Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-25

4
| By large number of enterprising Office hunters.
| 1t is always painful to contemplate the eelips,
of rising reputation, and the sudden Illustration
| Of hopes which appear about to blossom into
brilliant reality. Judge Douglas was rapidly
/ growing in the confidence of the Southern De
mocracy. and, alter little more trial, he nigh
| have been thought worthy Of his high ambition
/ But his impatient desire would endure no further
| pOstponement Of qualification.
He has taken the fatal step: he has passed The
| hubieon, and must now be regarded as an enemy
| to the South and tAe party. Weregrei the defec
ton, because it involves the sacrifice of man
| OF whom the country was beginning to expect
some creditable effort of patriotism and whom
I i was prepared 10 reward with worthy mark OF
| its confidence But we are not at all concerned
| for the security of the South, inasmuch as we
entertain no apprehension that its interests will
suffer even by the apostaoy of Stephen A. Doug
las On the contrary, the event will be Of posi-
tive service. IT it will only teach the people Of the
south the folly of conRcing in Northern poti-
clans, and the necessity of more exclusive re-
hance upon their own resources.
In an apoetacy so signal and so incapable of
explanation on the hypothesis Of a sincere con-
yiction of judgment the world will scarcely be
at loss to detect the operation of an ambition
that would sacrifice every obligation Of patriotism
to the qualification of its own unchastened desires.
FoREFATHBRs' DAY IN NEW YoRK.-The
New England Society of New York sat down to
heir ffty-second annual Pilgrim Dinner at the
Astor House on Tuesday evening. The tables
were set for two hundred and fifty persons, and
every seat was filled. Benjamin W. Bonney,
Esq.,, presided. DR.. King. President of Colum.
bia College, responded to the toast to the health
of Gov. King, his kinsman. Rev. Mr.. Osgood
responded for the city of New York. Rev. Hen.
~ Ward Beecher responded for the clergy of New
England
The principal speech of the evening was made
by VIM. NJ. Eyarts, in reply to a sentiment in
relation to 1.-THE Mayfowef constitution This
was the sentiment to which it was expected that
Senator Douglas would reply, and Mr. Evarts
appropriately alluded to the fact.
Letters we're read from several invited guests
who were unable to attend, including Gov. King
Robert ]. Walker, Senator Douglas, Gov Wise,
Senator Seward. and DR.. Holmes The follow.
ing is the material portion of Gov Walkers let
ter, which is very significant, and full of mean
ing, in its adaptation to existing circumstances
of the country
"This is time when we are all summoned to
recur to first principles so gloriously associated
with the early well the revolutionary history
of New England. 1t may be truly said that the
Mayfower, which bore the Pilgrims to the shores
ofNew England, freighted with the liberties
of the world. On board that immortal vessel was
framed the social compact basing all human gov
eminent on the consent of the governed ami car.
rying it into execution by the choice of their ru.
lers BY their own vote. AS your fathers landed
on your rock-bound shores there dawned the first
faint glimmering of the great principle of self.
government, which rose upon enfIanchised hu-
manity. IN all its meridian splendor, on the 4th
OF July, l776. That great principle of self-gov.
eminent is about being subjected TO fearful and
perhaps hnal test, in an unhappy Western ter,
ritory. II this principle can be subverted there.
ana such an act ratified BY Congrers, the Pilgrim
Fathers will have landed in vain on the shores of
New England; in vain shall its great truths have
been promulgated in the Declaration Of Amer
lean independence. and the blood of the Revolu-
ton will have been wasted on a soil where militia
ry and despotic power would soon resume their
sway, as under our suicide the freedom of our
country and the world forever sank with its last
'oubbllng cry into that great deep where it
should remain until the seas gives up their dead
and man shall answer for his crimes at the dread
judgment seat of his Creator.
Assa Pennsylvania, have no claim by birth
or ancestry on New England, and presume that
for this kind invitation to your anniversary din
ner | am indebted to my wife, who is a descend
ant Of the iustrious Boston printer boy, Benia-
min franklin in whose principles and virtues
have endeavored to rear my children.
In closing this letter, permit me to transmit fol
the nccasioD the following sentiment:
Self Go0erRhaeaat-- Whenever it shall be endan.
gered here, let every son of New England, wher
ever resident, rise as one man to the rescue