Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-03-17

manly Speeeh.
Hon. Eli Thayer. Republican member
OF Congress from Massachusetts voted for
the admission Of Oregon, and defended
his vote in . speech, which is ~ manly
IS suggestive. We give it as published in
the National Lutelligencer
Mr.. Thayer, Of Massachusetts. proposed
to crafty the curiosity Of his colleague
Mr.. Daws) by enabling him to see how
an honorable representative from the State
Of Massachusetts could give his vote for
the admission Of Oregon. He thought it
was . strange necessity that compelled
northern representatives to give reasons
for voting for another free State but there
seemed to be such = necessity, and that
necessity be would meet. He would vote
for her admission without reserve, and 90
far as his vote could 90 she would be wei.
coined and he would extend to her such
a welcome Is became her promise and her
own high renown for msgnanimity and
justice.
These people came before them in 30.
cordance with law, and in compliance
with the invitation of the House. In the
Senate on the 10Th Of May last, vote was
taken upon this question, and ten Repub-
lican Senators voted for the admission of
Oregon, while six oaly voted against it:
and he had not heard of any attempt BY
the six Republican Senators who voted
for the rejection Of Oregon to read out Of
The Republican party the ten Senators wko
voted for her admission. If that attempt
Was now to be made, they would see wbeth'
er it was in the power Of the minority to
read out majority.
These people were the pilgrims Of the
Pacific coast. If wrong upon some sub.
jects, We can refer to the pilgrims Of the
Atlantic coast, who were also fanatical up
on some questions, aid Judging from the
change in the first pilgrims, it was possi-
BILE the pilgrims of the Pacific might yet
become right. He briefly described the
toll and bsgdships of the early settlers
who had gone to Oregon nearly quarter
of . century ago. and the anxiety with
which they awaited he completion Of their
labors. They brought the trophies of
their own labor, the evidence Of their worth,
he cities, towns and villages they had
founded, their schools, churches and work.
shops, and placed them upon the altar Of
tho Union.
They pledged 70: the common welfare,
the common defence, and Congress was
quibbling about things not essential, about
points, which, if they we're to be regarded
to-day in Massachusetts, he thought would
secure some votes on his side of the House
against her admission, for Massachusetts,
did no. allow the negro to be enrolled in
the MALTA Of the State. The law OF re.
formation. these gentlemen would urge,
was the pharisaical law Of distance aud
distrust.
The Republican party voted for the ad.
mission Of Kansas under the Topeka con-
stitu,ion with less than one half Of the
population of Oregon and they voted for
the enabling act for Oregon He had no
disposition. and there was no need to in
quire here how grea. is the population Of
Oregon, for as Republican he was pledg.
ed to no rule upon this question. lie op-
posed, as did his colleagues and friends on
this side of the House. the restriction as
to population that was put upon the ter
ri,ory of Kansas. What If the constitution
was in contravention OF the constitution Of
| the United States? He had not sworn
that the people OF Oregon should preserve
the constitution of the United States, but
had sworn that he would support it him.
self, and was that State constitution any
more in contravention than the statute
laws OF Illinois and Indiana, which exclude
free negroes and mulat,oes from their
boundaries Was it any more in contra.
vention to exclude the suit than the man
himself? He contended that the negro
was greater than the suit, and that the
laws of Illinois and Indiana were as un-
constitutional as those of Oregon. But he
held that there was an apology in both CO.
ses.