New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-07
ELI THAYER IN REPLY TO MR. PIERCE.

To tie Editor Of NE ~ T. Tribune.
SIR: The Washington Union has given prominence
TO few remarks made by in Brooklyn, by com
menting on the same reply to the Special Message
OF President Pierce. How far these remarks should
be considered reply to that document will be un'
derstood from this fact, that my speech was made be-
fore the Message was delivered am no conidant u
the President, and of course had no means OF an
ticpating either his Message his attack upon tho
Emigrant Aid Company. have not been very eager
TO reply to this attack for the reason that the charges
of the President not original. They had months
before been made by the Border Rufians Of Western
Missouri and had been fully met by address to the
people Of Missouri signed by the officers Of the Emf
grant Aid CompaDy-a copy of which was sent to tho
President and to each member of bis Cabinet.
will state few facts, relating to the history
of the Company and its plan of operations The plan
r organizing emigration, which II has adopted, was
perfected and charter petoned for before the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill passed.
The Company would have been formed and put In
operatoD had the Missouri Compromise remained In
force. The charter pettoned for granted by tho
unanimous vote of the Massachusetts Legislature,
nearly one third of whom were Democrats.
Several Of the corp0rators were prominent Demo-
Gratis and at that time supporters of the Administra-
ton Several Democrats have subscribed to the stock
fthe Company.
The repeal Of the Missouri Compromise made Kansas
the best field for the operations of the Company Had
Kansas not been opened to settlement some other
field would have been chosen. .
The Company has done what 1t could for the beneht
of emigrans going out under its auspices, without In
any case taking to ascertain or to influence
their political sentiments The Company has furnished
its facilities to all who applied for them, without dis
tincton of party. The charges OF the PRESIDENT
therefore, might with equal justice have been made
against any railroad which has assisted in conveying
those emgrants to their homes in Kansas.
The purpose of the Company has been to make their
homes prosperous and happy, by surrounding them
with the institutions Of religion and of education, and
by the investment of capital for the promotion and en-
enlargement of the mechanical arts. This movement.
at rst regarded by many visionary is now proved
to be decidedly practical 1t now enjoys the conh-
ence of the majority of the people Of the Free States
and a corresponding increase Of power 10 accomplish
its high and noble purpOses.
will reply very fully TO the message OF the Presi-
de- Mt whenever shall be entirely convenient for me To
do So At that time shall inquire what business the
President of the United States has to NEEDLE with vol
untary associations acting for whatever purpose g1h-
an The pale of lar II he is to be Judge, will the Bible
society be safe or can the Central Railroad
Company continue in operation? Both Of these insti-
tutions are supported mainly by the NORTH,
Neu- Ysrk, February 8, ls50 I'll inA'h