Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-05-05
Ell Thayer's Speech.


Massachusetts, in the House, is one of
the most cutting and sarcastic things
of the season. He quotes their own
authors to show that slavery has been
cause OF pecuniary loss to them, has
been moral burthen and an affiiction
IN every point ofview. To account for
them still clinging to the institution I'M
der all these heavy burthens, he as
sumes, quoting again from their own
authors to sustain the assumption, that
1t can be nothing but the overweening
christian benevolence which possesses
them, inspiring determination to
evangelist and christianise these poor
heathens committed to their Charge
In this view of the case, he has the fol-
lowing with reference to the effect of
the bred Scott case as bearing upon
their missionary zeal, and blotting out
at once the work of two centuries of
prayers and tears:
Here, then, sir, is the position of our
southern brethren upon this subject
But the worst is yet to be told-the
doletil conclusion of the whole matter.
They had made sacrifices, and it seems
to me that they were entitled to the re-
wards for them; and I doubt not that
they have often consoled themselves in
contemplating the rewards in the future,
which must await them for such good
service in the present. Ihave no doubt,
sir, that oftentimes, seeing they have
not treasures laid up on earth, they sup
posed they had treasures laid up in
heaven. Laughter. But just at that
time, when they seemed to be almost
in the fruition Of their labors, when the
gentleman from Missouri, (Mr. Ander-
son, in great exultation of spirit, was
speaking of the institution that had
raised the negro from barbarism to
Christianity and civilization, and when
the gentleman from Indiana, (Mr
Hughes had caught the inspiration,
and said, that although the body of the
African might be toiling under the lash,
''his soul was free and could converse
on the sublimest principles of science
and philosophy"-when faith had al
most become sight-iust then, sir, out
comes the Supreme Court with the de-
cislon that a negro has no soul =
Laughter. "Angels and ministers of
grace, defend us! - All these treasures
that were supposed to have been laid
up ''where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor STEAL" have been by the
decision Of the Supreme Court, scatter
ed to the four winds of heaven. More
than two centuries Of prayers and tears,
of heroic self-sacriice and Christian de-
votlon, of faith and hope, of temporal
and spiritual agony, have come to this
ELAINE and impotent conclusion.'-
Laughter. The moral dignity of the
grandest missionary enterprise Of this
age is annihilated. AS Northern
man, | stand here disinterested spec
lator of these events. If I do not like
the decision ofthe court, I have high
Ell law. The negro himself can appeal
to the court of heaven but what refuge
has the Southern church? Renewed
laughter. None whatever. This de-
cision is a blow, direct and terrible,
falling with crushing violence upon our
Southern brethren. This Supreme
Court, with cruel and relentless hostili-
ty, has prosecuted the Southern church
as the dragon Of the Apocalypse pur-
sued the woman into the wilderness
seeking to devour her offspring. Much
laughter. What motives could have
impelled the court to this act? ! have
no doubt patriotic motive. I am not
here to impugn the motives of any man,
or of any set of men, much less of the
highest judicial tribunal in this land
No doubt, sir, their motives were patri-
otto, for they had witnessed the devas-
tation of this terrible religious fanati-
cism through the South. They had
seen the ravages Of this disastrous mis-
sionary monomania, and they determin-
ed that there must be an end of it; and
how could they so effectuallv end it as
by annihilating at once the object Gifts
aims and aspirations. That, sir, they
have done. Here, then, endeth the
moral power Of the institution of slave
~.
4 BREAK IN THE CANAL.-Our citi-