Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-01
Great Meeting in southbridge.
POLITICAL DISCUSSION
BETWEEN
Hon. D. F. Parker and Hon. Eli Thayer


POLITICAL DISCUSSION
BETWEEN
Hon. D. F. Parker and Hon. Eli Thayer.
One of the largest political assemblages ever
convened in that section Of the county was held
at Edwards Hall, in Southbridge, on Tuesday
evening last, to witness the discussion be-
tween Hon. Dexter +. Parker and Hon. Eli
Thayer. The hall was crowded to its utmost
capacity. Not less than fifteen hundred or
two thousand persons were present. including
many from the adjoining towns. Upwards of
fifty went from Worcester. AS to the result
of the discussion, it seemed to be the concur
rent feeling of nearly all who heard it, even of
the Thayer men themselves, at the close, that
Mr. Parker had entirely the best Of it, and
completely used up his distinguished antago-
mist, SO that nothing whatever was lett of him
on the points at issue.
The meeting was called to order at about
half past seven o'clock, by VIM Munroe,
Esq, who read the following list of names,
which had been agreed upon by each party, to
constitute the organization of the meeting: =
Presidential Z. TAYLOR, Esq, of Sturbridge.
Vice Presidents-Hon. Salem Towne of Charlton;
Hon. Francis Howe of Brookteld; Hon. E. d. Am
midtown, Sylvester Dresser, Yerney Fiske, Dr. S. C.
HaItwell, Jarus Iutney, and c. A. Dresser of
SOuthbrdge; Ebenezer Davis Of Dudley; 5. A.
Drake and Henry Haynes, Jr., of Sturbridge; VIM.
b. Fox and d. IL. Eames of w orcester.
SecTetares-E NJ Cole and John IL, Marcy of
Southbrdge.
The president stated the arrangement agreed
unon for tho oOvornmant of tho Discussion
1t was for each speaker to speak four times,
occupying half an hour each time, Mr.. Parker
to open the discussion, and Mr.. Thayer to-
have the last half hour, notwithstanding the
former was the challenged party, and entitled
to the last half hour, by the rules which gev-
ern all such discussions. But Mr. Thayer re-
fused to consent to any such arrangement.
| And he also refused to abide by the rules gov.
ernng debates at the west and which was fol-
lowed in the celebrated debate between Lin
coin and Douglas, allowing the party which
| opened it to have quarter of an hour at the
| close.
Mr.. PARKER was then introduced. He re-
Marked in opening, that fortnight since, he
received an invitation from the citizens OF
Southbridge to meet here the Hon, Eli Thayer
and discuss with him the issues now pending
in tile ninth congressional district. In answer
to that invitation, he was here to-night-not
because he thought he was the equal of Mr.
Thayer in learning and ability but because he
believed that even the humblest republican
could defend the governmental principles OF
the party, even though he were opposed by its
ablest opponents In the discussion he should
avoid all personalities, and examine with fair
ness and candor some of Mr.. Thayer's t,tnda.
mentats, and especially his four votes in con.
gresS.
lie proceeded to quote from Judge Story,
| Chancellor Kent, and Chief Justice Marshall to
show that the territories are the property of the
nation, and that all power of legislation belongs
| TO congress. This doctrine was endorsed by the
republican party, which asserts that in the dis
charge OF this duty of legislasion, it is incum-
bent upon that body to exercise its power for
the exclusion of slavery. Proceeding to the
discussion of the four obnoxious votes of Mr..
Thayer, Mr.. p. said he doubted not he should
be able to prove that Mr.. Thayer had clearly,
palpably, and knowingly, violated the will OF
his constituents. Tremendous cheering)
The Oregon vote was then taken up The
| circumstances under which it was given were
fairly presented. a clause in the constitution
OF that state forbids, in terms of unparalleled
| severity, the exercise of the common rights of
humanity by the colored men and the Chinese.
Mr.. Parker eloquently set forth the sacrifices
| in the revolution, by which the blacks won
those rightsof citizenship with which they we're
invested In many states. 1t was the duty
Of the representative of this, the strongest
anti slavery district in the country, when in a
distant state those rights were violated to
have uttered his indignant protest-such an
one as Gen. Wilson uttered 1t would be
claimed by Mr. T., undoubtedly, that many
republican senators voted for the admission,
including Mr.. Seward He would say in re.
| ply to that that were MIR. Seward the repre-
sentative in congress from this district, he
should protest against his vote, the same as he
now did against Mr.. Thayers. He held that
the clause referred to violates the constitution
OF the United States, which provides that the
rights and immunlties Of the citizens of each
state shall be respected in all other states
citing in support OF this opinion John Quincy
| ADAMS, and the action of congress in 1921 on
the admission of Missouri.
In concluding his first half hour Mr. Parker
said he should hand Mr. T. some questions,
that he desired him to answer, viz II. In
| your opinion, is black or colored citizen of
this state citizen OF the United States. owing
allegiance to its government, and entitled to its
protection 2. Do you deny or assert, that
the colonies of this country, prior to the revo.
luton, opposed the territorial, or colonial, form
OF government given them by Great Britain 4
3. DO you deny or assert, that, after the colo
NAL governors had fled their offices and places.
that the states, without the Intervention of any
power, proceeded to form state government
at their own will and option? 4. What, prior
to this lime, were the views af the colonies as
to territories held in common by the then col,
ouiesl s. After the colonies became inde-
pendent, what, as defined by the constitution,
were, and are, the relations Of the territories
to the states in the Union
Mr.. THAYER was then introduced He ex-
pressed himself glad to meet an acknowledged
champion from among the number of those
republicans who question the righttuness of
his course. lie then proceeded to u defense
OF his popular sovereignty views, claiming
that the doctrine of territorial sovereignty
was not in the Chicago platform, but was elm.
mated from that adopted at Philadelphia four
years ago. Tins he claimed to be the cause
of the recent victories in Pennsylvania, Indi.
ANA, &c. He represented Mr.. Seward as being