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

FEBRUARY, lI95, 1t is enacted, that whenever
the laws of the United States shall be oppos-
ed, or the execution thereof DISTRACTED, in any
State, by combinations too powerful to be
suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial
proceedings, or by the powers vested in the
marshals," the President 'may call forth the
militia" By the supplementary Act of Sd
March, 1907, in all cases where he is au thor.
ised to call forth the militia "for the purpose
of causing the laws to be duly executed" the
President is further empowered, in any State
or Territory, 80 employ for the same pur-
poses such part of the land or naval force of
the United States as shall be Judged necessa.
ry.' There is the letter of the law; and you
will please to mark the power conferred In
no cane where the laws of the United States
are opposed, or their execution obstructed, is
the President constrained to wait for the re-
QUESTION Of Governor, or even the petition
OF a private citizen. Just as soon as he learns
the fact. no matter by what channel, he is
invested by law with full power to counter
act it. True it is, that when the law of
State is Distracted, he can interfere only on
the application of the Legislature of such
State. or of the Executive, when the Legisla-
ture cannot be convened; but when the Fed
eral laws are INSTRUCTED, no such preliminary
application Is necessary. 1t is his high duty,
under his oath of office, to see that they are
executed, and. if need be, by the Federal
forces.
And, sir, this is the precise exigency that
has arisen in kanzas-precsely this; nor
more, nor less. The act of Congress, consti
rc-siug the very organic law of the Territory,
which, in peculiar phrase as if to avoid am
biguity, declares, as sits true intent and mean
ing" that the people thereof shall be left
perfectly free to form and regulate their do.
nestle institutions in their own way" hns
been from the beginning opposed and obsrruct-
ed i'll its execution. Ii the President had pow
eT TO employ the Federal forces in Boston, when
he supposed the Fugitive Slave Bill was OBJ
sructed,and merely III anticipation of such OBJ
strnction, it is absurd to say that he had not
rower in Kanzas, when lin the face of the whole
country, the very organic law of the Territory
was trampled under foot by successive inva-
sions, and the freedom of the people there
overthrown. 10 assert ignorance of this OBJ
neutrality-suspicious. long continued, and
stretching through months--attributes to him
not merely imbecility, but idlocy. And thus
do l dispose Of this Apology
Next comes the Apology absurd, which is,
indeed, in the nature of pretext. 1t is al
legged that a small pamphlet, containing the
"Constituton and Ritual of the Grand Eu-
campment and Regiments of Kanzas Legion,
was taken from the person OF one George F.
Warren who attempted IT, avoid detection by
chewing it. The oaths and gtandiose titles of
the pretended Legion have all been set forth,
and this poor mummery OF secret society,
which existed only on paper, has been grave.
ly introduced on this floor, III order to exten.
uate the Crime against Kanzas. Ii has been
parnded in more than one speech, and even
stuffed into the report of the Committee.
A part of the obligations assumed by the
members of this Legion shows why it has
been thus pursued, and also attests its inno-
cence. Il is as follows;
81 will never knowingly propose person for member
ship in tn ord who is not i'll favor ofmakng KauzaS
Tree State and wnom feel satisfied will his entire
il Genc to bring aoout this result. will support main
tam, aud abide by aoy honorable nt made by the
organization to this great end which will
ct with the laws OF tue country and the Constitution of
the United states "
Kanzas is to be made free State, by an
honorable movement, which will not conflict
with tho laws and the Constitution. That is
the object of the organisation, declared in the
very worls of the inltiatory obligation. Where
is the wrong in this. What is there here,
which can cast reproach, or even suspicion,
upon the people of Knnzas? Grant that the
Legion was constituted, can you extract from
II any pology Tor ire original Crime, or Tor
its present ratldcations Secret societies. with
but who can lind, in this mistaken machine.
ry, any excuse for the denial of all nights to
the people Of Kanzas: All this, | saw, on
the superstition that the society was reality,
which it was not. Existing in the fantastic
brains of a few persons only it never had any
practical Lille. 1t never was organized. The
whole tale, with the mode of obtaining the
copy OF the Constitution, is at once a cock
and bull story and a mares next trivial as
the former absurd as the latter; and to be dis
missed, with the Apology founded upon it, to
the derision which triviality and absurdity
justly receive.
1t only remains, under this head, that
should speak Of the Apology infamous found
ed on false testimony against the Emigrant
Aid Company, and assumptions of duty more
false than the testimony. Defying Truth, and
hooking Decency, this Apology excels all
others III futility and audacity, while, from it's
utter hollowness, Improves the utter impotence
OF the conspirators TO defend their Crime
faisehood, always Infamous, in this case
arouses peculiar scorn. An association of sim
cere benevolence, faithful to the Constitution
and laws, whose only Notifications are hotels,
school-houses, and churches, whose only
weapons are saw-mlls, tools, and books;
whose mission is peace and good will, has
been falsely assailed on this floor, and an err
rand Of bameless virtue has been made the
preteXt OF an objectionable Crime. Nay,
more-the innocent are sacrificed, and the
guilty set at liberty. They who seek to do the
miss, on OF the Savior are sconrged and cru
clhedi While the murderer, Barabbas, with the
SYMPATHY OF the chief priests goes at large.
Were to take counsel Of my own feelings,
should dismiss the whole Apology to the in
effabe contempt which it deserves; but it has
been made TO play such a part in this conspir-
acy, that l feel it duty to expose it com
pletely.
Sir, from the earliest times, men have rec
ognized the advantages of organization, as an
elective agency in promoting works Of peace
or war. Especially at This moment, there is
no interest, public or private, high or low, of
charity or trade, of luxury or convenience,
which does uot seek its aid. Men organize to
lear churches and sell thread to build schools
and to sell ships; to construct roads and to
manufacture toys; to spin cotton and to print
books; to weave cloths and to quicken har-
vests to provide food and to distribute light
to influence Public Opinion, and to secure
votes to guard infancy in its weakness, old
age in its decrepiJude, and womanhood in its
wretchedness; and now, in all large towns,
when death has come, they are buried by or
gained societies, and. emgrants to another
world, they lie down in pleasant places,
adorned by organized skill. To co IN plain that
this prevailing principle has been applied to
living emigration is to complain of Providence
and the irresistible tendencies implanted in
man.
But this application of the principle is no
recen invention, brought forth for an exist
ing emergency. Ii has the best stamp of An.
tiquity. 1t showed itself in the brightest days