Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-16
MR. THAYER THEN AND NOW.


so fragrant an act of injustice, and violation of
solemn compact" as the repeal OF the Missouri
compromise restriction. The movement be-
gan with few citizens, "without distinction
of party" who petitioned the city council on
the subject. This petition secured a favora-
bic response, and one Of the resolutions
adopted by the city council was as fol-
lows -
ssResolyed That we view with sorrow and shame
the base proposition of recreant SENATOR VINO ms
represents the free west, to insert IN OIL IOr the
government of that territory, Nebraska special
Clause, permitting the introduction into it of the
baleful institution of slavery, which mad been Tor
ever prohibited from ii by the law of $50"
Among the Aldermen who voted for this
resolve was ELI THAYnR; and Hartley
Williams, James H. Wall, and Eli Thayer,
were appointed committee to call the meet
ing, which was held on Saturday evening,
March 18th. Eli Thayer was an active par
ticipant in the proceedings. He was men,
Der OF the committee on resolutions, and he
made speech. Among the resolutions re-
ported with his consent, and adopted by the
meeting, were the following -
''Resolyed, That the said Nebraska bill is viola
ton of the well-kuown spirit and intent OF the
dinance of 1857, on the basis of which, as under
stood by all the states then existing the constitution
of our Union established.
Resolved, That when the foreign territory of Lou
jsiana was purchased by our government, that pur-
chase did not abrogate the broad principle and set
tied policy OF the nation, established by the
ordinance of 7,-that policy being the basis of
Resolved, That the prime agent in. congress of a
measure for the extension of slavery over free
territory solemny guaranteed to freedom forever
whore be 1uSflV
scorn of all men who value personal honor or ma
tonal faith; and that if born and bred in the home
OF freedom, he deserves to be an oucast from its
blessings, and to take rank on the bad emnence OF
traitor TO American Independence"
Mr.. Thayer not only helped draft and re-
port these resolutions He also made speech
at this meeting, and it was as unlike as posi-
BILE to his speech in Mechanics Hall, the 9th.
er night. Here is passage from it -
"Mr. Thayer said, there was cause for the
alarm which now filled the public mind. He
showed that slavery had first been humble,
until it obtained corner in the goodly fabric
Of the republic it had next become bold and
aggressive; next arrogant and defiant; and
now it proposed to override freedom, and as
sumo complete dominion over the whole of
this great continent. If men could contem-
plate tine progress of slavery with complacen-
cy if they could behold all its acts and aims,
without alarm,-if they could consent TO sit
still and see it going on from conquest TO con.
quest, still to conquer, then the light Of expert
ence was of no use to man, and we might as
well be without the page of history. 1t has
been said that this Nebraska bill is n demo-
cratic measure, that its intention is simply TO
permit men to exercise the right of selt-gov
eminent. Slavery always grows stronger UNI
der false pretenses; it has acquired strength
from InppnfiOO false until
now it strides over us like Il COLOSSUS, and we
find ourselves walking under its legs, and
wondering at our own weakness. One of the
falsest Of all the falsehoods ever advanced by
the slave power, is the statement that this is a
democratic measure"
What change Mr.. Thayer has undergone
since 1854 How different is the talk of an
earnest man from that of an eccentric politi.
cian How differently Mr.. Thayer talks now,
of the slave power, and of the alarm created by
its aggressions The views and feelings ex-
pressed at that meeting, by Mr. Thayer and
Others, were the views and feelings that crea-
ted the republican party. They became a
power in the land and all other political or
CARNATIONS, wing, american, free oil,-were
compelled to give way, and we all became re-
publicans, with an earnest assertion ofthe doc
trine Of congressional Intervention against
slavery in the territories for the chief corner
stone of our platform Who that saw MIR.
Thayer at that meeting, and trusted his ear
nest expressions of indignation against the
slave power, could have believed that he
would ere long entirely change his tone, and
even ridicule alarm at the acts and aims of this
power But he has changed; and the change
is sad to see, because it is practically so much
in the pro slavery direction. A the first part
of his speech in Mechanics Hall, the other
night, was an endeavor to show by statements
and statistics, that there is no need "of so
much alarm about slavery's overrunning the
entire country" He has no respect for the
intelligence of men who cherish apprehensions
of the audacious doings of slavery. He can
even sheer at their concern, and aSsail it with
some of his most biting sarcasm, telling US
with scorn that it tends only to make the re.
publican party "a sneaking coward, running
away from the slave power and calling upon
the rocks and mountains to cover us and hide
us from the power which we fear is to over
whelm the world"
The doctrine and policy of congressional in
PREVENTION against slavery in the territories,
were never more strongly and earnestly stated
than in the resolves we have quoted. They
declare truly that the federal government be.
gan its existence with the policy of interven
ton against slavery, and that the federal CON
stitution itself was based on this policy ; and
they express indignation, and vehemently de-
nounce the author of the proposition to repeal
the Missouri compromise restriction. Men
were indignant at that wicked measure, be-
cause it was wrong, and false, and treach-
erous, and a most villanous outrage
The feeling it created stirred the whole
country. So it was, when conspiring slav.
cry propagandsts overturned the Missouri
compromise, and undertook to substitute mon
Intervention with slavery in the territories" for
the Intervention policy, established by our
republican fathers, and never questioned by
any American in his sober senses until slavery
grown strong defiant, and audacious, began to
"stride over us like a colossus" And now,
Mr.. Thayer, who has not exactly
'SSfiered a sea change
Into something rich and strange"
but change, nevertheless, Of a very remark
able character, adopts this non-intervention
device, which was used by the slavery propa.
gandists to justify their repeal of the Missouri
compromise restriction and, what is more, he
actually seeks to have it endorsed by the re-
puDncans OF the ninth congressional district
Vi massaehusetisl We do not mean to stulti.