Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-01-10

urge attention to them because It is so s,rik
lngly evident that the great battle-of which
the contest of 1856 was but the preliminary
skirmish-the great battle to keep out of the
Union, Cuba, Mexico and Central America,
with the alians and their slayes,-countries
blasted by Spanish tyranny and the Inoui-
slilon, till they are the melancholy fragments
ana rellcs OF States with degenerate pop
ulation, and are fit only as lands for the
transplanting of Negro Slavery to glow
SIDE by side with the grcssest political and re.
ligious serfdom, this great battle can be
trninphantly fought only by appealing to
the people under the banner of the PRINCIPLES
nave therein enumerated, which principles
are not grounded merely in the passions and
preJudices, but commend themselves TO the
reflective Judgment of our citizens.
Born and brought up under totally dissin-
liar principles of government, and accustomed
to be led by the clannish influences which
surround them rather than by enlightened in.
dlyldual responsibility aliens are united to
appreciate or rightly use the great trust, IN
the exercise of which they are unwisely per-
mltted to participate. While we would grant
them, and defend them in. the enjoyment of
their religious belief, in the worship of the
Supreme Arbiter of all our destinies, accord
ing to their customs or their preferences. vet,
- S,%iS'NSAA'S VIC I1Ol)itSbH OF voluntarily
granting or Withholding, for a suitable period,
the exercise Of those functions that constitute
our own political privileges and birthright, we
may properly, and should necessarily, remem.
Der that the class of alieus, to whom we spec
lally refer, are blndly attached to religious
ialth, whose cardinal principle is implicit obe-
dlehce to its temporal head, and that
temporal head a foreign potentate,
which forbids independence of notion,
and the right of private judgment; which
claims not only the power t infict ten poral
Ills on those who dare question its iniallibili-
ty, bat also to entail future and eternal ven-
geance; whose prelates VIGOROUSLY coerce DO.
htically as well as spiritually its followers
and which arrogates TO itself, and actually ex-
erts, potent and malign political influence,
at war with the teachings of our Constitution
and the essence of onr government.
1t matters not TO the true patriotic the
thinking Observation-Disclosures at any particu-
lar election they vote as he deems right or
not; Their power is the same, the danger of
Its influence is as great, in which way soever
1t may tor the time be exercised.
witnessing this vast influence for evil,
which is continually swollen by accessions
from the old world, and seeing, year after
year, the manifold dangers which not ONLY
threaten the future, but are pernicious to the
present, it seems strange that all who value
the exhortations of the fathers of our country,
the teachings Of past history, or the repeated
warnings of the present, do not unite to
counteraet this acknowledged danger =
Our faith in righteous cause, our trust in
an overriding Providence, and the conscious.
ness of the approval OF our own judgments,
as well as of the appreciation of many of the
wisest and best of our fellow citizens, should
train ne m ID
us of ultimate success.
This purpose cannot properly be deemed
intolerant or oppressive, tor it is not proposed
to Interfere in any way with any rights what.
soever, already acquired and at present exist
ing. Every one now entitled to exercise the
elective franchise, or to hold Office is to- be,
and should be, protected in those rights. 1t
is merely desired to establish a legislative
compact with the incoming race, that if they
choose hereafter to make their home within
our borders, they may do SO, freely participant
ing in our gratuitous educational privileges,
protected by cur laws defended By our gov
eminent, elevated by our republican institu.
tions, but subject to the sole condition that
they shall take no part in the selection of our
rulers, or the adninistra ion Of our govern
ment, until they are fitted by experience tn
understand its workings and appreciate its
blessings.
Not only our own interests, but theirs also
necessitate this policy; the perpetuity of our
political system demands it; the progress of
humanity requires it; the teachings of our
early statesmen inculcate 1t; the experience
OF our own lives teaches IT. and our judy
ment, duty, and patriotism, all point to it as
primal, inevitable, and absolute obligation.
In view of these considerations, would
earnestly urge your favorable action upon the
two articles of amendment to the Constitu-
ton relative to the fright of Suffrage" and
the Qualifications of Voters" which re.
ceiyed the constitutional majority of the Sem
ate and two. thirds of the members of the
members of the House of Representatives,
present and voting thereon, at the last session
OF the Legislature, and which consequently
come before you at the present session.
There are two other amendments of the
Constitution awaiting your consideration, that
have also been afirmatively acted upon by one
Legislature, and which provide for districting
the State for the choice Of Senators and Rep
resentatiyes to the General Court
The present basis of Senatorial representa-
ton is unjust and unequal, its arrangement
giving an undue preponderance Of influence
to the voters of some ofthe counties The pro-
posed amendment remedies this unfairness by
changing the basis of representation from
money to men, and, by the creation of single
districts, not only tends to secure ADLER Sena.
tors, but prevents that opportunity for the
combination of interests in procuring nomina-
tons, which now exists
Our present House of Representatives, un-
wieldly from its great number, is an excessive
pecuniary burden this number Itself being a
hindrance to enlightened legislation, necessa.
rily procrastinating public business, and pro-
longing the annual sessions, while the existing
system OF town representation is VIGOROUSLY
unfair aud unequal in its practical workings.
In one citizen can vote for bat t,oo Repre-
sentatives in ten years; in another for four
hundred and tortys here section is entitled
to an annual representation for given num-
Der of inhabitants, and there the same num-
Der authorizes three times that representation.
This aggravated evil and injustice, inherent
in our present system, is recognized by the
enlightened judgment of our wisest states
men, as well as Of the mass of our citizens.
The remedy proposed by this amendment is
simple and just, by giving to every voter an
equal annual representation, and it was orig
inally initiated aud subsequently passed by
the concurrent votes of members of every
party existing in our Commonwealth. there
fore earnestly commend these last two amend
ments to your favorable action.
Our fathers wisely guarded our venerated
Constitution from too sudden and inconsider-
ate changes, by requiring that all amend
ments should pass two successive Legislatures
and be ratified by the people. Two of these
four amendments, and the substance Of a third,
have been twice adopted by different Legisla-
lures the last two having been passed by
one, defeated by the next, and revived again