Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-10-30
Mr.. Rockwell and she Compron,ise
Measures

Measures
We publish Mr.. Rock wells address to his
constituents in 1850, declining a renomina-
ton as candidate for Congress. 1t speaks
for itself. i shows the Unambitious charac-
ter Of the man, declining to be a candidate in
a district where Wing domination was
equivalent to an election. Our special pur-
pose in republishing the address is to show
the thorough anti slavery record Of Mr.. Rock
well. Few Of our readers have lost a fresh
memory Of the year $50. At no time in or
history has there been period when such a
deliberate and combined effort was made to
suppress all anti slavery sentiment by gag
law corruption, and social and political pro.
scription It was the period when the Com
promise measures, with all their woes, were
fastened on US. The public man who would
not swear by them was ostracised by the oil
garehy at whose head stood Millaid Fillmore.
There conld not be public meeting to protest
against them which was not disturbed by
shouts for Webster. The corrurt were bought
up, the faeile were turned about. the timid
were dismayed, and even good men, longing
for quiet, accepted the doctrine of finalty.-
Mr. Rockwell was a member of CongIes
when these measures passed. There were
but four members in the House of Represent
atives from Massachusetts who stood firm
two were Free Sollers, Horace Mann and
Charles Allen, and two were Wings, Oren
Fowler and Julius ROCKWELL. They voted
steadily against the Fugitive Slave Bill, the
Texas Boundary Bill, and the bills organizing
governments for Utah and New Mexico, with
out the Wilmot Proviso. Most, if not all of
the other members voted for some one or
more OF these measures. 1t was LETT in that
i'll tated hour o julius ROCKWELL, the la.
mented Oren Fowler, Horace Mann, and
Charles Allen, to sustain the honor OF Massa-
chusetts and the rights of the Free States.
To the Electors ofthe Seventh Congressional
District Of Massachusetts:
1t is well known to you that more than two
years since l expressed to my constituents
my determination to decline a re- election to
Congress. Circumstances at that time satisa
factory to a majority of the electors of this
district. aud to myself prevented my personal
wishes from being carried into effect and l
was elected to the present Congress.
now wish most respectfully to say to
constituency, TO whom | need not say that
fell great and renewed obligations that he
reasons then existing 10 induce me to wish TO
retire from public life, are still in full lorce,
and | again declino: and wish II be consid-
cred as candidate TO represent this District
in the thirty second Congress. As l am now
AZ nome, by reason Oh indispensable engage
ment, which will exhaust my limited time
while here; ard as | feel bound 10 return to
the seat Of government at the earliest possible
moment, shall not cucumber this commu-
nication with details.
The voteS Vhieh hare giren in the present
Congress, particularly upon The TEXAS Boundary
B,H, and The Bills organizing territorial goU-
erhmentS, i0itb0M restrictions against siaUeyy,
are knoloA to you. I hare U0ted against these
bills IN conformity to principles lDAich hare
uniformly been entertained by me and east
majority ofmy constituents.
No earthly consideration mould hare induced
me to gioea d!Bereat cote upon these questions,
and an ready on all proper occasions and an
der all circumstances 10 defedd thoSe Uotes.
They would have been given with less sat.
isfaction, had / not been well assured that
was acting in accordance with the general
sentiment and feeling which exists IN this
District.
My relations to my constituents have been
uniformly and entirely pleasant to me, and
now III obedience to the obligations of duty to
my family aud my professional engagements,
with perfect sincerity ask leave to retire at the
expiration of the present Congress from pub
lie station with which you have at four sue.
cessiye elections honored me.
julius ROCKWELL.
Pittsheld, Sept. TO- 1850