The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-05-10
HORACE MANN,s LETTER.

y
udicious comments on this letter.
: While giving unqualified approval to the lar
! gest portion of the Letter, must notice
remarkable omissions, and make a few remarks
upon Mr.. Mann's own course in relation to public
affairs.
And first we have to notice the omission of Mr.
Mann to mention The Agency Of the administration
in bringing about The present disastrous state of d-
fairs an Congress. Alter speaking of the election
of Speaker Mr.. Mann says
''Withn an hour after the House was organized
! Mr. Root of Ohio submitted resolution instructng
the Committee on Territories to report territorial bills
prohibiting slavery. Many true friends to freedom
believed this movement to be -timed aud unforlu-
nate; and though the House then refused by hand
some vote, to lay the resolution on the table vet
when 1t came up for consideration again, the first de-
cislon reversed by about the same majority
There is abundant proof that the latter vote did not
express the true sentiment of the House. Not few
voted against the resolution avowedy because of its
paernlty-thus spltng a noble son on account of its
obnoxious father. Others repented of their votes as
soon as they came to reflect that the record would
go where their explanation could not accompany it.
| But unfortunately, it too late. There stands
J the record, to survive through all time and to be
read ofall men. The champions Of SLAVERY seized
upon this vote propitjoUs omen They derded
and secuted the proviso with ierceness unknown
before They shouted their threats Of disunion with
more defiant tone, should any attempt at what they
called its resurrection, be made speech was de-
lvered, in which the massacre of majority of the
House was distinctly Swallowed FORTH so that not 'sa
quorum should be left TO do business The effect
Of that vote was almost as bad, as though it meant
what it said.''
The hiatus we observe here, is this: Nothing is
said of an event which took place between the first
and the second vote upon Roots resolution We
mean the reception, In the House, Of Gen. TaqIorS
! California Message. In that Message. Gen. Tay-
lor, head of the Administration and leader of the
| Wing party, took distinct ground against organizing
Territorial governments. He said in as plain Ian
guage as could be used, Vote dotoa Roots Resolu-
ton. And it was rejected by the votes of about
twenty Northern Wings, while Winthrop and
number Of others, lodged the queson,-refused to
| sustain Roots resolution. In political review of
the events OF the session, however brief Mr. Mann
could not properly leave out of view so potent
cause OF the present disastrous condition of afairs-
His view of the rejection Of Roots resolve is such
as the Free Sellers have always held to: it was
FATAL MISTAKE. Why has not Mr. Mann made
an application the fact His gingerly treatment
of the Wing party and the Wing President is very
noticeable. Here is another instance
sit has been said that the doctrine of Gen Cass and
OF Gen. Taylor, on this subject, are dentical but
there Is this all important difference between them
Gen. Taylor maintains the right of Congress to leg
slate for the territories, and will doubtless approve
any bill for the prohibition of slavery in them; but
Gen. Cas-, denying this right in Congress- would. if
President, veto such bill. He, therefore, would
leave the territories open to be invaded and possess
ed by slavery; and IN Southern law and practice
possession is more than nine points,
| We wish Mr.. Mann had pointed out when and
where Gen. Taylor has maintained the rrIt of Con-
gress to eglslate for the territories Certainly not
IN any published document, and as we said before.
there Is no evidence that he would sign the Proviso
This, however, is comparatively unimportant Gen
Taylor and Gen. Cass are both opposed TO the mas
sage Of the Proriso by Congress There is evil
dence enough of this, and Mr.. Mann will not DENY
| 1t. In letter addressed to Eighth District Whirs
would be well to devote more attention TO the acts
OF the man for whom they are in some degree re-
sponsibe, rather than TO the opinions of Gen Cas-
a member of an opposite faction.
But we have not now space to notice some other
omissions of Mr.. Mann A word or two relative 70
his political course In l84S under the pretext that
it was not proper for him to take sides as partizan
he stood aloof from politics. He knew well enough
that northern man had no right to vote for Gen.
Taylor: so he refused to vote for him. But he re-
fused to vote against him. In a week after he COM
menced sustaining the administration, by voting for
Gov. Briggs. Since that time he has steadily CO.
operated with the Wings. He voted for Robert c.
Winthrop, and has been, through the session,
inefIDer OF the wing party; IN good and regular
standing with that organization which has Clay and
Webster for its great leaders, aud which numbers in
its ranks Toombs, Stephens and billiard lie voted
for Mr.. Winthrop, mho Is acowediy opposed 10 he
passage Of the Witmot Prociso, and a supporter Of
the Presidents noiI-action scheme. He has made
one speech in Congress, full of generaes and plat
Itudes all the point of which was aimed at the "Io
colocos," and at the Free Sellers who have had
the courage to maintain course Of conduct from
which his cowardce has shrunk. And now he
comes home and sends forth Letter, which, like
Gov. Brggs's Messages, is cry of charcoal from
the empty cart of Whiggery, apparently designed
quite as much 70 help the rotten organization Of that
party and advance his own political prospects, as TO
and IN keeping the territories free from slavery.
| We close our present notice of this speech, by
giving the following very correct and sensible para
graph, and commend il to the attention Of the Whias
of the Fourth District. Let them apply the lesson
to their conduct, and cease their opposition TO
the election of John G. Palfrcy. Mr. Mann, too,
may take lesson from it, and that is, so to act in
Congress, as to do his part towards breaking up the
present senseess party divisions and organizing par
ties they should be organized, lovers of Free
dom on one side, and of Slavery on the other. In
no other way can Freedom ever obtain the victory
ttOn this grpat nunstion nj Eraodonn or GIavar, I