The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-04
Massachusetts, Politics.
OUR BOSTON coRRKsPoSpKNcE.

The Character of the Coatio~, and ITS Ohjscts-INs
Defeat of the Whiss Caused by their Oppos,trow to
Popular Rsforms-Probabie Policy of the VIc-
t0s-7he Se~atovship-Mr. Sxmmsr-Ar. Bout
toeli-DLr Ra~to.At-Mr. HaAttt-Mr. Bawks-
Mr.. KnoOlto~-Ge~erai Csshi~g-Ihs Co~gres-
sio~al Eisetio~s-Irt1ferenc of the Pashi~gto~
U~tow and Washtngto~ Repubiic IN osw affairs,
Sc, &c.
The Legislature of Massachusetts, will meet here
in a few days. and the session looked forward to
with an amount of interest that have never seen
equalled during long residence in Boston. Rare
ly has it happened even within the memory Of
that most respected of invisible personages, the
Oldest inhabitant, that any other party than The
wings has had majority in our Legislature and
never has il been (since the existence of the
whig pary) when there United States Sc
nator TO be chosen. Believing that many of the
readers of the Herald would like 10 have a correct
idea of the causes and probable consequences OF
this state of things, propose besowing upon them
Just as much OF my tedousness as may DC neces-
sary TO enable them TO accomplish that end. The
path TO knowledge, need not tell you 10 gen eraliy
through dull and dreary region
The partial union between the democratic and
free soil parties that made here In Massachu-
setts in ls9 far successful TO demonstrate
the feasibility Of carrying the State over the heads
of the wings were the union made on a broader
and more xteRslve scale. Those DESTROYS of such
a union being formed, W. mt TO work at an early day,
and the consequence was, that in all the counties
where there was the remotest chance of defeating
the wings, what were called Union Senatorial
tickets were formed, composed IN about equal pro-
portions OF persons selected from the two opposition
parties There some opposition 10 the demo-
Gratis nominated in Middlesex county, on the part Of
the tree soilers; but this difficulty was removed
by the obnoxious candidates all Withdrawing
from the contest whereupon others were put up,
who proved 10 be acceptable. In Essex county
the opposition came from a number of demo-
led n ne de feat n n
nominees. In the counties of Worcester Norfolk,
Franklin, Plymouth, and Berkshire, the Union can
ddates were elected ana one was elected In Bristol
county. Twenty-Five out of forty Senators were
thus chosen by the opposition, while the wings
succeeded in electng but eleven, and there are
seven vacancies, which will be filled by the choice
OF nve democrats, or free sollers, and two wings
Should no other changes take place, the Senate
will stand twenty seven anti wings TO Is wings;
but il Is currently repored-and very correctly, as
/ have the best authority for saying-that one Of
the democrats elected from Middlesex county,
(Mr. Banks, of Waltham,) who was also chosen
member of the House, will take his seat in the
latter body, IN which case the vacancy must be
filled by the choice of whig, there being no mem.
Der OF any other party eligible. The Senate will
then stand 20 10 Ia.
When the Union Senatorial tickets had been
formed-and less opposition had been xperienced in
their formation than was clpated-equally
strenuous exertions were made TO unite the two
branches of the opposition candidates for the
House OF Representatives. Ii was hardly believed,
however, that such union, favored though
the opposition were by various circumstances,
would result In giving the House TO them. There
were many things that so favored the wings that
few believed that the House would contain less
than reliable working majority OF that party.
Contrary 10 this expectation, and quite much to
the astonlshment OF party d OF the other, the
returns OF the hrst ele cuons showed majority OF
antl-whgs elected 10 the House. When the final
trials TO hill vacancies were made, on the 18th of
Novembtr ii was found tina! the House would
contain declsed majority OF snii-whgs. This
maJonty Is rated high as nifty by some, while
others ass. II that II will exceed forty. Either
number would be quite enough for all purposes,
the opposition a hOmog sneous political orga-
nizauoD, which II happens not TO De.
