Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-11-03
Letter from Gen. Wilson.

/ tent OK the Constitution, ''-ssthat Convention
/ would not be constitutional measure, but measure
beyond the Constitution, IN other wOI DIS, violation
OF it," Mr.. Lawrence and Col. Schouer, who had
each proposed the most radical amendments signed
this report. II is due Col. SchOuler however, to
say that he declared, the floor of the House. that
he did not believe the proposed "Conyention to be
| unconstitutional" The Convention ACT was again
passed, and the friends OF reform appealed with con.
hdence to 'the sober second thought of the people,
Wing organs again opened their batteries upon The
measure The Wing politicians continued their
warfare. AT the Wing State Convention held at
Worcester, IN September, lS52,a thousand represen-
iative members OF the Wing party, mnindlu OF the
radical amendments proposed by Mr.. Lawrence and
! Col. SchOuler, adopted, unanimously, the following
unjust Tesolulion,reported by the Hon. Emory Wash
burn
Resolued, That in the war which these leaders are
waging upon the Constitution of this Cummonwc alth
they have iasIhed the record OF her history, they
have utterly disregal ded the known will Of the peo.
| pie, and have shown that in their eagerness to re-
tain ll-gotten power, they ready to PROSTATE the
bulwarks which our IA hers reared to preserve the
peoples rights, and secure the peace and prosperity
OF the whole body polite.
Such was the position Of the Wing party in The
autumn oil 1852. The advocacy OF a Constitutional
! Convention was pronounced by the unanimous voice
! Of the Wing party, council assembled to be a
"war, "waged upon the Constitution" "to pros.
trate The buwarks which our fathers reared."-'
| Even the Springfield Republican, in noticing Wing
meeting "iull TO overlooking" says that "Mr. Vose
addressed the meeting for about an hour, in clear
and cogent manner, taking as his topics, the pro.
posed alterations OF the Constitution by the coalition
now in power. His exposition of the designs OF
those who started the movement, and ofthe UTTER
| LACK OF ANY NECESSITY FOR SUCH AMEND
| MENTs, was sound logical, and conclusive and
| was most heartily responded to by the audience"
Progress, however, had been made BY two wears
| Of discussion, and the people sanctioned The act by
more than 1000 mdority-a few liberal Wings vot-
ing for it, in spite OF the efforts of their chiefs and
| presses
When the Legislature assembled in 1853, Gov.
Clifford declared the Convention act to be Of
''doublful cOnStitutionalily" and portion of the
wing leaders and organs accordingly demanded its
| repeal. This bigh.handed proposition of exaspe-
rated partisanship discussed ina party caucus,
and defeated by small majority. Baffed in their
efforts to repeal the act, these ultra conservative
leaders demanded the repeal of SO much of it as re.
| CURED that the votes for delegates should be given
under the provisions Of ''the Act for the better Sc.
curliy Of the ballot" and also endeavored to pro-
cure modification, changing the qualification OF del
egates, and providing that plurality of the votes
should elect. These violent partisan movements
together with the threats thrown out by ndiscreet
leaders, that if they secured the control of the Con-
venon they would dissolve il without making any
amendments, aroused the indignation Of the people,
and they rose in the majesty Of their power, on the
7th OF March, and sent into the Convention over 100
majority OF retormers This rebuke OF the partisan
conduct of the Wing politicians fell with stunning
iOrce upon that party Blinded as these politicians
had been by partlsanshp, they could not now fail
to see that the people were for constitutional re-
form.
They at once changed their tactics. They were
no longer 'conent with the Constitution as It is''
Although they had for more than three years utterly
denied the necessity OF amending The Constitution,
they now gave their support TO most OF the amend
ments adopted. More than twenty members of that
party voted for the plan Of town representation
adopted by The Convention, and which is now de-
nUunced as so unjus:, and as having been made for
mere party purposes.
Mr. Giles, OF Boston, man of great candor and
integrity, and one of the ablest men of his party
voted tor the plan which Mr. Abbott Lawrence saws
ne 'will not submit to % Even the secret ballot
article received the support of Mr. Morse editor OF
! the Newburyport Herald, and General Oliver of
Lawrence, avowed his intention of voting for it,
During the session OF the Convention the Wing
organs, with very lew honorable exceptions, con,
tInually misrepresened the motives and acts of the
majority Of the Convention. Efforts were made to
excite the prejudice of the people against the action
OF The Convention, and prepare them 10 reject the
proposed amendments Since the adjournment of
the Convention, these organs have continued their
wariarei often denouncing amendments framed for
partisan purposes, which received the support of
many OF their own best and ahest men.
But the politicians Of the Wing party have now
changed their tactics. Constitutional Conventions
no longer Of "doubtul constutionay." They
are no longer inconsistent with the letter and intent
OF the Constitution ~ The Wing State Conven.
ton at Fiichburg, on the 2Slh oi September last,
gave 10 the world a new reading of the Constitution.
II resolved IN favor of GA NEW AND POPULAR
CONVENTION" Col BiIloch's s'onIv latpfid and
safe tcay, Of amending ''our venerable and admira
bic Constitution" may be abandoned now to secure
amendments which in 1850, 1851, and 1851 were
pronounced revolutionary changes,'' by which the
''sta6'iay Of property is shaken and verytng which
distinguishes Massachusetts, laid in the dusf.''
THIS declaration "lor new and popular Con.
vention" by the unanimous voice of the Wing party
IN Convention assembled, is one Of the most extra
ordinary, lnconsstent and slullyng acts 10 be found
IN the records of partzan history. Many of the men
who made this declaration in favor of ga new and
popular Conventions" have, in conventions and even
in legislative halls when acting under the solemn-
lies oil Official oaihs, pronounced the Convention
acts OF 1851 and 1852 Of doubtful c0pstituionaty''-
measures beyond The Constitution and SIN v,oati,n
ofa." This sell sultiiying position was assumed
10 defeat, II possible, the amended Constitutions un.
der the deusve pretence of more fully obtaining
amendments which they denounced in 1850, 1851,
aud 1882 amendments already secured in the new
Constitution, which all be secured &c the peo
pile desire them, wiihin years.
w hen we recall TO mind the position in 1885,
1881, and 1852, of the mel who proclaimed This
Teso'utioh-'h laVor oil "a new and popular COnven-
tion," to secure the adoption of s'leadine amend
menis to the present Constitution" we can readily
comprehend how naturally, under the strange and
bewiIdering influences Of their sudden aud mracu.
lous conversion, they should give "th1ee cheers for
The old Constitution mr. They had assumed their
new position as the last and only hope Of defeating
the new Constitution, and thereby preserving the
old one, with which they "ate all content as 80
The memories Of their past struggles, and the hopes
excited BY their new position, carried them beyond
the bounds Of ordinary prudence. In the excitement
of that hopeful moment, honesty overmastered poll
cy, and they betrayed their real feelings opinions,
and purposes by lusty "cheers for he old Constu-
ton w
Wing County Conventions follow this new lead.
Even Suffolk Wings, the men who resolved in Fan.
eu Hall, IN November, 1851, with nine cheers that
"WE ARE CONTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTIONS
AS IT u.s." now make its arches echo with their
shouts for ga new and popular Convention" to oh.
tain s'leadng amendments to the present Conslilu,
| ton"
The public eye cannot fail 10 see as il traces out