Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-23
LETTER FROM THE WEST.
Correspondence of the Spy.
The Massachusetts Amendment at the West-Its
Influence on the Elections.

Influence on the Elections
LAWRENCE, Kansas, June IA, 1859
1ohe Editors Of the Spy Having received
numerous enquiries from correspondents in
Worcester county and vicinity, in reference to
the effect at the West of the constitutional
amendment recently adopted in Massachu-
sets, will you allow me a brief space in the
columns of your paper to make general re-
ply. Let me premise by saying that have
been travelling quite extensively in the West
since March last, and that my facilities for be-
coming familiar with public sentiment in this
direction, particularly in Missouri and Kansas.
have been good.
Twas in st. Louis during the excited car
yass preceding the late election in that city
and though the Republicans won splendid
triumph, carrying the city by upwards of
three thousand majority, it was evident to
every observer, and admitted by all parties,
that the restrictive amendment then before the
| people OF Massachusetts for their acceptance
| or rejection, was the cause of alternating hun
| dreds of German Republicans from their par
ty, thus swelling the ranks of the pro-slayery
| party. In the columns of the democratic
newspapers in the harangues of democratic
orators; and in all public and private political
| discussion, the proscriptive principles of the
Republican party of Massachusetts was one of
the chief staples of comment. And as YOU
well know, Messrs. Editors, the Free State
party of St Louis discovered and denounced
the Massachusetts amendment, as the only an
swer they could give to the charges of the De
mocracy. "The Republicans of st. Louis re-
pudiate the Massachusetts amendment" was
the response which our friends in Missouri
sent back to the Old Bay State
Since that time, the election of delegates to
the Kansas Constitutional Convention upon
whom will devolve the responsibility of form
ing constitution for the future State of Kan
sas, has taken place. AT the present time of
writing, the general result has not been def
ntely reported, though enough returns have
been received TO show that the pro-slavery par
ty have polled large vote, securing strong
minority, If not Il majority of the convention.
In Leayenworth county, the most populous
county in the territory, the pro-sayery democ-
racy elected their entire ticket by a majority
of about foul hundred, defeating some of our
ablest men who were candidates for the Con-
| yention. Now, it may be asked to what is
this untoward result to be attributed Why
do we see Kansas, territory whose political
rights have been outraged by succession of
crimes unparalle led in the records of desperate
distinctive party ties are drawn, almost upon
the verge OF endorsing the criminal, and join
ing hands with her oppressors One of the
reason tor this anomaly may be found in the
fraudulent votes cast by the pro-slavery par
| ty but this is not the only nor the chief one
AS in the city of St Louis, so here in Kansas.
the German voters have been prejudiced
against the Republicans and driven over to the
buchanan party by tie unwise action of the
/ ~ .lr loan gA IL, II
article, proscriptye in its nature, to become a
part of the Constitution of the State. Let me
state single fact. A leading German citizen
of Leayenworth stated to me on the eve of
! the election that he had conversed with a ma
! Jority of the German voters of the city during
the few days previous, and the chief reason
they gave for voting with the Democracy
was, the proscriptive action of the Massachu-
sets Republicans. and" said he, "what an
swer could give %
AS citizen of Massachusetts, born upon her
soil, and reared among her institutions and
desiring, in common with the vast majority of
my fellow citizens, the rescue OF the general
| government, in the great contest of 1860, from
the despotic usurpation of the slavery propa-
gandists, most deeply regret that our policy
IN the nation, broad and comprehensive as it
is, knowing no difference of nationalities, and
recognizing no Partially in the lists of citizen
ship should suffer by the action of the Repub-
licans of my native State. And il may be well
asked, was there an emergency in Massachu-
sets toreboding such imminent danger to the
cause Of freedom Of sufficient magnitude to re-
quire constitutional Intervention / think
not. That there are evils connected with the
| Ignorant Irish voters of the sea board States,
is not to be denied and 10 those voters a
restriction like that just incorporated into the
Massachusetts, Constitution may well be ap-
| piled. But ! cannot see the wisdom of that
policy which, for the sake of a local and com
paratiyey unimportant object in n State, would
endanger, at such a crisis as the present, the
cause OF Liberty in the nation. II our party
succeeds in the great contest OF next year, one
Of its necessary and most powerful auxiliaries
of success must be the German vote of the
Middle and Western States. But the German
voters of the country, whether East or West
win naturally spurn the party that ignores
Their rights and gives its influence for class
legislation and Il requires no prophetic eye
70 loresee, that, Should the German vote of the
West be lost to the Republican marty. the
country would be cursed with another, four
years rule Of the slave olparchy. 10 avert
such calamitous result, should Inc the great
aim Of all true friends Of liberty in America.
even ut the sacrifice, IL necessary. of all Locoi
interests subordinate to the general cnuse
The objects for which the Republican marty
seeks the control of the general governmen,
are truly national, and hence lis platform and
lis policy should be equally broad and com.
prehensive. Then will the victory be worth
achieving, and the triumph complete.
SIDNEY CLARKE.