Bunker Hill Meeting for Union and Crittenden’s

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Edward Everett for Union and an amended Constitution

From The New-York Times February 4, 1861:

UNION MEETING IN CHARLESTOWN, MASS.

BOSTON, Saturday, Feb. 2.

A great and enthusiastic meeting was held last evening in the City Hall at Charlestown, over which Hon. B.R. THOMPSON presided.

The speakers included Messrs. EVERETT, SALSTONSTALL, JAMES DANA and RICHARD FROTHINGHAM, Jr.

The following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, That this meeting concurs most heartily in the sentiment of the distinguished Republican leader and Premier of the incoming Administration, WILLIAM H. SEWARD, viz: That the question of Slavery is not now to be taken into account: that “We are to save the Union, and then that we save all that is worth saving.”

Resolved, That we earnestly hope that the proposition of Hon. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN, of Kentucky will be adopted as a basis of settlement for the impending perils of the United States, it being the only practicable plan that all sections may fairly and honorably adopt, and which is all that human wisdom has been able to offer to our distracted country.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be forwarded to Hon. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN, with a request that he will present them to the Senate of the United States as the voice of the Union men of Bunker Hill.

A call has been issued for a mass Union meeting of the people of Massachusetts in Faneuil Hall, on Tuesday night next.

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Premier Seward would override Republican platform?

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Battle of Bunker Hill - painting by Howard Pyle

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1) Edward Everett had a long political career. In the 1860 U.S. presidential election he was presidential candidate John Bell’s running mate on the Constitutional Union ticket.

2) The Crittenden Compromise would have allowed slavery in the U.S. territories south of the Missouri Compromise line. The Republican platform opposed any expansion of slavery in the territories.

3) The photo of Seward’s statue in New York City’s Madison Square is under the Creative Commons license

4) The reproduced article is from The New York Times Archive

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