Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-04-28
TO ADvERTIsERS .
SENATOR WILSON'S LETTER.

The letter of Senator Wilson on the Two
Years Amendment will be read with profound
interest. 1t is couched in frank and manly
terms which are capable of but one interpreta-
ton, and is every way worthy of its distin-
guished author. The facts upon which his
conclusions rest have been repeated SO often in
the columns of the .Spy-the general and wide
spread regret among the members of the Re-
publican party throughout the country on ac-
count of this unwise and unnecessary mea-
sure. has become so familiar to all our read
ers that we need not refer to them again. We
desire, however, that it should be noticed
how the same facts are treated by one of the
foremost statesmen of the Republican party,
whose opportunities for forming correct
Judgment are not surpassed by those Of any
MAJ, in tlAs, Commonwealth end whose prejudi-
ces, if he had them, would have led him to es-
pouse the Amendment if the good of the par
ty, and the cause to which he is devoted did
not imperatively call for its defeat.
The chief and most instructive suggestion
of this letter, which we are happy to know
will to-day carry its great influence wherever
the leading journals of Massachusetts are
read, is that all measures of public policy must
be regarded with suspicion, which interfere
with the anti-slavery cause. Here rises the
fact, which those who have fought the battle
from the beginning cannot put out of sight,
that the love of liberty is common to all creeds
and to all nationalities. The only political or
ganization in this country, founded upon that
sentiment, recognizes in its theory neither col
or, race, nor social condition. AT its forma-
ton, believing that the spirit of our institu-
tons, as well as the Constitution of our COM
mon country, guaranteed freedom of con-
pledged itself to oppose all legislation impairing
the security Of either. The next year in Massa-
chusetts, the party which nominated Mr.. Banks
for Governor, known as the American-Re-
publican party in Suffolk county, and as the
Republican party in the rest of the Common
wealth, reafirmed the principles of the Phila-
delphia platform the only test of political tel-
iocship and the paramount object Of political
action. If hostilities had existed before, these
principles were accepted as final truce be-
tween the contending factions.
Certainly, if any Republican State in the
Union is bound by obligations of honor more
strongly than another to carry out the pledges
made to our sister States, it is Massachusetts,
Engaged in work for which citizens born
in other lands feel as sincere and ardent de-
votion as ourselves, we have no right, as Re-
publicans, to pursue policy which will op-
press them with sense of insult and degrade
ton. Jealous of their own rights, regarding
the franchise as the dearest and the most
sacred right of citizenship, using it upon the
side of freedom and free institutions with a
unanimity which the native born citizens of the
country have never yet emulated or approach
ed, they call upon us to remember, if not that
belief in the equality of rights which we all
profess, at least our plighted faith.
But if this amendment had no relation
with affairs outside of our own State, if citi-
zens of foreign birth could be convinced that
the legislation of Massachusetts against for
eigners is only intended for Irishmen, and
those Irishmen who vote the Democratic tick
ct, and who are Catholics, and who are igno.
rant, still the unanswerable objection would
rise against imposing the honor or dishonol
upon the Republican party of Massachusetts
that it was organized for purpose wholly in
dependent of all former parties and issues, anC
is composed of men who regard them with va
rions and hostile opinions
Let this amendment be voted down by thos
who believe it is wrong in principle; that
will impede the cause whose triumph the
most of all desire that the reform which
contempates may be reached by the ord
harry processes of legislation, without dis
examinations offensive to any fair-minde,
men. We can then enter upon the create
work upon which we all agree, united at home
and respected abroad The murmurings O
discord will die away, and with Jealous
unity of purpose, we shall fit ourselves TO
that success which is duty by first of all de
serving it.