Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-09-15
stephen $. Foster Review. .En Thnyer.

In response to the invitation extended by
Mr.. Stephen S. Foster, large assemblage con
yened at the City Hall last evening, TO listen
TO his review of the present political princi-
pies and past congressional course" of Hon. Eli
Thayer. The hall was filled to lis utmost ca
pacity. The meeting was called TO order at
half past seven o'clock, by Mr.. A. P. Brown,
and DIR. Oramel Martin was called to the chair.
Dr. M. in taking the chair, said he was in IA
vor of free discussion under all circumstances,
although not agreeing in all things with the
speaker of the evening, and read Mr.. Foster 5
letter challenging Mr.. Thayer or any others
authorized to speak in his behalf to meet him.
Mr.. Foster was then introduced and com
menced by saying that some time since Mr..
Thayer made speech there, in which he had
declared that he was better anti-savery man
than his criticisers, and challenged discussion,
promising to reduce his antagonist, whoever he
might be, to an absurdity. He Mr.. Foster
had accepted that challenge, proposing to show
that the representative of the ninth district
had proved entirely recreant to freedom and
his pledges. The speaker alluded briefly to
the treatment he had received from Mr.. Ihay-
er on questioning MIN at lis last meeting, say
ing he had supposed it was always in order for
children and uninformed persons to ask ques-
tons, and Mr.. Thayer's excuse for not reply
ing was but an additional argument IN favor of
answering him.
Mr. Foster then went on to the subject of
squatter sovereignty, abiding to the Philis
tines of old as the original squatters, OF whom
Goliath, was the champion, insOently going
forth day by day with swelling words, chal~
longing to single combat any Of the soldiers of
Israel. But no one, strange to say, could be
found bold or brave enough to meet him who
defied the living God, till at last green youth
from the country came forth to accept the chal-
! lenge and was ofcourse thought to be CON
| temptbe enemy, but Goliath, notwithstand-
ing the nsignifcance of his opponent, had the
honor to give him a meeting, the result of
which is well known. So now lie 1.-THE speak
err came forth to meet the champion of squat
ter sovereignty.
Mr.. Foster alluded to the statement of a
morning paper, that he was republican, as
a Islander, saying he took higher ground.
He came there as the representative and true
friend Of free labor, to review the course of
Mr.. Thayer. If the latter was not there, it
was not his 1.-THE speaker's) fault, as lie had
specially invited him. He should judge Mr..
Thayer by the principles and acts that had
guided his past course, condemning him "out
of his own mouth" His first objection was,
that Mr. Thayer lad been faithless to repub-
lican principles. true representative in his
official capacity has no alternative but faithful
ly to represent his constituents, or resign his
place. (Cheers.) Mr.. Thayer's course seems
to have been founded on the idea that he was
sent to Washington to rule, not to obey-to
manufacture sentiment, not to represent his
constituents. Previous to his election the last
time, there were doubts as to his political
orthodoxy, and it was only on his pledges to
represent his constituents by his votes that he
secured his reelection. The one great dis
tinctive principle of the Republican party,
which distinguished it from its opponents, was
the principle of the direct prohibition of slav.
cry in the territories by congressional action,
and yet Mr.. Thayer had spit upon and scOrn
ed it. The speakers second objection to Mr..
I. was, that he had been false to the require
mcnts of the constitution. His constituents
had been taxed by his vote, to heavy amount
annually, $4,000 of which had gone to the rep
resentahye and some just and adequate COM
pensation is due in return therefor. That
compensation is protection, in his just and nat
ural rights, of every citizen wherever he may
go, from that government which he is taxed
to support. When citizen passes from his
own state it is the duty of the general govern
ment to extend that protection wherever he
may go, upon sea or land. But this protection
our representative has refused to extend by his
| vote on theNew Mexican bills in violation Of his
repeated pledge. fit was some citizen whose
liberty was curtailed in a foreign country mo one
would be more ready, probably, to declare
war than Mr.. Thayer. But let citizen of
Worcester go to New Mexico, and il his com.
plexion is of certain hue, he is, by the stat
utes of that territory which Mr.. Thayer voted
against annullng, put into prison, advertised to
be sold as a slave and cruelty wronged, and
that by the vote of the Hon. Eli Thayer, and
that's the champion of free labor. (Cheers.)
Mr. Foster proceeded to depict the wrongs
to which the slave laws of New Mexico sub.
jected the citizens generally.
Mr.. Foster spoke further of the bloody
slave code of New Mexico to which Mr.. Thay-
er had given his consent, replying to the rea-
sons given for his vote. The constitution
given to the agents Of the government
for them to obey. 1t is the duty OF
the agents under it to preserve the
just rights of all without exception OF
race or color. Ii provides that the people OF
the United States shall make the laws and
protect the inhabitants OF the territories, and
continue such protection until the territorial
communities have arrived at the age and eX-
perience to qualify them to become states
The speaker proceeded to examine, at some
length, the constitutional bearings of the ques-
from the creed of his party. Mr. Thayer had
said he did not believe in the principle or phi
losophy of laws to prohibit slavery, or the as
sumption that it was the duty Of the court and
not OF congress to take care of the matter
Legislative prohibition only made the mat
ter worse. On the same principle laws
against horse stealing and other crimes only
increased the number of criminals. What is
MIR. Thayer in Washington for, but to legis
late Since legislation only makes men worse
according to his own theory, Mr.. Thayer had
better stay at home, and the people of the
ninth congressional district had better take
him at his word and dispense with his services
in the future. Tremendous applause.
Mr.. Foster spoke about two hours, keeping
the attention of the audience to the last
The CITY GUARDS OF 1910 TO MARCH ONCE
MoRE.-The past members of the Worcester
City Guards, with the fine members, have
rendered complimentary parade to the young
Guards, to take place on Wednesday Sept
18th, that being the twentieth anniversary OF
the first parade of the company. The Guards
with the National Band will, after march in
the city, take the III train for Lancaster