The question that FIRST presents itself, on con,em-
plating the existing state OF things, Is this What
was the cause Of the utter defeat of the wings in
Massachusetts The truthful answer to this ques
ton Is one OF great consequence 10 the country;
for, n II be made clear THAI the union between
the democratic and tree soil pa rles was the conse-
quence OF their agreeing on nanonal pohtlcs-that
10, that even democTa nave adopted the principles
- the free soil parry the slavery qusstion-hen
= the matter very stTions one indeed, and should
Re known 20 all men The couh IN an especial
manner, ought To be made acquainted with the
fact am happy 10 be- able TO say, therefore, that,
a. respects nauorsl foiiloS, there has been
union between the democrats and free soilers of
Mass &c husetts Each party has not only MAIN
tanned It's own peculiar views on the slavery ques-
uon, but hes also repu0tdied any lGca OF abandon
ing them. The uaon was formed for the purpose
81 eftecttng certain changes m our state govern
Fnent, changes that have long been demanded By
large portion OF the p. ople, and against which
the hugs have obsunateiy set their faces. have
no hesitation in saying that, n the wings had made
lew changes certain local matters, whereby
the country towns would have maintained their re-
latiye Consequence 10 the state, they would not
have been beaten al the late election. Having,
however, with chaTacteusuc obstinacy and stupid
Ity, resolved upon adhenng TO a system TO which
some OF their own number were opposed and
which y clearly benind tn times, they beaten,
- they deserved - o. party which displays
the su of mules, should not complain il 1t receives
the treatment 81 mules.
You aware that our plan Of representation is
based no. only On population, but also on the
fowls The smallest town IN the State entitled
10 al least one reese ntatiNe. once IN ten years;
ana thsfe IL a ceet nnial revision made, so that
even Ten years the representation shall conform
10 the poYusuon. Nov, when the revision
made, in 1850, IL was discovered that the large
towns and cltits were - .ltuaed as TO be really
the STATE. Not bUuH XIV could have more truly
declared that h. vac trsncs, than a score OF wing
towns could call themselves Massachusetts under
the exciting ~ STEIN eiai1y If the votes should
continue 10 be 0yIded intO three parties. During
several Of the ten years between the commence
utnt at le5i aud he Ctose OF l-tO, the House OF
Repressbiauvrs, ever y fuil, viii consist OF only
about terse hundred Misunderstanding less than
more; and 81 these N, wings would be 81
having majority, made 90 at The members elect
ed ~ ~ such piacse bo-tuu, Lowell, Salem,
Re1bury, Cambucge New Bedford, and a dozen
Ob.r places. IN Whtcb tneIr power, consequence
Ut befr control a rugtspated wealth, Is too firmly
founded e. - sbak,n ~ aBy other than the most |
eXtrGufdIasry poliucs Storms, such are Of rare
occurrence. Every nau cav thai II the opposition |
remained disuIite1, DOT only would there he no /
charge 10 . Hts EN- that tNea some OF the wings /
udnntt-d a. be Radically d-fsc W., but also that
few stss he whig towns would Dc represented 4
M the Legislature tbuse towns which the /
wings kad msJouuep, woult always be represent /
ID, while thuse N winch the Opposition shoald /
have h. ajouuss would ut be represented, their /
voters were divid.d nrt~eeu democrats and free 4
soers ThiS IN m. view ui men rho cher nah deep
regard Tor town orgabH tons. aud who are Jealous
net ouly II great a. -. bat also II aggregated 4
weaith. wss NJ slsht evil An opinion prevails /
very extensively here. sud n NOT unshared by /
wbiEs, that the tendency ~ Massachusetts leRis- 1
lauOn, tor YEAR, " not ~ direct ann, hes been
to add 20 the wealth a the uCn add Ia the poverty
OF The poor. Ihr dsa that obtains u, that the I
great Ctties and towns have been the Cspients Of I
governmental favOfr 81 the pXpchs~ not only Of the