Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-01-31


straight and thorny way at this time; but because
he refuses to join us, we shall not the less firmly
press on /; and not the less safely arrive at our
journeys end
Massachusetts,, say, has the same right to
manage her own political affairs, in her own
way, with that ofany other State in this Union.
And she has not only the same right but she has
the same ability, energy, and determination, TO
maintain that right with any other State and she
will maintain it at home and abroad.
But am not going to take my stand behind
the dignity ofthe State of Massachusetts, and say
that she does what she peases, and she will not
give an account of whnt she does. ] stand ready
here to-day--what have Eever done before in
public, and what would not do now, if did not
feel particularly clear and particularly free from
doubt that am doing right in what am doing
to endorse the coalition in Massachusetts. | be-
lieve understand what it was, and what it did,
though was not present at the time it was en-
tered into. was in the State ofIllinois. But az
ter my return, [ heard what had been DONE and
am now in the condition ofan impartial ooker-on,
and being thus free to take my own course, can
say, and do say, that think it was eminenly
wise and patriotic in the majority of the people
Of that State totake the government Of The Stale
out of the hands of the minority, however un-
pleasant TO the minority that proceeding may be-
Before proceeding to discuss the propriety Of
that movement, and of the mastery combination
by which ii was made, lei me, however inquire,
for moment, who it is that makes the charge of
corruption against the coalition in Massachusetts?
My colleague from the sixth district Mr.. Davis1
undertakes to read lectures to the Democracy and
Free Soil party because they act together in Mas
sachusetts. That is all. He has not impeached
them for their acts, but only for their concurrence
in those acts He has not singled out any one
act of those parties, except that Of acting togeth-
er. That he considers violation of political
principles | have right to presume that all
our great measures were right, only that it was
wrong for US first to agree to do right, and then
to do it. He has not accused us of voting for
any law or any resolution, but he has accused us
of appointing men to office. He has not accused
US of appointing bad men. He has not said that
the offices are not better filed now than they
were when the Wings were in power. If he had,
should take issue with him upon that PROPOSE
ton. He has not designated one single act of
these parties, but he has designated this coalition
itself and per Sc offensive to his political sem
sibilities
And now, what does my friend from the sixth
district mean by charging upon the Democrats a
breach ofpolitica honesty in acting with those who
agree with them upon certain particular points OF
aclion-in electing the Governor, Lieut.. Gov
ernor, and other officers of State administration,
and In passing certain measures of reform, in
which the Democratic party has been engaged
for fifteen or twenty years past, In Massachusetts,
but which they had not accomplished, and could
not have accomplished without the aid which he
thinks they ought not to have received, when it
was rendered? Does the gentleman from the
sixth district believe that it is wrong for Free
Soiler to act with Wing, or Wing with Free
Soiler? 10 make my question more definite and
more pertinent to his own position, does he be-
lieve it wrong for an Aboitonst and Wing TO
act together? He must have undergone trans
formation of heart and character as sudden, as
entire, and as far beyond the reach of natural
causes, as that of Saul Of Tarsus, and that, too,
quite recently. if he does not believe such COM
why does he attack this coalition so furious?-
This Is new thing compared with the old stand
ing coalition Of the State of Massachusetts, in viz
tue OF which the Wing party las retained its
power Tor the last twenty or thirty years, by car
rylng with it the votes of those whose feelings
towards the institution Of slavery, were not of a
very favorable kind. They the gentlemen,
those influenced by their dislike of slavery, were
the gentlemen who kept the Wing party in power
IN Massachusetts, from the time when il came in
by the amalgamation or coalition of 1925, till the
vember, 1850, costinued in January 1851. If
then, 1t be wrong for party opposed to the COM
promise to coaesce with party in favor of the
compromise, tell this committee that such CO.
alitlon--such Ia principle, for this coalition in
Massachusetts does not date only from the pas
sage OF that law--l say such coalition has kept
the Wing party In the State of Massachusetts in
power down 10 the time when they went ont OF
power. And pretty prominent actor in tina,
coalition was the gentleman from Massachusetts
(Nlr Davis,) who charges the damning sin of CO.
alition upon the Democrats of Massachusetts
Now, am not in the habit Of speaking in rela-
ilon to matters OF this kind, without the evidence
before me- Therefore, in order to substantate
my charge of this coalition between the Wings
and Abolitonists of Massachusetts,, shall sing
out the history ofthe gentleman from the sixth
district, in connection with this matter.
In 1885, my colleague (Mr Davis) was mem
Der Of an anti-slavery convention of the county
OF Franklin, daughter, Massachusetts, Gentle
men will see that have begun far enough back,
so that my colleague cannot complain that | hay We
not treated him fairly by not exhibiting his hole
course on this subject in its just connection. |
VIII remark that this was not a Free Soil Com
venton, but an Abolition Convention Some
gentlemen may think the distinction rather nice
one; to those concerned it seems vastly important.
This was meeting of Abolitionsts, for the pur
pose of organizing one of those anti-slavery socie
ties, commonly called Abolition societies. The
published account states that Mr. George Il. Da-
Wis read the call for the convention, and was elect
ed one OF It's secretaries. The organization of the
society was proceeded with. A constitution was
adopted, the second article of which defined the
objects of the society, which was declared to be
me entire removal Of stdeery from the United
States" [Great laughter
[Cries of "Read it!'' "Read it!''1
Mr. X. | cannot undertake to read all 10 which
refer, but the committee will be satisfied with
extracts, for there will be large number which
| shall read.
1t was pretty large undertaking for young
man, but young men are always ambitious and
sanguine. But it seems in 1885, my colleague