Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-13
w OR CE 5 TER:
REELECTION OF SENATOR WILSON.

HE-ELECIlUN UE SENATOR WILSON.
BY the concurrent vote of both branches of
the Legislature, and with unanimity almost
unparalleled, Henry WILSON has been chosen
to represent Massachusetts in the United States
Senate, for six years from the 4th of March
next Five sixths of the members of the
House of Representatives, and seven eighths
of the Senate-fairly representing the public
sentiment of the Commonwealth-hay ex-
pressed their entire confidence in his courage,
integrity, and undertaking devotion to the
cause of human rights. This endorsement, so
cordial, so magnanimous, given by men who
have not been accustomed to wholly agree up
on measures of public policy is alike honora-
bic to Mr.. Wilson and to the State. 1t fifty
follows the election of Senator Sumner in
1857, and is an interesting demonstration of
the fact, that, whether under the provocation OF
positive outrage, or the quiet and thoughtful
inspiration of principles, the result of our po-
htical action is still the same.
The term of Mr. Wilson's service, which is
now about to close has been one of the most
eventful in the political history of the country.
1t has witnessed the downfall of that party
which, for quarter of a century, whether in
power or out of it, controlled American politics.
1t has witnessed the transformation of the
great rival of the Wing party into a powerful
sectional faction, its old motives to public CON
duct dishonored or forgotten,
"Monstrum, horrendum, ingens'-
animated with but one bad purpose, and pur-
suing it with a single eye. 1t has witnessed
the brilliant rise, and inglorious DEATH of an
other party, which, for all that it accomplished
for good morals or the public veal, had better
never have been born. 1t has witnessed the
birth of the new Titan of parties, clothed
with an invincible panoply of principles,
which viii not suffer it to die, still
youthful and immature, yet dominant
III nearly half the States, and possessing the
power to control the government within two
years, to come. The part which Mr.. Wilson
has borne in this theatre of great events, has
been one of no slight magnitude or import
ance. The fortune Of events from the stormy
times of 1S4S were favorable to him; the fide-
ity which he manifested, and the fitness which
he displayed in the places of trust to which
the people, then throwing off their old party
obligations, thought proper to call him, were
the stepping stones by which his ambition was
honestly gratifed.
ltrequires no selfdenia in us to say that
he has made mistakes in his public life. The
best and purest motives are no safeguard for
ono who does not at all times discriminate as to
the agents whom he employs, and the weapons
he places in their hands 1t is not certain
that the Republican party could have carried
the election of 1856, but for the mistakes of
1854 But it is certain that three years of po-
litical shame would not have been forced into
the history Or sEassaciosattS of which we all
had, before, some reason to be proud WHY,
our friends will ask, do we now revive the I'M
pleasant memory of the past 1t is because
men are as often benefited by warning as by
example, and because it is proper, when the
representative of the Commonwealth is renew
ing his Senatorial youth, to use the events of
the epoch which has passed in forming an esti-
mate or prophecy of that which is to come.
Not for one moment-not even in that perilous
moment, when the party he had helped to build
up, for the service of freedom, was verging
toward the side of its foes-was there one sign
of wayering or of doubt on his part. And if
there was any one thing in his connection with
the National American party more honorable
than another, it was the manner of his leav-
ing it.
In his official life, Mr.. Wilson has been above
criticism and reproach In the discharge of
his manifold and laborious duties, made doub-
ly severe during the last half of his term, by
the cruel events Of the Summer of 1856, there
has been no act of his which one of his constit-
uents, however critical or hostile, could torture
into cause for shame nor has there been one
moment when the enforced absence of his col
league could be reasonably lamented on ac-
count of the necessities of the public service.
For he has constantly and successfully labored
to fill the place in the Senate of which Massa-
chusetts was robbed, as well as his own These
are sufficient reasons why his almost unani-
nous reelection is a matter of sincere and
well grounded congratulation. If we some
times mention fault or an error, we do it in
that spirit of candid and discriminating esti-
nation in which the lives of public men should
always be held