believe that on this occasion he said the right word, in the right way, and at the right time.

Considering the circumstances under which it was delivered, the speech has been regarded by persons of various political parties, and from differ ent sections of the country as equally remarkable for the boldness of its tone and for its freedom from extravagant and offensive epithets.

The writer of this brief note is an old resident of Mr. Burlingame's district, but has uniformly voted against him, whenever he has been a can didate for any political office. An old-fashioned Conservative, a \veb ster tig, the paramount principles of his political creed have been, the preservation of the constitution and Tm: union. To this end con cessions and compromises were approved, and all who Opposed them were censured. But since it appears that all concessions must be in favor of slavery, and all compromises that stood in the way of its extension are broken when the conditions favoring that interest are fulfilled: and, more over, when a determined and persistent effort is making to nationalize this sectional institution, and threats are thrown out that the Union will be dissolved if the slave power is checked in its arrogant assumptions, con sistency to long cherished principles requires that the true Conservative utter and defend the old doctrine of our illustrious statesman, liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable!

It is gratifying to see so many patriots from all parties now uniting to maintain these principles. The recent outrages upon liberty, in Kansas and at W'ashington, have led thousands to see that there is but one great issue now pending in the politics of the country. The Democratic party has done justice to the President who has been false to these principles. The people will do justice to the party that follows his course. To the noble band whose rallying cry is Liberty and Union, this speech will, it is believed, be welcome.

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