The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-14
MIR. THAYER AND THE PRESIDENT.
, the Editor of the National Era i:

To the Editor ofthe National Era:
The Washington Union has given prominence
to few remarks made by me in Brooklyn, by
commenting on the same as a reply to the spe-
cial message of President Pierce. How far
these remarks should be considered as a repty
to that document, will be understood from this
fact, that my speech was made before the mes
sage was delivered. ! am 10 confidant of the
President, and of course had no means of an
ticipating either his message or his attack upon
the Emigrant Aid Company. | have not been
very eager to reply to this attack for the reason
that the charges of the President were not orig
inal. They had, months before, been made by
the border ruffians of Western Missouri, and had
been fully met by our address to the people of
Missouri signed by the officers of the Emigrant
Aid Company copy Of which was sent to the
President and to each member of his Cabinet.
will now state few facts relating to the
history of the Company and its plan of opera
ton. The plan for organizing emigration, which
it has adopted, was perfect, and charter petit
toned for before the Kansas-Nebraska bill
| passed.
The Company would have been formed, and
| put in operation, had the Missouri Compromise
| remained in force. The charter petitoned for
was granted by the unanimous vote of the Mas
sachusetts Legislature, nearly one-third of whom
were Democrats.
| Several of the corporators were prominent
| Democrats, and at that time supporters Of the
| Administration. Several Democrats have sub.
scribed to the stock of the Company.
The repeal of the Missouri Compromise made
Kansas the best field for the operations of the
Company Had Kansas not been open to set
| Element, some other field would have been cho
| sen.
The Company has done what it could for the
benefit of emigrants going out under its auspi
ces, without in any taking Measures tc<s' )
certain or to influence their political se-~o l. SS:
| The Company has furnished its f. .nythlht .
who applied for them, without dstfftGc J. persuA
ty. The charges of the President, therefore
might with equal justice have been made
against any railroad which has assisted in con
veying those emigrants to their homes in Kan
| sas.
The purpose of the Company has been to
make their homes prosperous and happy, by
surrounding them with the institutions of reG
| gion and Of education, and by the investment
of capital for the promotion and encourage
ment of the mechanical arts. This movement
at first regarded by many as visionary, is now
proved to be decidedly practical. 1t now en-
joys the confidence of the ma ority of the peo
| pie in the free States, and corresponding in
crease of power to accomplish its high and no
BILE purposes.
will reply very fully to the message of the
President whenever it shall be entirely conve-
nent for me to do so. At that time ! shall in
| qure what business the President OF the United
States has to NEEDLE with voluntary associa
tons, acting for whatever purpose ,oithin h,
pale of the lar? If he is to be Judge will the
Bible Society be safe or can the New Yorl
Central Railroad Company continue in opera
ton? Both of these institutions are supported
mainly by the North. Eli THAYER.
Ne,o York, FEB. s, 1856.