As a whole, and as individuals
their fortunes were unenviable. They struggled against the order of
things. They accomplished nothing, unless it may be said of them, that
they kept the ship afloat. Their memories deserve commiseration,
possibly gratitude. No effort of theirs could have secured the
abolition of slavery. Any vigorous 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.
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