Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-15
To ADVRRTIsERs.
MIR. THAYER,s SPEECH.

We release much of our space, this morning
to the speech of Hon. Eli Thaycr, in favor of
the admission of Oregon, and commend it to
the candid consideration of our readers
Those who may approve his arguments, and
assent to the conclusions to which he has ar
rived, will bear witness that we have, at all
times aimed to secure him a fair hearing and
an honest judgment In this community, the
disposition has, at no time, been generally
manifested to PREJUDICE or to misjudge the dis
2 tinguished gentleman who represents it. If,
therefore, he had his own district in mind, in
the beginning of his speech, we are compelled
to say that the defiant attitude which he as
sumes, was untimely and unwise.
Every reader will observe the eminent and
characteristic ability with which his position
is sustained. The valid arguments are stated
with great pertinence and force. The general
principles by which such important questions
should be governed, are carefully and faith
fully applied. And, we are free to confess,
that his conclusions rest upon strong and, I'M
der ordinary circumstances, sufficient reasons.
AT the same time the strong grounds of OBJ
lection, urged by Republicans throughout the
country, remain untouched. In the whole of
Mr. Thayer's arguments, we have failed to
find one frank and manly allusion to that fea-
ture of the Constitution, against which, Mr.
Seward, though voting for the bill, ''entered
his decided protest." and which Mr.. Wilson,
though declining to vote, denounced as "un-
Pm i,bu obr;e+ g.,
which che could not vote without giving his
own personal sanction to it."
1t seems as if the constitution was designed
ly framed to secure the formal endorsement OF
Congress- to fortify the extra judicial decision
of the Supreme Court, which declares, in eff
feet, that negroes have no rights that white
men are bound to respect That pernicious
principle was, in terms, embodied in the Con-
stitution, apparently with the hope that Re-
publicans enough could be secured, on account
of their negligence or their indifference, to en-
sure its passage. To those who objected to
this principle, Mr.. Thayer only replies, that
they are "quibbling about things which are
comparatively unessential, and do not concern
us or our duties here" This is strong state
ment, but it is not good logic. 1t will not sat
isfy the seventy-fve hundred good and true
Republicans, who gave him their votes last
Fall, with the explicit confidence that their
principles should receive no detriment at his
hands.
One other point in the speech ought not to
pass unnoticed. Mr.. Thayer, as partial jus
tifcation Of the unlimited prescription of Ore
gon, charges that Massachusetts excludes the
negro from her militia. If it were true, it ex-
hibits anything but filial respect for his own
State to use her example as an apology for
acts in Oregon which cannot be justified on
their own merits. But the fact is not correct
ly stated. So far from refusing to allow the
negro to be enrolled in the militia, it has no
power over the militia whatever, except what
it derives from United States law, which fixes
the limitations. The constitution of the Unit
ed States specifically vests in Congress
the power of "oryanizing. arming, and disci-
plining the militia, reserving to the States, re-
spectively, the appointment of the officers, and
the authority Of training the militia according to the
discipline prescribed by Congress" Congress it
self, and not Massachusetts, prescribed that
white citizens alone should be enrolled in the
militia The illustration was evidently not de-
signed to misrepresent the people of Massachu-
sets, but it was an unfortunate one for the ar
gument it was intended to strengthen