Washington telegraph., 1851-02-26
TIE BARGAIN IN MASSACHUSETTS s.-The

TaE BARGAIN IN MASSACHUSETTS
Boston papers bring us statement from
one of the leading operators in the recent
Massachusetts coalition, Mr.. Henry Will
son, the Free-soil President of the Senate.
which presents all the details of that dis
graceful affair:
1t appears, by this statement, that there
was a regular bargain made between the
Free-soilers and portion Of the Demo
cratic party. that they should mutually
vote for each others candidates. The
Boston Advertiser, prudent and reliable
journal, alleges that the case is clearly
brought by this statement within the
State law Of bribery and corruption. The
individuals to be supported ON both sides
were designated; that is for Instance, the
persons who were to have the Coalition
vote 70: Governor, President ofthe Senate,
and Speaker Of the House, were all nam
ed and agreed to. These promises, we
are told by Mr.. Wilson, were "ms0de IN q
variety Of forms, and aoith the k,soa0l-
edge, appreciation, and cooperation of
the men eleUated to pO,Oer.'' Upon this
statemen: the Advertiser comments in the
following language:
"This statement is either true or false.
If the latter, it is gross libel, which
those Immediately connected will do well
TO meet without delay. If ii is true, (as
who can doubt that it is, in all the lead
ing circumstances,) then it is a case of
bribery and corruption. Individuals have
bargained that they will vote for each
other for valuable Offices, and they have
done so.
"'Fhere is in fact no attempt to disguise
the matter. A portion of the Democratic
party in the Legislature having refused
to cooperate in this corrupt arrangement,
and having thrown obstacles in the way
of its complete fulfilment, the whole OF
that party is denounced by the organ Of
the Free-soilers in precisely the same
language in which a dishonest trade.
would be stigmatized They have re-
ceived and use the goods and refuse to
pay the price,
''Had the transactions been confined to
the individuals who have divided the
high offices between them, ethe men
elevated to'power.' who, in the language
o: H. W., gave their appreciation and
cooperation to the bargain,) impeach-
ment. conviction, and perpetual disquali6-
cation would have been the prompt and
righteous remedy. Unhapphy for the
honor of the Commonwealth, majority
of the impeaching and trying powers are
payticcps cySasluiS. This alters in no
degree the guilt of the parties, but it
screens them from punishment"
This Mr. Wilson is the man who bolt
ed at the Philadelphia convention, and
"spurned the bribe" OF the Vice Presi-
dency in behalf of Massachusetts. His
associates in the conspiracy are the men
who arrogated to themselves the denomi-
nation of Conscience Wings, and who
solemnly pledged themselves to each other
and the country never to vote for man
who was not of their own principles.
And now they redeem this pledge by an
arrangement which is thus described by
Mr.. Wilson: "They were ready to elect
Mr.. Boutwell, without any pledges what
ever They were willing to place the
government of the State in the hands
of the Democracy, asking no pledges for
principles, measures, or Offices.
That is to say, Mr.. Wilson and MIR.
Sumner, and their associate conscience
Wings, were quite Indifferent what
damage Mr. Boutwell, and the Demo
cracy might do to their beloved cause of
Free-soil, provided that Mr. Wilson might
be gratified with the Presidency of the
State Senate. and Mr.. Sumner made
Senator of the United States. The
s.hiUher law" of these conscience Wings
was their own sordid and prohigate ambi-
tion.- Repu6lic