The occasion, the place of meeting, the assembly, will all speak with animating voices. May God speed the work! Let us all strive, with united power, to extend the beneficent Ordinance over the territories of our country. So doing, we must take from its original authors something of their devotion to its great conservative truth. The National Government has been for a long time controlled by Slavery. It must be emancipated immediately. Ours be the duty, worthy of freemen, to place the Government under the auspices of Freedom, that it may be true to the Declaration of Independence and to the spirit of the Fathers! In this work, welcome to honest, earnest men, of _all parties_ and _all places_! Welcome to the efforts of Benton in Missouri, and of Clay in Kentucky! Above all, welcome to the united regenerated Democracy of the North, which spurns the mockery of a Republic, with professions of Freedom on the lips, while the chains of Slavery clank in the Capitol! Faithfully yours, CHARLES SUMNER. Messrs. JOHN C. VAUGHAN, } _Committee._ THOMAS BROWN, } WHERE LIBERTY IS, THERE IS MY PARTY. SPEECH ON CALLING THE FREE-SOIL STATE CONVENTION TO ORDER, AT WORCESTER, SEPTEMBER 12, 1849. The Annual State Convention of the Free-Soil Party, called at the time the Free Democracy, met at Worcester, September 12, 1849. It became the duty of Mr. Sumner, as Chairman of the State Central Committee, to call the Convention to order. In doing this he made the following remarks. FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE CONVENTION:-- In behalf of the State Central Committee of the Free Democracy of Massachusetts, it is my duty to call this body to order. I do not know that it is my privilege, at this stage of your proceedings, to add one other word to the words of form I have already pronounced; but I cannot look at this large and generous assembly without uttering from my heart one salutation of welcome and encouragement. From widely scattered homes you have come to bear testimony once more in that great cause containing country with all its truest welfare and honor, and also the highest aspirations of our souls. Others may prefer the old combinations of party, stitched together by devices of expediency only. You have chosen the better part, in coming to this alliance of principle.