rous movement in that direction would
have ended in the destruction of the government. From John Adams to
Lincoln, only three important measures remain: The acquisition of
Louisiana, the acquisition of California, and the Independent Treasury
Bill. The war of 1812 was unwise, and in conduct it was weak. The
policy of that middle period in regard to paper money, to internal
improvements, in regard to the protection of domestic industry, and in
regard to slavery has been set aside or overthrown by the better
judgment of recent years. Yet so much are statesmen and parties the
servants or victims of events, that our opinions should be tolerant of
the men who kept the system in motion. Slavery was an inheritance, and
time was required for its destruction.

I returned to Massachusetts without waiting for the inauguration.

As I spoke in the convention upon the request of the Republican members
of the New York delegation, and as the Representative of the
Massachusetts delegation; and as my remarks were not criticized
adversely by either party, I reproduce the speech as it was reported by
Mr. Chittenden:

SPEECH IN PEACE CONVENTION

I have not been at all clear in my own mind as to when, and to what
extent, Massachusetts should raise her voice in this convention. She
has heard the voice of Virginia, expressed through her resolutions, in
this crisis of our country's history. Massachusetts hesitated, not
because she was unwilling to respond to the call of Virginia, but
because she thought her honor touched by the manner of that call and
the circumstances attending it. She had taken part in the election of
the 6th of November. She knew the result. It accorded well with her
wishes. She knew that the government whose political head for the
next four years was then chosen was based upon a Constitution which she
supposed still had an existence. She saw that State after State had
left that government,--seceded is the word used,--had gone out from
this great confederacy, and that they were defying the Constitution and
the Union.

Charge after charge has been vaguely made against the North. It is
attempted here to put the North on trial. I have listened with grave
attention to the gentleman from Virginia to-day; but I have heard no
specification of these charges. Massachusetts hesitated, I say: she
has her own opinion of the Government and the Union. I know
Massachusetts; I have been into every one of her more tha