The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-03-30
FOR THEMAssA cHusErTs SPY.


Worcester:
We feel that an apology would be due for an
appeal so unusual in our public papers, in re-
laton to political election, if there had not
been repeated attempts, of late, made to excite
jealousies which can only be conducive of evil,
if they shall ever be generally excited in the
community. Under these circumstances, we
have ventured to address to your candid atten-
ton, such considerations as will operate upon
our own minds in determining our course rela-
tive TO the approaching election of Governor
and Senators.
In the first place, let us say that we are by
education, by conviction, and by profession, of
the denomination whom we now address Our
sympathies and wishes are with you, and we
wonld be the last who would willingly lend our
influence or voice to raise any other class of
men to Offices of power to the injury or oppres-
sion of those with whom we are associated.
We might, perhaps, had the question original
ly been put to US, have selected other, candi-
dates for Senators for this County than some of
those who are nominated for that office. But
the question now before us is, whether we will
sustain these, or, by giving our votes for others,
throw away our influence in the election, or so
divide the votes of the county as TO prevent an
election by the people and leave for others the
selection of those who shall represent US in the
Legislature.
We believe, in the first place, that divis-
ion Of the people in their political elections by
religious disputes is deeply to be deprecated.
1t is state of things which no we'll wisher of
his country can ever desire. We believe, more
over, that those who are attempting TO do this
in this county, do not regard the public good
nor the advancement of the cause of evangeli-
cal faith, but their own individual interest. We
believe, and we might appeal to facts to sustain
our conviction, that the nominations which we
see, and the appeals that we hear wherein you
are addressed, are not made for your benefit
but for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of few men, or
the success of party that has no more sym.
pathy with you, in your peculiar religious opn
ions, than with your most determined oppo-
nents. 1t this is not so, why are the names Of
men obtruded upon the public who have never
consented to become candidates for Office, and
who, if chosen, would not serve. If this is not
to distract and divide the friends of the present
State administration, and thereby TO secure the
election of men, whom you would be the last
TO elect, we confess we err in our estimate of
measures, and in our judgment of mems mo-
tlves as determined by their actions.
Let us canddy look at the question before
US. We are to 60 to the polls, not as religious
partizans, but as fellow citizens, to elect our
political rulers for the ensuing year. To the
nomination of Governor Lincoln, and of The
Senators, who have already served IN that Of
fee, we know not how we can object as politi-
clans. They have faithfully sustained the in
terests of the County and the State, and can
we, let US ask ourselves, can we hope TO pro-
cure more faithful or more able men to fill their
places, at this time, by sacrificing these to the
opinions which we entertain upon topics with
which they have, properly, nothing to do in
phara ha
substantially said of the two gentlemen, who
are named as candidates in the places of Mr..
Walker and Col. Mixter. If we refuse to sus-
tain them by our votes, we apprehend that the
consequence will be the election of one or more
Jackson men, and we will not so far do violence
to your good sense or political honesty, as to
inquire if you can be willing, in the present
posture of our national politics, to become &C.
cessory to the election of men of such princi-
pies, in order to show your disagreement in
single particular with the candidates who are
offered for your support We are aware that
there are complaints made by many, relative
to the union of the Theological school at Cam
bridge with the University-that foster child
of the State. We fear there is good cause for
complaint, but we are far from being satisfied
whether, and how far, if at all, the last legisla-
ture were responsible for that union. We be-
Ieve we must look farther back than that leg
slature for the origin ofthis cause of complaint,
and that, il the history OF that transaction could
be understood, there would be found but little
cause for imputing blame to our present Sen
ators. We hope the subject may be investi-
gated in due time, but, until that is done, we
are not willing to see tried and faithful men,
and men against whom not a breath of com.
plant is uttered for want of honesty and ca.
pacity, sacrificed from mere suspicion of hay
ing erred, or for the purpose of bringing into
power any ambitious aspirant for Office, who is
willing to appeal to your religious PROPOSES
sions in a cause in which religious controversy
should have no place.
But suppose, for moment, that by uniting
with the jackson party or any other minority
in politics, we should be able to elect one OF
more orthodox men as Senators the present
year, what must naturally be the conseuuen.
ces The zeal Of every party opposed to us
would at once be aroused, and a religious con.
troversy, Of bitter and prosecuting character,
would be excited, in which every thing like
pure religion would be sacrificed to party zeal
and political intrigue. And who would BIO the
gamers in this contest Power in such case
would DO determined by numbers, and what
have tEe orthodox to hope, when, not only
their religious antagonists are opposed to them,
but that numerous class in the community,
who, without protesting any particular faith
themselves, are willing to join in cry against
the principles protested by the orthodox at
this day. We may err in the estimate which
we have made, but, if we do not, it is both a
measure of peace and policy, for the friends Of
true religion to prevent a collision of this kind,
and even if we misjudge in relation to tho com
parative numbers Of such parties, we do not
the less deprecate religious strife, between
political partizans, as impolitic, unwise, and
we had almost said, unchrisiian.
We. have extended these remarks much far
| ther than we at first intended but we again ask
you to consider Of them with candor and as
politicians. We believe that our rights and