Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-07-08
FRIDAY. July 8. 1859.


country sforbear further discussion on the sub
Ject of slavery" to use their own expression.
They were not imposing in numbers, nor
strong in political influence; but were very re
spectacle, and they felt sure of the approval of
few ike-minded men in various parts of the
country. The real purpose of this movement
was to raise from the dead the whig party, and
by this means, cause the Republican party to
dissolve and disappear like mist before the ris-
ing sum- 1t was magnificent project, which
those concerned held to be entirely practical
bic. They organized a committee and under
took an extensive correspondence; without
much avail, however, for their zeal was not as
well directed as it might have been.
These gentlemen would doubtless consider
themselves misused if they should be denounc-
ed as demagogues but we do not see that
they have any claim whatever to superiority
over those politicians who usually deserve this
appelation. They are about as far as men can
be from disinterestedness, for the great purpose
of their movement was to rescue themselves
from political non-entity. They have an ire
pressible passion for political prominence and
leadership, and yet they find themselves with
out influence and of but little consequence save
in their own estimation. This obscurity,
which they cannot bear with such sanity pa
thence as might soften and charm the callous
multitude, they attribute entirely to the slavery
question. And it is their confident belief that
it would cease entirely and give them chance
to burst upon the world with all the ascending
magniicence of rising suns, if it could be made
impossible for men to discuss the slavery ques-
ton. This is one of the most remarkable de-
lusions of the present day and yet, those who
cherish it have the GOODNESS to deny that they
bear any likeness whatever to that notable race
the demagogues.
The gentlemen to whom we refer are so in
tent on their own affairs, so entirely monopo-
lized by the schemes and longings of personal
ambition, that they cannot comprehend the
slavery question. They never look at it seri-
ously, with the eyes of just and earnest men,
but treat it merely as an impertinent political
con.rivance, which can at once be flung aside
ard forgotten with lhe utmost ease and here
in all other men but themselves can see very
clearly why they are, politically, so insignifi-
cant. They make it plain to the whole world
that they are incapable of understanding and
dealing with the great question of their time
question which takes hold on the great prin
ciples that underlie our institutions, and in
wolves the old struggle between light and dark
ness,-a question which is forced upon us by
the nature of things, which is discussed be-
cause the discussion cannot possibly be avoid
ed, and which wise men will pursne to just
settlement, without conserving, for moment,
to bequeath it as unfinished business to the
next generation.
In some of the letters addressed to that New
York committee, in reply to their circular, we
find remarkable expressions of opinion 1--WE
should perhaps say want of opinion) in regard
to the re-opening of the slave trade One of
the letter writers says he fears this trade may
be re-opened by means Of the disastrous infiu-
ence of strongly expressed objections to it.
His view of the matter is, that slavery propa-
gandists and slave traders are very innocent
and harmless creatures, so long as their con-
duct is not criticised; but the moment you dccg;
nounce their deviltry they become [ss'devi
They do not love wickedness; but..JSsSif you de
nounce any great crime agar tfseSst human rights
they are sure to slpenoo themselves guilty of tina
crinsass sss-fnerefore, he thinks, we shout,
all become silent as the grave in regard to tn,
AFRICAN slave trade, else it will be suddenly re
opened to the disgrace Of the country and re
''2p sss not because anybody in the countr,
desires it, but to spite those who call it piracy
Yet this gentleman regards himself as
statesman Of eminent wisdom and ability
And more; he really cherishes a comfortabl
belief that Others regard him as statesman
Seifconceit is wonderful magician
If this gentleman had been carefully observ
ant of events, he would know that it is nov
several years since the slave trade was re
opened between Africa and the United States
In Georgia, Mississippi, and some of the othel
extreme southern States, they have class O.
slaves known as "new negroes" Several
years ago they had become sufficiently numer.
GUS to constitute a noticeable class. When
the New School Presbyterian General Assem-
bly, met at Cleveland, few years since, theirs
was an elaborate discussion of the slavery
question, in which a DR.. Ross spoke for slave
ry at great length and with much eloquence
In his speeches OH that occasion he eulogized
slavers as missionary institution: and, for il
lustraton, he drew a lively contrast between
the barbarous ways of the "new negroes" and
the more civilized habits of those born and
bred in slavery. OF course there were then
many of these "new negroes" in the
country, and he a southern clergyman.
was well aware of the fact Of late.
those engaged in this piracy, have ia.
ken great hains to force it upon pub
lie attention. Political reasons have in
duced them to parade their rascality before the
public They have intended to show us that
pirates of their sort cannot be convicted and
punished in slave State; and also, that thew
mean to secure repeal of the laws against the
slave trade. One can hardly refrain from sus.
pecting either the honesty or the sanity of men
like the letter writer to whom we refer. True
he is ofno political consequence whatever; but
he furnishes capital study of human nature.
1t is not possible for such men to meet the
great want ofthe time and to propose them as
leaders ofthe party which is commissioned to
redeem the government from this slave mower
10 propose such outrageous folly as we do
not ordinarily encounter outside Of Bedam
IHE CASE OF PLUMER.-The announcement
OF the Communication of Plumers sentenco