Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-05-24

or counsel. Finally, when, by the establish
ment of Government i'll KauzBs, the tempt
ing fields of that central region were opened
to the competition of peaceful colonisation,
and especially when it was declared that the
question of Freedom or Slavery there was to
be determined by the votes of actual settlers,
then at once was organisation enlisted as an
effective agency i'll quickening and conduct
ing the emigration impelled thit err, and more
than all, in providing homes for it on arrival
there.
The Company was first constituted under
an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts,
4th of May, 1854. some weeks prior to the
passage of the Nebraska bill. The original
act of incorporation was subsequently aban-
doned and new charter received in Februa-
ry, 1856, in which the objects of the Society
are thus declared:
" For the purpose of directidg emigration Westward
and siding in DIVIDING accommodate ns for the emf
grants after arriving at their places of destination"
At any other moment, an association for
these purposes would have taken Its place,
by general consent, among the philan-
thropc experiments of the age; but Crime is
always suspicious, and shakes, like a sick
man, merely at the pointing of fin.
ger. The conspirators against Freedom in
Kanzas now shook with tremor, real or affect
help themselves they denounced the Emil
grant Aid Company and their denunciations,
after finding an echo in the President, have
been repeated, with much particularity on
this floor, in the formal report OF your COM
mittee.
The falsehood of the whole accusation will
appear in illustrative specimens.
A charter is set out, section by section,
which, though originally granted, was subse-
quently abandoned, and is not in reality the
charter of the Company, but is materially un-
like it.
The Company is represented as "a power
full corporation, with capital of FIVE mil
lions" when, by Its actual charter. 1t is not
allowed to hold property above one million,
and, in point of fact, its capital has not ex-
ceeded $4,000
Then, again, it is suggested, if not alleged,
that this enormous capital, which l have al
ready said does not exist is invested in "can-
non and rifles, in powder and lead, and i'm.
plements of war"-all of which, whether al
legged or suggested, is absolutely false. The
officers of the Company authorize me to give
to this whole pretension pont-blan denial.
All of these allegations are Of small impor-
lance, and mention them only because they
show the character of the report. But these
are all capped by the unblushing assertion
that the procee lings of the Company "were
in perversion OF the plain provisions of an Act
of Congress-" and also another unblushimg
assertion, as "certain and undeniable," that
the Company was formed to promote certain
objects, regardless of the rights and wishes
OF the people, as guaranteed by the Uonsttu-
ton of the United Suites, and secured by their
organic laws" when it is certain and undeni-
able that the Company has done nothing in
perversion of any act OF Congress, while to the
extent of its power it has sought to protect
the rights. and wishes of the actual people in
the Territory.
Sir, this Company has violated in no respect
the Constitution or laws of the land not in
the severest letter or the slightest spirit. But
every other imputation is equa lily baseess 1t
is not true, as the Senator from Illinois has
alleged, in order in some way to compromise
the Company, that 1t was informed before the
public of the date fixed for The election of the
Legislature. This statement is pronounced
by the Secretary, in letter now before me,
IAN unqualified falsehood, not having even
the shadow OF a shade of truth for its basis
1t is not true that men have been hired by the
Company to go to Kanzas for every emf
grant, who has gone under its auspices, has
hin4olf provided tho means for his iougney.--
vi course, sir, tits not true, as has been COM
planned by the Senator from South Carolina,
with that proclivity to error which marks all
his utterances, that men have been sent by
the Company "with one uniform gun.
Sharpe's rifle for it has supplied no arms
of any kind to anybody. 1t is not true that
the Company has encouraged any fanatica
aggression upon the people of Missouri forit
has cnunselled order. peace, forbearauce. 1t
is not true that the Company has chosen its
emgrants on account of their political opin-
loDs; for it has asked no questions with re.
gard to the opinions Of any whom it aids, and
at this moment stands ready to forward those
taom The South as well as the North, while,
IN the Territory, all, from whatever quarter
are admitted to an equal enjoyment of its
tempting advantages. 1t is not true that the
Company has sent persons merely to control
elections, and not to remain in the Territory;
for its whole action, and all its authorizations
Of pecuniary profit, are founded on the hope
to stock the country with permanent settlers,
by whose labor the capital of the COMPANY
shall be made to yield its increase, and by
whose fixed interest i'll the soil the welfare Of
all shall be promoted.
Sir, 1t has not the honor of being an Abol-
ition Society, or if numbering among it's off.
GERS Abolitionists. Its President is retired
citizen, of ample means and charitable life,
who has taken no part in the conflicts of
Slavery, and has never allowed his sympath-
les to be felt by Abolitionists. One of its Vice
Presidents is gentleman from Virginia, with
family and friends there, who has nlways op-
posed the Abotionists. Its generous Treas
urer, who is now justly absorbed by the OBJ
jects Of the Company, has always been I'M
derstood as ranging with his extensive con-
nexions, by blood and marriage, on the side of
the quietism which submits to all the tyranny
of the Slave Power. Its Directors are more
conspicuous for wealth and science, than for
any activity against Slavery. Among these
is an eminent lawyer Of Massachusetts, Mr..
Chapman-p personally known, doubtless, to
some who hear hlm-who has distinguished
himself by an austere conservatism, too nat.
ural to the atmosphere of courts, which does
not finch even from the support of the Fugi-
tive Slave Bill. In recent address at pub
lie meeting in Springfield, this gentleman
thus speaks for himself and his associates
81 have been Director of tine Society from the first
and have kept myself well informed 10 regard to its pro.
ceedDgs. am not aware that any in this commu-
nifty suspected OF being an Abotionist; but
have heen accused Of being Pro- ageIy; and believe
many good people think am quite too couserya i've on
that take this occasion to say that all the plans
and proceedings of the Society have met my approbaton
and assert tatt has never done single act with which
ouy Potcal party, OF tne people OF any sectnn CT the
country, can justly lind fault The Of its President
Mr. Brown OF Providence and Of its Treasurer Mr. Law
renee Of jston sufficient guaranty in the estma-
lion Of intelligent men against its being engaged in any
fanatica enterprise Its stockholders composed Of
men of all political parties except Aboltionists am not
thai it has received the patronage of that class OF
our fellow citizens, and am informed that some Of them
disapprove Of its proceedings
The acts of the Company have been such as
might be expected from auspices thus severe
ly careful at all points. The secret, through
which. with smnll naana IL hns hnnn aLla =. |