Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-29
S rice Cwo Gems
C5e 9aiIg Spp.
Hon. EIirhnr.r


In the Ninth District of Massachusetts,,
Hon. Eli Thayer is nominated. He is an
erratlc zone idea man" thoroughly anti slav-
cry, though inclined to 'squater sovereignty
IN the belief that that is a club with which
just now he can most certainly knock the
brains out of Slavery Concord CN. H } Iaae.
pendent Democrat
1t may possibly have occurred to some of
our readers that our faith in the sagacity and
judgement of the Hon. Eli Thayer is not of
celestial altitude. That Mr.. Thayer is we'll
meaning jealous and active in support OF the
right, we believe; but if he were to think
more and say less we are confident lie would
be more efficient for good and less perilous-
not to say mischievous-to the cause he has
at heart. than he somehow contrives to be.
lie seems to labor under a constitutional ina
bility to be quiet and let himself alone He
has the ambition to lead without the ballast
of observation and careful study which are
needed to qualify one to fill that position
with honor to himself or safety to the puplic.
Were he to set sail on voyage of discovery,
no would be certain to return with chart
studded all over with fog banks which he had
rashly mistaken for continents.
Mr.. Thayers latest bubble is the notion Of
opposing and defeating Slavery Propagandism
by what he styles Non Intervention. If the
Federal Government would ouly Che urges)
do nothing to favor the diffusion of Slavery
into new regions. Free labor would be allie
to confront and dlffeat such diffusion -Nel0
York Tribune.
We are sorry to observe disposition of late
on the part of certain Republican papers to
speak in disparaging terms, like the Indepen-
dent Democrat, or in terms of stilted arrogance
and mean abuse, like the Tribune in the above
extract, of Hon. Eli Thayer of Massachusetts,
whom we have learned to regard not only as
a man of decided ability, but one of the most
thoroughly practical opponents of slavery-ex-
tension in the whole country. Certainly, we
think, the efforts and labors of no man in the
whole North have contributed more for secur-
ing the freedom of Kanzas, than have those of
this same Eli Thayer. We think his efforts
in this direction, at all events, entitle him to
more courteous treatment, than he is receiving
in the columns of certain Republican prints.
U pom some subjects he may and does enter
tain opinions unquestionably different ftom
most members of his party but after all we
are inclined to think that it will take little
time TO determine whether they are altogether
as fallacious not to say ''n,ischieUous, as some
hippant newspaper editors would have the
public believe. He has most certainly had a
large experience for testing the merits of his
peculiar theories, and has just about as good
right as any body to declaim OH the m erits
OF true popular sovereignty, uncontrolled by
base official Intervention, for keeping slavery
out of our Territories.
At all events, while the history of the emf
grant Aid Society remains on record "a
movement which he mainly originated and
directed. and which more than every other
influence combined contributed to achieve the
freedom of kanzas-while, we say, this re-
IL l. 81; u. ~
be written down as a one-idea man by the
public, but rather as man of just that ster-
ling, practical common sense, that qualities
for good political leadership. His devotion to
freedom cause has been proved by acts, not
more rhetorical hourshes empty words.
When freedoms compromise OF 1920 was
ruthlessly annulled and the possession of
Kanzas opened to a race of diligence between
freedom and slaveey, he did not like some of
his present defamers, lay down and cry "all
is lost" He did not content himself with
hurting mere empty curses at the authors Of
the infamy, quietly yielding them the field
and the Territory they coveted for slavery.
He didn't say "the Wilmot Proviso is the
only constitutional agency to employ to re-
sist slavery extension, and as that is una
valuable, will do nothing" Nothing like
it. But like a true, practical, whole-souled
slavery, we will show you that some things
can be done as well Others We will beat
you at your game. You declared for Popular
Sovereignty, and Popular Sovereignty you
shall have, and enough of it," Acting on
these plain views of the stern necessities of
the case, this one-dea Eli Thayer at once
bent all his energies to the work of starting,
organizing, directing, and keeping in opera
ton, that glorious Emigrant movement,
which resulted in filling Kanzas with those
noble spirits, that have achieved amid FIRE
and blood the liberties of that Territory.
True, he had band of noble allies in this
goaious work, but still he was the moving
and master spirit in the glorious enterprise.
And this, forsooth. is a one.ides man this is
the ''mischievous" bsbbler who in the estima-
ton of some of the political writer's ior the
New York Tribune, don't know enough to
hold his tongue, or to tell "sand banks" from
continents" Verify, while his works for
freedom live 10 praise him, as they do and ever
will, he can well afford to endure the assaults
of such arrogant and impupent newspaper
scribblers as penned the foregoing extract from
the Tribune, which appeared in that paper
while Greedy was delivering agricultural ad-
dresses out West.
For oursef, we glory in Just suoh men as
Eli Thayer, men of work as we'll as words,
and only regret that they are so few and far
between in the Republican ranks. He ism t a
man, when slavery is marching on to seize
upon free Territory, to quarrel over the kind
of weapons he shall employ to beat it back,
but is willing to seize the best that offer, and
to WELD them with will for the accomplish
ment Of his high purposes. The idea with
him is to secure the practical object in view,
and for this purpose to employ just those
| agencies that are available and promise best
for doing the work successfully. -Granite