The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-06

We take the following chronicle of recent
events in Massachusetts, from the Boston Jour
nal Of the slstult 1t is q very curious com
mentary on the g higher laws well AZ the
lower one, of honesty between certain preda-
tory persons Read aud reflect upon it, South
ern Democrats.
FsEE-so,L CoNsc,kxcE AND vERAcrrr-The
Commonwealth Of yesterday, has an exposition
over the signature Of g II. W." Of the negotn-
tons at the Stats-house, between the Democrats
and Free-soilers. II appears from this article,
which is entitled . History Of the Legislative
Coalition" that very sharp trade was driven be-
tween the two parties, and that the Locofocos,
from longer experience. were more shrewd, and
| oyerreached the Ere e-soilers. The stock in trade
Of both parties was governor, lieutenant
governor, nine councillors, secretary of State,
treasurer, auditor, sergeant-atarms, and U. 5.
senstors for both tennis" A committee Of twelve
from each party was appointed to sit IN solemn
conclave, and trade OF these offices. Afer some
little delay, and dallying, an was becoming in
shrewd ers.--spending, in the words Of the
writer Of the Commof wealth, IS some little time
in discussing the comparative importance Of the
offices OF governor and senator. !" the committees
finally made a mutual agreement that the Demo-
Gratis should have the governor, and the Free
solers the senator for six years; also, that 4" the
=
nor and three members of the couDeil-and that
the Democratic party should have the senator and
six members OF the council" Also, 'that the
Free-so,l party should have the treasurer and the
audhor. and the Democratic party the secretary
Of State"
The propositions were yet to be sanctioned by
the respective caucuses,. and it seems the Free
soiIers not plersed with the trade effected by
their committee, and asked for another conference,
which wps granted. What passed at the further
conference, we will relate in the words Of the
writer in the Commonwealth
"The committees met. The Free-soil commit
tee proposed to concede to the Democrats the
lieutenant governor, the three councillors, the
| treasurer and The auditor, if they would concede
to them the senator for the short term. THE
president Of the senate also offered to resign his
place. and thus pace every branch OF the govern
rnent in the hands Of the Democratic party. The
proposition was declined, although admitted to
be most liberal"
But it seems the Democrats thought they might
secure better bargain, and their committee, also,
under instructions, proposed another swop, CIV
ing to the Democratic party the lieutenant gov
ernor, FIVE councillors, the treasurer, and the
United States senator for the short term; and 10
the Free-soil party the secretary Of State, four
councillors. the auditor, and the sereeantat-
arms" with the senator for the long term.
| This the Free soers agreed to, and the bargain
was sanctioned by both cautuses.
The committees then met to parcel out the
councillor districts. "SufTolk, Essex, Plymouth
and franklin were assigned TO the ee-soi party,
and the other districts to the Democratic party.
| At subsequent conference the Democratic
committees, doubtless with no little hesitation
! and decentralization, and feeling perhaps some
tompunctions Of conscience for having driven SO
hard a bargain, I" stated that they had request
| to make, which was that the Free soil party
should concede to them the counclior'of the Snf
folk disfrict---tlnat the request was hardly just
| [how modest J but that many persons in Boston
desired that the councillor for Suffolk should be a
| Democrat--and that the concession would be re-
garded as a favor, and tend to harmony in the
ranks Of the Democratic party!' This request
VIVA acceded to by the Free soIlcrs, who doubtless
began 10 suspect that they had been dealing with
| sharpers, and thought il best to confer new OBJ
legations upon the Democrats, and then make 1t
point Of honor for them to fulfil their part Of the
bargain.
Assurance were given and received by both
caucuses ttst the arrangements should be fully
carried out, and then the programme Of action IN
the legislature was arranged. II was agreed be-
tween the two caucuses that Boutw ell and Phillips
should be sent the senate a. candidates for gov
ernor, and Gushing and w slker for lieutenant gov
ernor The writer in the Commonwealth pro-
ceeds to state that sit WINS also agreed. that the
| House should Immediately, after sending to the
Senate the candidates for governor and lieutenant
governor, proceed to elect the senator for the term
Of six years, 30 that the senne might have both
matters before it al the same time. In accordance
with this agreement, motion was made to assign
a time for the choice Of senator Immediately after
the election of candidates for governor and lieut.
tenant governor" Thereby hangs tale.
Il will be recoIlected that John Milton Earle Of
Worcester, who assumes to be a leader and cham.
pion Of the Free-so party in the legislature made
and pressed the motion for the houss to 60 into
the choice Of senator on the very day when the
senate were 70 elect . governor. Upon that oc-