Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-08-25
Massachusetts Wing state Convention.

|
nominated for Governor and Lieut.. Governor
the officers Of last year, Emory Washburn
Of Worcester, and W c Plunkett, Of Adams
One thousand seven hundred and seventy six
delegates were present. The vote on ballot
for Mr.. Washburn was SIS, to / IL for Julius
Rockwell of Pttsfeld, and his nomination
as well as that for Lieut. Governor, was made
unanimous by reclamation.
The resolutions passed declare that " the
Wing party of Massachusetts. ever true to
Liberty, the Constitution and the Union,
needs not to abandon it's organization or to .
change its principles that by the late .
browning act of Slavery extension, 4" the |
naked question Of liberty or Slavery as the .
controlling principle of the government is
presented to the American people, and for
ourselves we declare our readiness to meet
that issue that the Wing of Massachusetts,
are unalterably opposed to the extension Of
Slavery over one foot of territory now free -
and will oppose the admission Of any new
State " unless Slavery is prohibited therein
that the Fugitive Slave law contains harsh
and arbitrary provisions, justly obnoxious and
,
never cease to demand such amendments as
shall make it consistent with the constitu
tional rights OF the free States, or failing in
this, its unconditional repeal and that
"in the recent legislation, we recognise anew
the settled policy of the leaders of the De-
mocratc party, who have ever shown them
selves subservicnt to the interests of slavery
lao az Ia, | nj nl
States for having stopped from his high posi-
ton and prostitutcd the influence of his Office
and the administrations for appointing to
> Office, foreigners Of questionable character, to
, the exclusion of native citizens of high rclu-
t tation for a cowardly attack upon weak
: and dcfencclcss community while it has not
dared to insist upon the enjoyment by Amer
S lean citizens in foreign countries Of that re-
: ligous freedom which i, possessed by all men
under the protection of the American Consti-
tuition and we call upon all lovers of free
dom, to unite with us to rescue the govern
; ment Of the nation from their hands.
Hon. FR,HxMS DEXTER the President ofthc
o Convention made the opening speech. lie
= spoke Indignantly of the attacks upon free
d, dom, closing follows
j. Our present purpose is to strengthen the
y hands of the Wing party as the only party
n on which reliance can be placed for tn" pre-
, seryatUn of liberty in territory now free.
We must proclaim this as our principle,
Il and by acting up to it, hope to draw to our
VI support the good men of all parties that have
o the same great purpose at heart
d Hon Reuben Chapman followed in speech
from which we make the following extract :
1t is satisfaction to us to recognize the
" fact III our resolutions to-day that not Il
IS VIII. ut massachusetts nor OF any free State
&C is untrue to his faith and to tue cause OF
= liberty. | affirm without fear of cuntradlc-
10 ton. that if Il Wing Administration had been
u in power, with President either from the
re North or South, this wicked deed would not
T. have been done.
&c But if our Southern associates desert us
s. and Join the conspirators for the supremacy
~ of slavery, what state in the mon can
IL better afford than Massachusetts to take an
independent attitude, sustaining what she
believes to be right, and opposing what she
ns believes to be wrong. We can do without
I'D coalitions we can if necessary dispense with
-, national party but we cannot afford tc
~ abandon good faith or right principles and
5, in maintaining these | think We can trust e
in the people OF this Commonwealth to sanction
r our course
ip Hon 5. ii. VALLEY said
il The Nebraska bill passed because the mer
-, from the South dared not stand up for the
- right and for honor. and because the dough
faces of the North were ready to stand up unc
" sell their birtnright for mess of pottago.
1t passed because men had rather be member!
III Of cabinets than honest men. 1t passed tt
% ring the knoll of those men who voted for it
1t passed because the Northern Wing party
D. could not stop H.
~ | have been called n compromise man.
or consider that and every body else is absolyc,
70 from the moral force OF all compromises no
:, found in the constitution itself Plant your
3 selves on the Constitution and meet youl
OK foes face to face. II the North will only dc
o. that they can carry the battle If firm
lie against slavery we can drive the enemy back
-. we can repeal the Nebraska act, carry free
'S' dom where now is darkness.
SIS 1t is not owing to the Wings that We are
w where We are in this country, but it is owing
lv to the Democratic party, and no other coulc
:. have put us there. To Democrat from til,
VI North, who is President; to another, who is d
n, Senator and another from Massachusetts
who is Attorney Gcneral-withUut these mcr
nm it could not have been accomplished,
or The Venerable Josiah Quincy Senr, said
came to this meeting with no intention to rot
-. u,tteer a word on the occasion; but with ixeC
hf all Ind'vidn1l VIII" has IN this World no." lrtl,
10 hope, and, thank God. nothing to fear -
RI who has behind him only the memory OF tn,
-, past and before his the opening grave, II
=" which he must soon be deposited.
I'm 1t is said, 1t is 'the last straw that breaks tn,
o. camers back" | trust IN Heaven that tin.
no Nebraska perfdy will prove to be that Las
400 straw which viii excite the camel of the Nortl
80 to rise IN its spirlt and strength and toss from
H. his back one at least of the many burdens witt
at which he Is oppressed.
as The Nebraska fraud Is not that burden @,
4 which intend now to speak. There Is on,
~ nearer home, more Immediately present ant
he more insupportablc. The obligation lncunben
no upon the free States 10 denver up iugltv,
sc slaves is that burden-and IL must be oLHt,rd
ted from that Constitution at erery hazard.
And such oblItrrdtIon can he demonstrated
to be as much the interest OF the South as It II
VI the North.
ne We have seen our Court House in chains
u nro 6dHdhons Of Dragons, eight regUmenk
re Of artillery, tcslrc companies Of infantry, IN
e, choie constdbuidry force Of The citv police. III
m entire d,spOsdbLe marine Of The Unn,d States
=, ruth MS artillery loaded for action, oil march
ing IN support Of PrGtOridn hand CONSIST
sh ing Of one hundred and twenfy friends Of N,
ke United States Marshal, rith loaded pistols dnG
H. drdrr srord,, aud IN military costume anc
"A drrdy,-tor uhdt purpose To ESCORT AM
CONDUIT POOR TREMBLING SLAVE IRON BosIos
CoURI HousB TO The FILTERS AND LASH OF HI,
as hAsTER.
ad This scene, thus awful thus detesrable
N every inhablIanl Of this me ropolls, nay more
y" every inhabitant of this commonwealth h, may b.
compelled again TO witness at any and ever,
NO day OF the year, at the will or the whlm of III,
no meinest and basest STAKEHOLDER of the South
ito This also is undenlabr
ar Now, is there a man is Massachusetts witt
/. 4 l. 4 1T
nd fears his fortune, that he is prepared to say
IT. that tbs is a condition ofthings 10 b, endured