"Defence of Massachusetts" is a speech given by Massachusetts Congressman Anson Burlingame in the House of Representatives in 1856. In this speech, Burlingame defends the state of Massachusetts against accusations of being a hotbed of abolitionism and radicalism. He argues that the state's residents are not radical extremists, but rather deeply committed to the principles of freedom and equality. He also contends that the state's anti-slavery movement is rooted in a desire to uphold the Constitution and the principles of the American Revolution, not in a desire to incite violence or chaos. Burlingame also stresses on the point that the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts is a peaceful one, and that the state's residents should not be judged by the actions of a small group of extremists. He concludes by calling on his fellow citizens to stand up for their rights and to defend the state's reputation against unjust accusations.

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