Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-10-30
Annfhcr Exfrnct.

District" which we noticed yesterday, makes
a very effective statement of the principal
issue made against Mr.. Eli Thayer by the
republican party of the district. After stating
that he was elected as a republican on the
Philadelphia platform, the case is thus stated
Saying nothing, then, of his denied pledges
at Fitchburg and elsewhere-letting these go
to the winds, attention is called only to his
undeRiable public pledges, the one made on
the I'd of October, 1858, to the caucus of his
republican constituents of Worcester, held for
the purpose of choosing delegates to the dis
trict nominating convention; and the other
made on the 7th of the same month in that
convention itself, assembled at Worcester.
The caucus was held at the City Hall on Sat
urday evening, and the following statement
was published the next Monday morning in
the Daily Spy, but not until examined and ap-
proved by Mr., Thayer himself
"ln answer TO certain interrogatories made
by Mr.. Adrich, Mr. Thayer said, that when
ever the Wilmot proviso should be introduced,
he should be found voting with the rest of the
republicans in its favor, although he did not
think it would be of any use for the house to
pass it, in the fac of the senate the president,
and the supreme court.
Such and so distinct was his specific pledge
to respect and sustain the Wimot proyiso,
and thus represent the known will of his con-
stituents, whatever might be the action of the
senate, the president, and the supreme court,
either or all OF them, against TO- This was
plain, and all in the caucus understood it
Thus far Tor the Wilmot proviso. Look now,
and look carefully on his broader and equally
distinct pledge made five days after to the
district convention at his nomination, for the
purpose of securing his re election as the re-
nrpspntatiVp of his constituents If was
ported in the Daily Spy of the next morning
"a paper then in the confidence OF Mr. Thay-
err. The correctness OF the report was not
disputed, for it was beyond question. 1t is as
follows
CAS- for himself, whatever minor differen-
ces might exist between himself and any of
his constituents, as to the best instrumentali
| ty to be used, for the time, to effect the most
execution in opposing the slave power, he
said he should always be found voting and act.
ing with the republican party of the country
for in that party consisted the only hope of
freemcn."
On the strength Of these express and full
pledges, with a lenity aud confidence which
neither prudent forecast could commend, nor
an after experience has justified, Mr.. Thayer
was again nominated and elected to represent
his misrepresented district But how-did Mr..
Thayer redeem his pledges How did he
keep his faith to the Wilmot proyso How
did he perform his solemn promise to his con.
stituen's, chat he should always be found vot-
ing and acting with the republican party of the
country" because i'll that party consisted the
only hope Of freemen Instead Of redeeming
his pledges, he grossly violated them all. In
his speech in congress of February "A, 1859
shortly after his re-election-he taxed hard his
mother tongue to denounce the Wilmot pro.
viso and Willy its supporters, saying then, as
| he continues 10 say with characteristic insin-
certy, that he "lcould not tolerate any such tdt-
tude Of opinion as poud breed confusion IN The
republican party" With this assurance on his
lips, he proceeds to define his Latitude" in a
TRADE against Mr. Washburn, in the following
terms
"While will not dcnounce the gentleman
from Maine for his tavorite measure, shall
| expect the same federation for my own. lie
may bow down in his chamber three times
day before the Wilmot proviso, with his win
dows open towards Jerusalem, and | will not
trouble him for that But when he attempts
to fit other republicans to his bedstead, we shall
be very likely to protest against any such act,
especially it involves the necessity of cutting
US off at both ends. / maintain my right to
think well of Wilmot proviso men, and to
! think well, if | choose, OF those who are not
! Wilmot proviso men. The WiImot proYiso is
| only measure, not principle"
Having thus snubbed 10th Mr.. Washburn
and the Wllmot pruyiso, he goes on to classify
him and other republicans i'll favor Of the same
measure as a moral duty, by contemptuously
denominatng them as the 'rigdiy righteous"
as "pinkS 0fpieiy, and as "poijticai CaSSdRdraS"
Such and so prompt was MIR. Thayer's redemp-
ton of his pledge to his constituents Of fidelity
to the Wiimot proviso.
But how did the honorable Mr.. Thayer keep
his word Of honor ARRAYS to be found U0tiag ruth
the republican purity Of The country as the only hope
| Of .fretmeR? Was it with the same good faith
| The story is Il snort one, and the integrity Of
Mr.. Thayer shall have all the benefit Of its
| pith and marrow. Let his constituents ponder
the matter, to ascertain Mr.. Thayer's honor,
and to express their own at the ballot.box.
On the 10th of May, 1860, Mr.. Bingham Of
Ohio, from and in behalf the judiciary COM
mittee, reported with Amendments, a bill pre-
viously introduced by him, entitled, 6" A bill
to disapproye and declare null and void all
territorial acts and parts Of acts heretofore
passed by the legislative assembly OF New
Mexico which protect establish or legalize
slavery within said territory, except as pun
ishment Tor crime, on due conviction" The
bill was especially intended to make void two
provisions Of the territorial statutes OF New
Mexico, the one i'll relation to the most strin-
gent tyranny of the slave code, and the other
to protect white apprentices or lab0rers from
the intction OF arbitrary, excessive, and irres-
pOnsbe punishment. The bill being ordered
on its passage, was passed by Il vote OF 81 to
80. All the republicans in the house voted
for the bill except Mr.. Thayer and all the
democrats in the house, with MIR. Thayer and
a few Americans" voted against it.