Smyrna times., 1860-09-06

Aog1&dt 0tfcA CASLtgs
Mr.. Thayer, Republican member of Congress
from Massachusetts. is thorough believer in
Popular Sovereignty. He scouts the whole
system Of Congress ional intervention in the
afTairs of the Territories. lie would have the
people thereoflefl 'sperfectly free 10 form and
regulate their domestic institutions in their own
way,"--walhoui any interference from Con-
gress or the Federal Government. He believes
they have a right titus to govern themselves;
he thinks they can DO it far more wisely and
honestly than the Federal authorities can gov
ern them; and he has not the renlotest shadow
Of doubt that the Interests of freedom would
be perfectly safe theft in their hands.
DIR. I'hayer has acted upon these convictions
10 Congress. He vpted with halfa dozen other
Republicans against the bill repeating the laws
!ofNew Mexco which permit Slavery within
that Territory, thus defeated the bill.--i
He has acted with d good deal of Independence
and courage in maintaining his position on this
QUESTIONABLE the result is strong effort, in
the ranks of his own party to prevent his re-
election Mr.. Thayer makes fight at home,
jllsl as gallantly as he did in Kansas and at
Washington. He means TO contest every inch
oi the ground and has lhes far very strong
cprrenl Of popular obinion ia his support. The
machinery OF the party is against him; the re-
suit. therefore, is doubtful
We should be very sorry to see Mr.. Thayer
defeated not from anysoserweening attach
nieni 10 his theory Of Popular Sovereignty, but
because his defeat will signalize great lack
of Alteration aud hbarality in the Republican
Party. That he is thoroughly devoted, heart
sud soul, TO the nisfests of free labor every
Is where-and that he has done more, practically,
for their advancement than almost any other
nan 10 The country, all concede. He organ
iEed and directed the Emigration movement
from New England. which did more to rescue
Kansas from Slavery, than all The efforts o.
politicians. lie hass on foot similar move
meet 10 Virginia, which cannot fail to tell pow
GRIZZLY on the social economy and domestic in
stitutions of that Sttte. He is active, intelli
gent. UNITING and enthusiastic in pushing fret
labor in close and active competition with slayl
labor wherever it can be done and this he re
gaids as the great practical agency by whic
Slavery must be eventually supplanted. II
has less faith than AIF. Sumner and some othe
ceuspicuous Massachusetts Anti-Slavery egi
tat,rs iE epilheis and denunc ation, and d goo
deal more in The laws of social economy an
conamonse sense. Ills labors have, therefor,
been eminently practical aud effective; an
their results have been reached without arou
ing those intense personal animosities whic
have done so mich 10 other quarters 10 chez
ali inquiry into the Subject.
The services of such man are Of GOT
deal more imporiaace 10 the Republican Par
aud to the country ali large, than any theoret
cal opinions on the subiect of Territorial Go
eminent Whether Congress has or has nc
power to exclude Slavery from the Territori
by law, is a matter of secondary important
altogether. The main thing is to keep Slave
outi and il is mucll better, in every aspe
of The case, thai this should be done by Il
people themselves han by Federal law. 1
long, therefore, as Slavery is not likely 10
into the Territories, il Is worse than folly
insist on its exclusion by act OF Congress- d
Thayer insists that it the whole question is Il
to the free, unbiased, inde pendent action of L
people of the Territories, Slavery will not
admitted into single one of them for the s
Pile reason that II is against the interest of I
settlers 10 have il there. They go there
better their iorlunes--toprovideio for themselV
and familleH-to build up schools, church,
manufactures arts Ind all the attendants a
instruments ola higa social development. s
very is Incompatible with such a state Of SO
ETY. as they seek 10 establish and therefore th
will not have It. The whole history of /
county demonstrates cenclusively that, il
fair contest between free and slave labor,
former has nothing whatever to fear.
Thayeris, therefore, 10 favor Of az open fe
and Of relying more lpn The principles Of soc
growtb--the inevitable and invincible laws
political economy, and in the instructive SCI
ment of the peoples than upon Federal legis
ton. for lie preservation ofthe Tersitoriesf Fl
Slavery. We should be very sorry 10 belis
that the Republican, Party was nor slrC
enough or liberal enough TO tolerate sue
faith as lhis.-N. Y. Times.