Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-03-07
Iron AZ occasional Corr, spor dent.l


BosToN, Feb Is, 1857.
Messrs. Editors Your correspondent, "Wou-
ter Won Twiller." keeps you very well posted up
IN reg rd to Bost, notions and motions but
there are some matters, which may escape his no.
tice, to which wish to invite the attention of
your readers. Aud frst:-
THE MAJOR eENERALsHIP.
Nothing has turned up which more strikngly
illustrates the decentralization of Massachusetts,
politics, than this matter Of the election Of Ma
jor General The representatives, of the people OF
Massachusetts, seem to forget that there is State
Of observation-disclosures we are regarded only
province-an appendage Ct the federal govern
msnt, Unless this whole business of State
militia is farce, land, really, it is nothing else,
though its friends cannot plead that fact an
cuse for their fantastic 'ricks,) the election of
Major General is grave matter. The Consttu-
ton so regards it, and requires that he shall be
eIectsd-not step up by mere priority-but shah
be elected by concurrent Uots Of the two branch
es. Aud still the sogers " say it belongs to
Andrews as a matter Of course, and the Legis-
lature has only to register the edcts Of the mil
itary cabals, by which he has been "put through"
step by step, up TO the head.
But the insuperable objection 20 Andrews is,
that he is federal officer, and border rufian at
that; that he believes that the chief end of man
is to hunt slaves for our Southern masters, and
that he recognizes paramount allegiance to "the
hand that feeds him . and that being, by law of
Congress, exempt" from military service. he
can, at any moment, when ordered out to take
command of the State troops, throw up his COM
NISSAN, plead exemption, and defy the State!
What is the answer to this l will give it in
the words of Mr.. Charles Hale, in his speech in
the House;-
$50 far as the objection lies in the fact that as
q custom honse clerk, Gen. A. is exempted from
militia duty. and it might accordingly be appre-
hended that If in any exigency he should mlsbe-
have, and, If called TO account for msbehavinr,
might plead his exemption to protect him from
punishment BY cuuIt-martal or otherwise, / was
At first inclined to think there was point at least
in the objection but find on inquiry into the
subject, and collecting the opinions # both legal
and military gentlemen, that no difficulty need
be apprehebded on this score; they all agree, and
it seems clear. that exemption is simply privi-
le2e and If citizen valves the privilege, and
chooses to accept commission, by that act he
becomes liable to all the duties and responsible
ties of the Office which he assumes, and he can
not plead his exemption as excuse for
Rlecting his duty at any future time
Mr.. Charles Hale is either very verdant, him.
self, to be satisfied with such "opnions Of legal
or military gentlemen" or he must think he was
addressing very simple men, to be humbuPged by
such an answer. The question is, not what do
these gentlemen think, Tut what would the fed
erai courts decide, in such case II we had
srate Supreme Bench, like that Of Wisconsin, we
Would not care what the federal courts said but
every school hoy knows, that. in MASSACHUSETTS,
we have no State rights; and no ma liter what the
outrage upon State or personal rights, which the
slave power should determine to practice here,
whether TO catch fugitive slave, or ares,
white man for the treason of fee speech in Fan
euil Hall, or at Worcester, If Major General An
drews should be ordered to enforce the State laws.
and protect our personal liberties he would
throw up his commission and if the State should
attempt to court.martial him. the federal govern.
ment would inierpose, and he would be rescued,
and the State courts dare not touch him, aud
there is tbs end ( the matter. And yet the Sen.
ate persists in going through the farce Of eleciing
N an whom they can't compel to serve an hour
LONGER thsR the slave power can use him, and the
House. which at 6rst gave him only 9S votes out
" OH "" ANuIbuAys gave MN l4l Vo eS out oil
235, and on Pdday elected Gen. Pierce by only
one majority
And. ssddest II all, large portion Of the
straight" Republicans voted for Andrews. On
Mr.. Hale's motion iosppoint him, Mr.. Hopkins
did not pOte but, on Ryidsy morning, when ev
spbody expected that Ne would be elected by
ballot, Mr. Hopkins stated, as a matter Of "priv
Asye" that, had he been present on Thursday,
he should have voted for Andrews Heaven help
tbs man, who already rolling IN the mud, begs
the "PrivileRe" Of plunging deeper!
And Dir. William spooner u Boston, an.
other +" straight" Republican, "diGN not believe
there was any possibility Of a conhia between
the United States and the State, in regard 70 the
Fugitive Slave Law" and 90, he "hop,d the
House would choose Gen. Andrews" Good,;m.
pie soull Il don't believe the animal will bite, and
soits puts iis little head into the lions mouth \
And then look al the appeals to the ,imid;,v ~
the politicians. Says that straight Republican
lournt, the Afiasi
boxing at the matter in a merely po,i,o.,
pointbf view, IL il evident that the course par.