Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-12-16
the shrewsbary Representatives.

We publish, this morning, an account OF a meet
ing of the Free Soiiers Of Shrewsbury, including
report of committee, appointed to inquire into the
rumors in circulation, charging Luke B. Wethertees
representative elect from that town, with double
dealing and treachery to the party which nomlna-
ted him, and to which he protested to belong. The
report speaks for itself, and how far the grave Of
fences, charged in the umors, sustained by facts,
will be seen by the reading Of,
As we discountenanced these runors. and avowed
our disbelief Of them, il now seems proper that we
should state the grounds on which did We
bad known Mr.. Weherby, not merely Free
Seller, but an original Liberty Party ran, and. as
such, could not believe that he would consent, in
any way, to lend his aid to party which had beed
all its anti slavery professions, and become the open
ephohder Of the slave power and ITS infamous COM
promise measures. We had heard him spoken Of
as man of honor and integrity, aud understood him
20 be church member iu good standing. We were
informed on unquestionabie authority that he had
acted with the Free Soil party, cordially, in all its
measures, including the coalition, which had not
only his assent but approval and cooperation
when nominated, be reafirmed his position, as will
be seen by the report, and only regretted that he
could not bring talent to the aid of the party
in carrying out their purposes. Tie knew perfect
iy WE'LL that in the election then pending, il was the
purpose, and the especial object Of the party, in all
cases where they could not elect man Of their own,
TO aid the election Of Democrat in prele ence to a
Wing, for the obvious reason, that, BY this policy,
they would, by preventing the Wings from obtaining
absolute majority, be enabled 10 hold the balance
ofpower between the other parties, aud thus con-
throw the uncontrolled power into the hands of the
Wings. vote, therefore, for a Whlg, either a.
that election or in the Legislature even when DEM
ocrat and not Free SoiIer should he his opponent,
would virtually lie against the Free Soil party,
because it would be vote to take the balance olpow-
er ont Of their hands and place it uncontrolled in the
hands of the higs, 1.-THE position Of the Whig and
Democratic parties were reversed, then policy
would be to combine with the Wings TO defeat the
Democrats for the purpose of securing the bal
aHce of power 10 ourselves.
Knowing, then, the purposes Of the Free Soil
cepting their nomination, bound by every tie Of
honor, conscience, and morality, to sustain them
therein, to the fullest extent; and TO make secret
bargain with their opponents, to do otherwise would
be violation Of all those obligatious-an act of per-
fdy as great when done to secure the "votes Of the
whigs,' it would be If the equivalent to be re-
ceived were "thirty pieces Of silver
u - M *
change his opinion after hissnomination. Granted.
But the exercise ievery right, implies correspond
ing obligations. lie had the right; but he was
bound, if he did change his opinions, to make that
change known to those who nominated him; he was
bound to proclaim it abroad. to the world, that
all who had an interest in knowing it, might know
it. Any other course would be fraud upon those
wao had given him their confidence, a fraud ap-
preached, but not equalled, by those whom the Law
Furnishes feons, for Obtaining goods by false pre-
fences, inasmuch as the right Of suffrage is more
sacred thing than property, and liberty Of mor'
value than dollars and cents.
If then. Dir. Wilherby made the arrangement
which the wings affirm he did, he dds great wrong
he committed fraud upon those who nominate
him, such as no pure minded, honest, conscienciou
could commit. 1t was wrong, however, tn;
may be repented Of, and in part atoned for, thong
the moral faint will not easily be eradicated. 1t W;
compact, which, in It's very nature was not bindin
for no contract entered into to do wrong, is ev'
binding. No point 10 law and morals is more clea
" settled, than this. 1t remains, then, to be see
whether he will avail himself of the door which
open for his escape, Or whether he will add wro
TO wrong. The obligation not being binding, eve
act 10 carrying it out viii be new wrong, new
fence against honor conscience, and principle, pi
cisey as much as il the original pledge had not be
made;- new breach Of the trust reposed in him
those who nominated him,-a new violation of
pledges, whether actually made, OF only implied fir
the nature Of his position.
However far, then, Mir. Witherby may alrea
have gone. is it TOO much 10 hope, for his own sal
&hat he wall reflect and pause, that he will not IL
have done the wrong he is charged with, add n
and more grievous wrongs to it? Will he, can
be prepared to brave the sconi Of indignation viii
by such a course, be would be compelled to meet
the face Of every honest man, of whatever party
may be--for men always detest the traitor, howe
much they may love The treason. Time only
disclose, whether, having made one inisstep, he
manfaly retrace it, or whether, yielding to the 81
influences which first misied him, he will persis
his downward career hG
------------------
IMPORTANT ARREsTs.-We learn from the
ton Times Of Monday, that young Meen, the G
III g Eario,w orocer in Rosfon WIN asd "a
absoonded with $l40O OF his employers money,
arrested on Saturday night at the house Of
Sawtelle, in Berlin, in this county, and the sui
1894 Of the stolen money was found upon his per
Mellen Implicated young man named VII
Stevens King, alias W. s. SawtelIe, who he
was at Worcester, and there, at half past o'c
on Sunday morning, he was arrested The two