Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-05-15
EASTERN TIMES.
Bath, Thursday, May Is, 1851.
Prosperity of Massachusetts.

Ever since onr separation from the old com
monweath, the cry ofthe wings in our midst
has been-"look al old Massachusetts, and see
what chig policy has done for her ~ This
was the cry last fall, when the signs of the DO
fH'cafhorr-on indicated, Enthusiastically, that the
cid dynasty was TO receive fall, and be crush
ed to the earth before the progressive car OF
reform, which the people had, at last, taken
hold Of in good earnest. This cry has beer
reiterated by our neighbor of the Tribune, re.
Gently, in some comments upon the "whig leg
fslative caucus" which has Just been holden in
that State, 10 regain their power. The fol-
lowing extracts occur in the comments alluded
to-
"Will those political principles, the devel-
opment and effect of which Rave made Massa-
chusettsthe wonder of the world, the pride OF
the Union, and the envy of her sister States,
be given up TO reckless, headlong race after
power! Common sense and the people OF
Massachusetts answer, No,
The fair fame of the home of so many of our
political heroes, which has recently been
scathed and blackened by the Presidential va
pors of Locofocoism will soon be refreshed and
Refrigerated by the healihful political atmos-
phere which has made Massachusetts what she
,Is-which has dotted her territory with vilag-
es and cities, which has chequered her fields
with railroads and has made her soil desirable
above any other portion of our fair land"
1t will be seen how readily onr neighbor
falls into the laudatory style above alluded to,
and that he attributes all this state prosperity
to ''those political principles, the development
and effect of which have made Massachusetts
the wonder OF the world, &C., &c. Now we
have no disposition to detract any thing from
the general prosperity, industry and energy of
our mother and sister State, but we must enter
our protest against this disposition of ,rhig gerry
to take all the credit of this condition of things
to itself
Our limits preclude us from entering into a
detailed account of the growth of the State of
Massachusetts,, from the settlement of the Old
Massachusetts colony to the present lme-or
reviewing the political policies which have,
from time to time, been adopted in her civil
and national government. Neither do we con-
slider it necessary to do this 10 refute the pre-
posterous claims made by our modest whig
friends.
The prosperity of Massachusetts, is attribute
Bile, principally, TO her natural advantages
some of which may be enumerated to be her
locality, which is in climate favorable to ag-
vicnltpr,l doyolo,,nant. 4, f,r,;Io so;I g, r,1,
able sea-coast and excellent water privileges.
The development of these resources could not
fail to produce great wealth and prosperity
but to say that the credit of this state of things
operation of any particular political policy, is
altogether transcending the limits of the truth.
Will our neighbor point out to us what the
whtg party, as party, can claim of having
done, 10 promote the interests of Massachu
sets, except 10 hold all the offices, and to ad
minister the government What State meas
ure have they originated and passed, that has
tended to develope the resources of the State I!
Have they encouraged manufactures within the
STATED True, they have, and at the expense
of the commercial and agricultural interests Of
the country. Have they encouraged the build
ing of railroads, canals, &c We acknowl-
edge it, and thereby they have created an i'm
nense debt-which, although they may hold to
be great blessing, is not generally so held BY
prudent men. Have they made the State real
thy Yes, but instead of its being diffused
among the population, it has been heaped up
into few princely fortunes!
The presidential vapors of locofocoism,' of
which our neighbor speaks, are occasionally
required to ''cleanse the Augean stable,' in old
Massachusetts. The federal leaders are too
apt TO forget that there is any such power
behind them as is occasionally exercised by the
sovereign people-they have had the power so
long that they vainly imagine themselves to be
the very source of power itself These lead
ers have legslated for each other, for their IA
vorite cliques, and for overgrown monopolies,
until the masses might well begin to inquire,
when, in the course of human events, some
thing was likely to be done for them. Under
the cry of STATE REFORM, the whig party was
overthrown at the last State election, and
whenever any party shall have retained power
in the State government so long as TO be re-
gardless of the interests and rights of the peo-
pie, a change viii! inevitably be brought about,
if virtue and independence enough remain in
the masses TO accomplish it.