The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-17
The Bargain In Massachusetts.

Senate by the Massachusetts Legislature Tor,
after two trials. it seems he lacked six votes
Of an election. Whether he is or not cho-
sen, there can be no doubt that the chief
aim of the Free-solers was to secure this
object; nor is there any doubt that the Demo-
Gratis agreed to grant this boon, as consde-
ration for the offices given to them. 1t is pos
sible that the external influence against the
completion of this part of the bargain may de-
feat it, but, even if it be so, the fact remains
that one hundred and eighty-six members of
the Massachusetts Legislature cast their votes
for this man as Senator of the United States for
the term of six years
Now, we wish to direct particular attention to
this point. Mr.. SUMNER, as is well known is a
Commissioner under the United States, and. as
such, is bound by oath to sustain the Constltu-
ton and laws of the United States. Neverthe-
less. he has refused to fulfil his duties in
that he - ,ras man before he ,cas commits
sioner." The inference is, that his moral
sense and dignity as a man are not offended by
official perjury. Again, MIR. SUMNER is voter
and a politician Hehas, therefore, entered into
a solemn compact with his hellow-citzens and
his country, binding himself to the support of the
Constitution and laws-by acts speaking louder
than words All that he had of truth and dignity
of character was given as a pledge for the full
filment of the agreement Yet he has not hest
tated to sacrifice these by open and avowed
hostility to the law and the Constitution, even
to the extent OF recommending or encouraging
forcible violation of the law. And this is the
man preferred by one hundred and eighty SIX
members of the General Court of Massachusetts
as Senator of the United States, in the
place which has been recently filled by WEB
sTER and WINTHROP. And thus, one whom
honor cannot bind. and who sees no RESPONSE
bility in an oalh, is likely to be sent as mem
Der of the most dignified legislative body on
the American continent and that, too, by
.Nassachusetts, the land Of schools, churches, ly-
GEMS, and Gbrarres
Nor is this the whole story; it is, indeed,
only part Of the scene which is being enacted
in the capital Of the Bay State. A governor,
lieutenant governor, and other high public of
ficers, have been elected by a bargain between
two fragmentary parties, having nothing in
common but greed for office. The entire
spectacle is one which is calculated to degrade
our institutions in the eyes of the world--to
impress society with the idea that, in politics,
men gre not bound by religion or morality; and
that office and honor to be lawfully won by
corruption, fraud, and tasehood it gives a
shock to our faith in man; and leads to, the in
l. ~, a.
ries, and lyceums, teach men only to juggle
with truth and to adjust the mask so cunningly
as to profit by deception.
1t is no mitigation Of this dark aspect of the
case that the leaders in these scenes are mostly
men of some neutrality-suspicious. of religion,
deacons of churches, clergymen, lawyers. &c.
1t does not help the case that majority of a
State, having nearly million of inhabitants,
are parties to this transaction II sheds no re-
lieving light upon the course of these events
that they transpire in the land of the Pilgrims
once the land of truth, piety, and honor. 1t
gives no dgnity-it imparts no respect to the
cause-that, out of Massachusetts, editors Of pa
pers, legislators, senators even, may be found to
applaud the coalition and the corruption TO which
we refer. No name, no authority, is so high
as to sanctify fraud, corruption, falsehood and
perlury--direct or indirect. The more extended
the field Of iniquity, the higher the source Of
baseness-the more deep is the attendant
curse. Lucifer's archangel light only served
to damn and darken more effectually the
regions where its effuigence fell. Nor can
success redeem the actors in a scene of fraud
from final disgrace They may get office,
money, name, position titles--they will never
thelesS live IN intalny, and die in dishonor.
The men and the party who have sold their
principles for a corrupt considerations will find
in the names of Judas Iscariot and Benedict
Arnold associations from which neither time
nor place can deliver their memories.
The people Of Massachusetts may do we'll TO
look to this matter. Never in the history of
American politics has there been an operation
fhich has been 50 widely and generally de-
nounced The Wing and Democratic press. al
most without enception-from the North, South.
East and West--unite in the solemn verdict of
puilt-guit in the Stale house at Boston
moral. political and social. Jerusalem had It's
Golgotha, and Rome its Aira Caitiva: London
has its st. Giles, and New York its Five
Points; but Massachusetts-and Massachusetts
only-ha capital, where moral death and cor
ruption are now sustained and sanctioned by
majority Of lis representatives, assembled in the
high capacity Of Legislature!
We should turn from this subject in disgust,
were it not that it claims some practical appli-
cation. However melancholy it may be that
mingled selfshness and ianatcism often lead
mankind into folly and iniquity, it is some sat
sfaction TO know that their career is generally