Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-03
WING Legislative COnventiOn.

AT ptdtc l1OuSe, 14uIsUdy evening, IOI
the purpose of choosing Wing State Central
Committee for the coming political year. The
Convention was called to order by Moses
Kimball, Esq, Of Boston, who read the call
for the meeting.
Col. Artemas Lee, of Templeton, was call
cd to the chair, and John H. Holmes Of Bos-
ton, and A. A. Richmond of Adams, were
appointed Secretaries.
While the committee to nominate at large
was out, Moses Kimball ESQ.,, of Boston, Of
ferred the following resolutions
ReSolued, That the Wings of Massachusetts,
are in favor of fir d m, and hostile
to slavery; and while we would defend the
South in all their constitutional rights, and
would in no way interfere with the mainte-
nance of slavery where it is now recognized
by law, yet we are opposed to permitting an
other square inch of territory now free to be
trodden by slave; and if the Compromise of
1920 shall be repealed, the only safe and reli-
able platform for the North to stand upon will
be a. firm, united and determined opposition to
the admission Of another STARE State into the
Union, from achatevey quarter the application
may come.
Resol,ted, That the bill now pending in
Congress, known as the Nebraska Bill, and in
volving the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, is measure so Ubiquitous i'll its charac-
ser, so hostile to every principle of justice,and
involve so gross violation Of public honor,
that we are only surprised that an honest man,
either North or South, can be found to sustain
it; and that the author of the measure richly
merits the title that has been awarded him
''Arnold of the North.
Mr.. Edward Dexter, of Boston, moved
that they be laid on the table.
Mr.. Kimball desired to have the resolutions
discussed. He wished to have the Wings of
Massachusetts speak out on this great question
of the Nebraska bill. The Wings of this
State ought to utter freely their sentiments,
and let the country know how they stand i'll
regard to this matter, and denounce the nefa-
rious scheme now before Congress. The reso-
lutions were before the convention, and could
be disposed of as it chose, but if they were to
be laid on the table, he wished to have the lea-
sons therefor stated.
Mr.. AsPINwALL of Brookline said he could
see no objection to the gentlemen from Bos-
ton expressing his opinion on the subject of
slavery but he agreed in the propriety of lay
ing them on the table, because gentlemen did
not come here prepared to act on such a sub
ject. Gentlemen are not authorized or in
structed by their constituents to make such a
declarations as the resolutions contained. As
far as regards the evils of slavery and the in
justice of the Nebraska bill, there was proba-
bly, no difference of opinion among the gem
tlemen present, but the propriety of stigmatiz-
ing member of the United States Senate in
the manner of the resolutions, was certainly
very questionable, to say the least. lie did
not feel prepared to sustain all the specifica-
tons of the resolutions, although he sympa-
thiZed with them i'll the main.
At this point, the nominating committee re-
turned, and on motion of Mr.. Cooley of Bos-
+bno of Il,
postponed in order to receive and act upon
their report.
The report having been adopted, the Re-
solves were taken from the table.
Mr.. Kmball said he felt Indifferent as to
what action was taken upon them-whether
they were tabled or passed-but as objection
had been made by several gentlemen to the
portion referring to Senator Douglas. he would
request that it might be stricken from the res
olutions. 1t was called an insult or slur on
member of Congress but he thought that
when public servants forget their duty, the
people had a right to express themselves in
strong, unmistakable terms.
Mr.. Goodwin of Lawrence moved ad-
iournment, but withdrew his motion at the
request of Mr.. Thompson of Boston.
Mr.. ThomI son said there was one course
which might fifty be pursued in regard to the
resolutions. They had been copied by there
| porters and would appear in the newspapers,
| and would go forth as the resolutions of the
| Wings Of Massachusetts. They cannot be
withheld from the public eye. lie approved
the resolutions, and they contain sentiments
| to which all can subscriber but as this meet
| ing was not called to act on such subject,
and is not a full one, many towns being I'M
represented he would suggest that they be re-
| ferred to committee, who shall take them in
| to consideration and report hereafter at spec
| ial meeting.
| Mr. Cooley of Boston, hoped the suggestion
| to refer to a committee would meet with re-
| spect. He fully appreciated the motives of
| the gentlemen who introduced the resolutions,
| but thought they had better be withdrawn
| entirely. Massachusetts should use language
| which, while firm, should be conciliatory to
| the other members of the confederacy. She
should forbear to stir up another slavery agita-
ton. Another objection was, that the pas
| sage of such resolutions would only tend to
4 keep alive and build up the Free Soil party,
| to the injury of the Wings. He trusted they
would be withdrawn altogether.
Mr. Goodwin of Lawrence, did not believe
the passage Of the resolutions would benefit
| the Free Soil party 1t now has hardly an
| existence in this State, and such resolutions
would only strengthen the Wing party When
the Wing party shrunk from expressing anti
slavery sentiments, then the Free Soil party
| sprung up and hourished. A gentleman had
said that we came here without knowing how
our constituents think on this subject, and
| would wish us to act; but he believed that
| their views were well known, and unmistaka-
BILE in regard to this slavery question, and that
| they would endorse these resolutions. If we
adopt such resolutions as these, the Free Soil
| party will have no ground left to stand on
| The Wings of Massachusetts, can stand on
these resolutions, and he hoped they would
! pass as amended.
| Mr. Arnold of Bollingham, said, if you ia
Bile these resolutions, you table yourselves
| We have been defeated for two successive
years, and we can never carry the State again
unless we adopt such resolutions. We must
speak strongly on this subject, in order to meet
the sentiment Of the community.
Mr.. Richmond of Adams, was in favor of
the resolutions-he could respond to them
from his heart. Wepursued a temporary pol
icy two years, and it was our downfall 1t.
will not do to be behind the age. We must
not be silent on the great measure now before
Congress, but give expression to our feelings
freely. The resolutions are not too strong for
any part of the State, nor for my own feel
ings. Let us give all the force we can to our
views.
Mr.. Ladd, of Chicopee said that when an
attempt was made to read out such resolutions,
he thought it time for the country to speak,
and support the gentleman from Boston who
introduced them. There was nothing in the
| resolutions to which he could not fully and
! heartily resDond. nor to which the five HIM