The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-23

INDEPENDENT DEMOCRACY OF MAsSACHU-
SETS
The Free-Soilers of Massachusetts held their
State Convention at Lowell, on the 5th Ali re-
ports concur in representing it as great meeting,
and the proceedings as deeply interesting
Long before the hour for the calling of the
Convention, the numerous trains of the various
railroads centering in this city, came filled with
enthusiastic delegates and friends. Banners and
music enlivened the scenes and sounds of the
street while in the vicinity of the City Hall the
| Mammoth Tent and the Headquarters of the
Central Committee numerous groups were dis
cussing the merits Of the several candidates for
Office and indulging in congratulations on the
brilliant auspices of the Free-Soil cause.
About 1919 o'clock the Worcester Freedom
Club and delegation, numbering nearly thou.
sand and accompanied by q fine hand arrived
amid the shouts of the mass Of the people Numer-
Gus blnners and transparencies, beautifully
adorned with flowers, and suitably inscribed, were
borne in the procession. Among the notices
were Worcester County true to Freedom to
Hale and Julian ;" We are bound to agitate-
what are you going to do about it - Fidelity to
God, Love to man, Liberty and Equality for
all "When Kings intervene to protect thrones,
Freemen should intervene to protect Liberty -
Protection to American industry by protecting
the rights of the men Of toll ~ The Fugitive
Slave Law the disgrace Of America-we will re-
peal it," These banners were welcomed with re-
iterated cheers
The old but capacious City Hall was early
densely packed with delegates and others, from
every section Of the State. The best Of feeling
pervaded the entire mass, and though there was
difference Of opinion as to the best candidates to
be selected for Office, yet the canyassing of their
merits was conducted by their respective friends
in the most cordial and agreeable manner. A half
hour before the time for calling to order it seemed
as though it were Impossible to force another in
dividual within the walls yet all were disposed to
make up in qualification at the monster gathering
for any personal inconvenience in attending the
Convention.
STEPHEN G. PHILLIPS, of Salem, presided, as
sisted by large number of Vice Presidents and
Secretaries.
The vast assemblage was addressed at different
times, by Messrs. Wilson, Graves Keyes, French,
Swan, Phillips, Dana, Brewster, Bagbee, Sumner,
Mann, Walker, Burlingame, and Webb. Henry
Wilson, Charles Allen ]. G. Palfrey and Ste
phen C. Phillips, before the meeting Of the Con-
vention, had severalv refused to be considered as
candidates for the gubernatorial nomination and
the Convention by q decided vote nominated
Horace Mann as it's candidate for Governor, and
Amass Walker for Lieutenant Governor.
Charles Francis Adams, from the Committee
on Resolutions, reported long and very able
SERIES re-afhrming in their length and breadth
the resolutions adopted by the National Free Soil
Convention at Pittsburgh, enforcing them by adj
ditional ones in further application of them, and
adding the following
" Rssolped That we demand in behalf Of the
hardy sons of the ocean, living on their own
shores, that protection of the right of following
their ventnrous occupation without let or modest.
alton of any foreign power and that freedom from
vexatious constructions OF our own laws to which
they are entitled from the Federal Government
and that the policy of extending both the right
and privilege of fishing in all navgable waters in
America by friendly negotiations be zeaously
and uuremittingly prosecuted
"Rssolp,d That JOHN P HALE and GEORGE W.
JULIAN are candidates for the Presidency and
Vice Presidency whose nominations were most it
to be made, and are the only candidates now be-
fore the people, for whom the Friends Of Free
dom eau consistently and wisely vote.
"Res0Ired That we approve of the act Of the
last Legislature, by which the question of calling
a Convention to revise the Constitution Of the
State is submitted to the people, and shall give
our votes in favor OF that Convention
"Resoiped, That the present system of repre-
sentation in the lower branch of the State Legis-
lature isunequal and unjust especially Ia elecing
by general ticket in large cities; and ought to be
so changed as 10 secures fsrer representation of
the popular will.
"R,SoiUed, That we deeply regret the defeat in
the last Legislature of he bill to protect personal
liberty; and that We shall not cease TO urge its
passage so long as personal liberty needs protec-
ton.
"Resolutd, That we are in favor of general
Legislation for the whole people, instead of special
legislation for the benelt Of the few
, Rssoi,sd, That the Free Democracy sympa-
thzes in all efforts to improve the moral intellect
ual, and physical condition of the llboring class
es, by abridging their hours of daily toll and ac-
know edges the Justice Of their aims upon the
Legislature to aid this object
Resolosd, That on the great moral question Of
Temperance, the opinion Of the Free Democracy
Of Massachusetts, is known by it's acts and csnd-
dates; and to whatever tends to the elevation Of
freedom Of mankind, whether from the lash of the
slave driver or the more insidions thrsldom of the
Intoxicating draught we give cordial and gen
erous support
RsOir,d, That we approve Of the policy which
our party in this State has pursued for the last
two years, by which Charles Sumner was sent to
the Senate Of the United States, and by which
there have been placed upon the statute book Of
the Commonwealth
"The Act for the better security Of the ballot
"The Act TO protect the right Of suffrage;
"The Act to prevent fraudulent arrests;
"The Act to exempt from levy on execution
the homestead Of householder having q family;
"fhe Act to secure to mech auics and laborers
payment for their labor by q lien on real estate;
1.-THE Act relating to joint stock companies
"The Act TO authorize the business Of bank
ing
"The Act TO allow aliens to hold real estate;
"The Act TO change the organization of the
Board Of Overseers Of Harvard College
"The Act relating TO tho calling Of Conven-
ton Of delegates Of the People for the purpose Of
| revising the Constitution Of the CommonW ealth.
ITO all these salutary measures We give our
cordial apprObation-giving also our full sanction
TO the course OF policy by which alone 1t was pos
sible to effect their enactment