Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-29


has long enjoyed the reputation of being one
ofthe most thoroughly conservative papers in
the State, and, on tie slavery question, it be-
longs to the compromising school. The editor,
while in the constitutional convention, had
an opportunity to become well acquainted
with Gen. Wilson and to judge of his ability
and character. With this knowledge, he does
not seem to find the difficulty, which some
of his conservative contemporaries do, in ac-
counting for the Generals election as Sena-
ator. Essays:
Perhaps we should not have voted for Mr..
Wilsonif we had been called to vote, yet it
could not be expected that the party in power
would elect other than Know Nothing; and
of the candidats before their caucus, zoe do not
see hoW anybody could hare besitased in the Sc
lection. Gen. Wilson has ability, indomita-
BILE energy, perseverance, and industry; he
will be true to the interests of his constitu-
ents, and he is nationally patriotic, with a
spirit that will not shrink to repel attacks
upon or hesitate to perform benefits to, any
section of the Union. let these traits are not
peculiar to him they are found in hundreds
of others who were never named for Office, and
are therefore not reasons why he should have
been selected. He was taken on party grounds,
and as we are not of the party, it was not for
us to counsel at first, or rebuke or praise now.
There is one fact, however, in this election,
that is gratifying, and would have been, had
the candidate been Wing, Democrat, or Free
soiler. We have an illustration OF the influ-
ence and genius of American institutions,
showing that the humblest and the poorest
may qualify himself for, aspire to, and at.
No i lrl Al,
the road to the highest honors is open to all
alike: TO the poor well as the rich--tC the
man of daily toll as to HIM of leisure-to ali
who have noble ambition and spirit worthy of
rising. Henry Wilson, who is now 43 years
old, was born in an obscure town Of New
Hampshire, of obscure and poverty stricken
parents, and at ten years of age was forced to
leave the parental roof, that there might be
more bread and clothing for his six brothers
and sisters, while he, to the age of 81,
earned his way V following the plough and
cultivating the soil Neither name, nor place,
nor fortune, nor education, was his by inner
itance but the manhood with which God
blessed, and the advantages of our institu-
lions, after he had reached manhood, prompt
ed him to learn mechanical trade, and in the
academies Of his native State, add to the mere
rudments of his education. These efforts were
worthy Oh the man, anu tOretOlQ the future
that was before him.
He was in business for himself, had became
distinguished as public speaker, under the
name of the "Natick Cobhler.' and YVES a
member of the Massachusetts legislature, be-
fore he was thirty years old. Two years, he
was in the House, and two years in the Sem
ate, previous to 1915; in '4S, he with others
left the national convention that nominated
Gen. Taylor; again in 40, he was in the
House, and in 80 and 81 had attained to the
presidency of the Senate. All along here, we
mark the growth of the man, the unfolding Of
hispowers, the development and cultivation
of his mind. The green youth that came
down from the Pennington hills to sole shoes,
was the sturdy man the unlettcred and the
untaught lad acquired vast amount fprac.
teal information; he who had written his
first essays ille3ibly, and to the numbering of
the rules of grammar aud rhetoric, was pol
ished and refined; and the starumerng cob
bier was the eloquent orator, who in in his ad.
dress to kossuth and his senatorial speeches,
has given us some beautiful specimens of terse
Saxon oratory. Now he was prepared to orig
mate great measures of constitutional reform,
and in the convention of 1858, was the leader,
and indeed the father of the reforms submit
ted, which were lost only by small MAORI
ty, and ,oere deemed SO essential that those ,oho
opposed them, the aect gear introduced most Of
them to the legislature themselves. And now
he rises again; above faction; above personal
hostility; above the little souls that think
that Harvard College and not shoe shops and
mechanics work benches, should furnish seu-
ators-to a national position unequalied in
Importance by any other save the Presidency
and the heads of the Executive departments.
VIII he not act worthy of Massachusetts,
worthy of this great republic: Hegoes there
an American for American interests, and it
may be seen that he will act for the north and
the south and the whole. till Massachusetts,
shall be proud of him, and glad of his election.