Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-01-27
A GOOD SPEECH.

HoS.-ELI THAYER, of Massachusetts,, made
a speech in the lower House of Congress on
the 7th January, which produced quite SEN
sation. The subtle irony and sarcasm of the
speech, and his original and ingenious method
of carrying the war into Africa, evidently
bothered the fre-eaters much, and raised a
laugh at their expense, which they finally in
dulged in themselves. We give the follow
ing extracts -
ssThen, sir, by what agency may we thus A
mericanize Central America2 i reply to the
question, by the power of original emigration.
That is abundantly able to give us Central A
merica as soon as we want it. We could have
Americanized Central America half a dozen
times by this power, within the last three
years, if there had been no danger or appre-
hension of meddlesome or yexatious execu-
tive interference.
sBut if we are to use this mighty power OF
organized emigration,we want different kind
of neutrality laws from those which We now
have and, therefore, am desirous that this
committee shall recommend something which
shall not subject us to the misconstruction of
the President of the United States or to his
laws SO plain that every man may know wheth-
er he is in the right or in the wrong, whether
he is violating those laws or is not violating
them. For, Mr.. Chairman, with our new-fash-
ioned kind of emigration, with our organized
emigration, (which goes in colonies, and, there
fore, must of necessity to some extent resem-
bic military organization, there is great dan
ger that President with dim intellect may
make mistake, and subject to harrassing and
vexatious delays, and sometives to loss and in
jury, a peaceful, quiet colony, going out to
settle in neighboring State.
ssMr. Chairman, can illustrate this position.
You, sir, remember, that in the year 1856,
when it was bad travelling across the State of
Missouri on the way to Kansas, that our colo
nies went through the State of Iowa, and thro'
the Territory of Nebraska. These we're peace
full, quiet colonies, going to settle the Terrific
ry of Kansas, by that long and wear'some jour
ney, because it was bad travelling through the
State of Missouri. You remember that one of
these colonies of organized emigrants, which
went from Maine and Massachusetts, and from
various other Northern States, was arrested
just as it was passing over the southern boun-
Diary of the Territory of Nebraska, on its way
to its future home in Kansas. 1t was a peace
full, quiet colony, going out with its emigrant
wagons all in row, and therefore looked
something like military organization-going
out with their women and children, with sub
soil plows and coulters yard long, (laughterl
with pick-axes, with crowbars, with shovels,
and with garden seeds.
s'This beautiful colony was arrested by the
officials of the present Executives predeces-
sor. Itwas by some mistake, no doubt. Per-
haps he took the turnip seed for powder; and
doubt whether the case would have been bet
ter if the President had been there himself.
This colony was arrested within our own do
minlon. 1t was not an emigration to foreign
country, and there was no danger Of interfer-