Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-06-07
A Word i'm Defence of Ex-GOvernOr
Washburns

Washburn.
MessrS Editors When, in the convention
which nominated Gen. Taylor for the Presidency,
Judge Allen declared the dissolution of the old
Wing party, the writer Of this article accepted
sPUuny vorihcation of the prophecy. From that
day he has been a steadfast advocate of the doc
trine of Free Soi Free Speech-and, let me add
of Free Thought.
As, therefore, it is within your own knowl-
edge, that l am Republican, and that my advo-
cacy of Republican doctrines is not thing of
yesterday that it was not born of recent excite
ment, but has resulted from mature reflection,
have no apology to offer for present intrusion
and, whatever may be your opinion of the lew re.
marks desire to offer, ask that you give them
publicity.
desire, simply, to enter an earnest protest in
behalf at least of some members of the Republi.
can party-agaiDstw hat they believe to be the in
iudicious and ungenerous course pursued at the
recent Indignation Meeting" held at the City
Hall, toward an old and justly esteemed resident
of this city. Those who were present at the meet.
ing will remember, that among other names of
persons who were called upon to address them,
that of Ex-Governor Washburn was loudly vocif-
Grated. Mr.. Washburn did not appear. With
regard to him, and him only, somewhat unusual
course was adopted by the meeting. A committee
(of one person. was appointed to wait upon him.
and solicit his attendance. Late in the evening"
that committee reported, upon call, materially
follows ''Ihat Governor Washburn desired him
to say, that he approved the object of the meet
ing that his sympathies were heartily in unison
with those of the multitude present, but that
owing to his connection with Harvard College,
he begged leave to decline attending personality"
The shouts of derision with which this report was
greeted will not easily be forgotten In the Spy
of the day following, the fact commented on
with some severity, and in the New York Tribune
Of Wednesday last, it is sayagely spread before
the Union.
Now Mr.. Editor, claiming the exercise of free
speech, however unpopular its use may prove to
be, beg leave, respectfully yet firmly, to protest
against the whole of this proceeding, as unjust.
wholly uncaled for, and, fear, not entirely free
from malice. 1t is as true as anything yet stated
that Governor Washburn previously waited
upon by some of the promoters of that meeting;
that his personal co operation was solicited, and
that similar reasons for declining were given by
lin in the early part of the day consequently,
there is reason to fear that the motion for a com
mittee, made at the meeting, was merely a pre-
meditated resolve to hold his name up to insult
and contumely.
That Governor Washburn did not view his po-
sition differently, and give public utterance to
what PROFESSIONALLY were, and are, his sent.
ments upon recent events, may honestly be sub
ject of regret with men Of all parties; but
submit that this is a personal matter, of which a
decent courtesy should permit him to be the
Judge, and that the right of that, or any other
meeting, to drag him forth for the mere purpose
OF insult, is loudly to be questioned
For one, sir, although it were the Only one, disa
VOW and denounce all such proceedings. 1t may be
gratifying to such as nourish personal luminosity
toward supposed political opponent, thus to
avail themselves of times of excitement, to at.
tempt to cover his name with obloquy; but |
urge that these are not times when great empires
are to be endangered, the sacred cause of Free.
dom impaired, by subseryiency to personal inter
ests or motives. When union among Northern
men was never before so desirable when all
meaner motives than desire for the triumph of
Truth and Right, are so imperatiyely demanded
TO be sacrificed, / submit that mere policy-0eay.
ing justice unconsidered) -should dictate a no.
bier and more enlarged view of events. But iii
not upon such grounds that these objections are
based j claim in behalf OF every man unmo-
Tested freedom of opinion and protest against
such utter abolition of charity from political ac.
ton. Tyranny is odious. howsoever exercised;
that Of the many rarely less Objectionable than
that Of the oligarchic few, and regarding his act
as tyrannic, no true Republican should sanction
il, even tacitly. Such, at least, is the view taken
Of it by one Republican, who esteems Charles
Sumner more than any other public man aud
who feels that not in his name, should anything
like social or political injustice be done TO any
man. Fearing to trespass at too great length
upon your space or Patience l forbear discussion
OF points raised in the Tftbane's article and sub
scribe myself, Your obedient servant,
JUsTICIA.