Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-15
SPEECH OF HON. ELI THAYER ON THE !
ADMISSION OF OREGON.
In tIe House Of Representatives., FEB. 12h.

WHICH snah give in defence OF my position
And, sir, think this is a strange necessity
which eompels the Northern Representatives
upon this floor to give the reasons for Their
voices for the admission Of another free State
into this confederacy. Sir, i shall vote for the
admission of Oregon without hesitation, with
out reluctance, and without reserve. So far
as my voice can go, would extend to her such
welcome as becomes her history, as becomes
her promise for the future, and such as be-
comes our own high renown for justice and
magnammlty-a welcome not based on con-
temptble political calculation or still more con
temptible partisan expediency; but such a
welcome as sympathy and friendship and pa
trotism should extend to another new State
such, sir, as becomes the birthday of a nation.
This people comes before us in accordance
with the forms of law, and upon the invitation
OF this House; and it is too late to amply par
ty test upon this question. On the 18th OF
May last, vote was taken in the Senate upon
the admission Of Oregon, and ten Republican
Senators voted for her admission, while six
Republican Senators only voted against her
admission; and, sir, / have not heard of any
attempt on the part of the six Senators who
voted for the rejection of Oregon to read out of
the Republican party the ten Senators who vo-
ted for her admission and if that attempt is
now to be made, we will see whether it is in
the power of a minority of the people to read a
majority out of the party.
But, sir, who are these people of Oregon
who come here now asking admission They
are the pilgrims of the Pacific coast. If they
are fanatics upon some subjects, we can refer
to the pilgrims of the Atlantic coast, who also
were fanatics upon some subjects. But, sir, if
the pilgrims of the Atlantic coast finally be-
came examples to the world in all that exalts
our race, may we not hope that the pilgrims of
the Pacific coast may yet become worthy of
of our esteem Nearly one quarter of a CEN
fury ago, in my boyhood | studied the adven-
lures of those men, who founded upon the
Western shore of the American continent, what
are now the cities of Oregon and Astoria
These men, who were then in the vigor of
their lives, are now old men-gray- haired and
trembling with age. Their work of life is
nearly completed; and this day they are sit
ting by their hearthstone, waiting to know
what is to be the result of our deliberations
waiting to know whether the proud consum-
nation to which they have aspired for the last
twenty years, is now reached; and whether
Oregon, which, in toll and trial, in defiance of
danger and death, and with persistence and
endurance such as belong only to our race,
they have brought to her present proud and
prosperous condition, is now to be placed upon
an equality with the original States of this
Confederacy.
These are the men who have carried our in
situations to the remotest boundaries of our
Republic. These are the veterans of the art
of peace. American valor with conquering
arms has carried our flag by Monterey and
Chepultepec, until it was planted upon the
halls the of Montezumas. But far beyond those
halls have these heroes borne the victorious
arts of peace. In the Territory of Oregon
they have established our free institutions
There sir, strong and deep, they have laid the
foundations Of free State, and then they come
here, like the wise men of the East not ask
ing gifts, bnt bringing gifts in that re-
spect unlike our military men, who expect
and receive honors and rewards for their
services. What do they bring? Why,
sir, the trophies of their Own labor, the
evidences Of their own worth. They present
before us the cities and towns which they
have founded. They present schools, church
es, and workshops They bring all, all the
products of their labor, and place them upon
the altar of the Union, pledge for the COM
mon welfare and the common defence. And
what are we doing here? Why, sir, quibbling
about things which are comparatively unes-
sential, and which pertain exclusively to the
people of Oregon, and NOT to us or our duties
here; quibbGng about points, which, if New
York or Massachusetts were in the place of Or
egon, would secure some votes on this side
against their admission Massachusetts,, which
you know, sir never defend anywhere, even
Massachusetts does not allow the negro to be
enrolled in the militia of the State These,
then, are the men who come here and what
if they have some ideas and sentiments with
which we do not agree? Is that reason why
we should excommunicate them, that we
should have nothing hereafter to do with
them?
What law of reformation is this 3? 1t is the
pharisiaical law Of repusion, distance, and dis
trust. 1t is not the Christian law of contact,
confidence, and association. The pharisees
denounced the founder Of Christianity as ''the
friend of publicans and sinners" That class
would repel all who would not agree with them
to the fullest extent. Shall we pursue a SINH
lar course in relation to the people of Oregon?
Is it wise to do so? Is it expedient to reject
her application on such grounds
What objections do Republicans present to
this application? They say that there is not
sufficient population, and they claim that it is
their mission to see that the Democratic party
shall recover its consistency. AT whose ex-
pense AT the expense of the consistency of
the Republican party. l submit that it is bet
ter for the Republican party to preserve for it.
self the consistency which it possesses, rather
than attempt to recover for the Democratic
party the consistency which they have lost.
Then, sir, in relation to this qualification of
population, what is the position of the Repub-
lican party, and what has it been This par
ty, by its Representatives, voted for the adj
mission of Kansas under the Topeka constitu-
ton, with less than one half the present popu-
lation of Oregon The Republican party in
the House, without one exception, so far as
know, voted fer the enabling act inviting Ore
gon to come here, with constitution, to be
admitted as State. l have no disposition,
and there is no need, to inquire here what is
the population of Oregon; for, as Republi-
can, ] am pledged to no rule on this subject
] opposed as did my colleague, and my friends
on this side of the House, the restriction which
was upon the territory of Kansas. We pro-
tested against it then, and protest against it
now. We have no sympathy whatever with
that restriction, and are ready, at any time, to
give an honest vote for its repeal.
Another objection is urged against the clause
in the constitution of Oregon which excludes
negroes and mulattoes from that territory
and in addition, provides that they shall not
bring any suit therein 1t is said that this is in
contravention of the Constitution of the United
States. What if it is? have not sworn that
the people Of Oregon shall obey the Consttu-
ton Of the United States. do not admit that
this is in contravention of the Constitution of
the United States. ! do not now discuss that
point But even if it were, have sworn my
self to support the Constitution of the United
States, and not that anybody else shall do so.
But, sir, this provision is no more hostile to
the United States Constitution than are the
laws of Indiana and Illinois, which exclude
free negroes and muattoes from their bounda-
ries. Certainly not. 1t is no more to exclude
the suit of the man than to exclude the man
himself Is the negro less than his suit! The
greater contains the less, and the statutes of
lllInnls and Inlinhn