Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-10-18
The Transcript on Governor XVashbur


The Transcript on Governor Washburn.
The Transcript of October 10th, compli-
ments us upon our "suavity, moderation, and
good nature" We gratefully thank the organ
for its courtesy; and yet we do not do so from
gratifed vanity alone. We do so partly be-
cause the generous and "courteous" language
of the Transcript shows that that organ itself
has made great progress in "good nature"
within short time past We have frequent
ly expressed our admiration of the Transcript,
--of its wonderful discoveries in the physical
sciences, &c., and of its singular manner of
publishing them; but that organs good ma
ture was not equal to its unique genius. 1t
struck the hand that was lifted to caress it;
and repealed the expression of our admiration
with much snarling. Now, however, the
Transcript spontaneously bestows its charming
batteries upon us. We again congratulate
ourselves and the readers of the Transcript,
upon the beautiful spectacle of "suavity,
moderation, and good-nature which it now
presents"
But the Transcript, while generally approx
ing of the mode in which we conduct our dis
cussions, takes emphatic exceptions to the
matter of our article of the 18th inst. To give
the idea a classical turn, it approves of the
saaDiter in mode of that article, but it does not
approve of the .fortitor IN re. 1t is angry atus
for saying that Emory Washburn, since he be-
came Governor has been measured by his own
words in 1852, and has not been remarkable
for anything but ''incapacIty, want of con-
sistency, and his disregard of the public will.
The Transcript does not attempt to prove HIM
capable, consistent and popular, because it
knows that it cannot do these things but it
flaps its wings over him like maternal hen,
and hopes to protect him from too close scru-
tiny of his official incapacity, by raising dust
round him. The Transcript says, in answer
to our citation of the words used in vitupera-
ton of the Coalition, by Emory Washburn in
1852:
s'Nobody knows better than the editors of
the Spy that Gov. Washburn was in 1852 en-
gagged in an extensive practice, to which he
assiduously devoted himself, fond of his pro-
fession, and not ambitious of political honors,
or preferment, but, the rather, declining and
avoiding them.
The Spy knows very well that circum-
stances entirely beyond lis control placed him,
unwillingly, in the position Of a gubernatorial
candidate. 1t knows very well, that, at that
time, as at this hour, Emory Washburn en-
loved the love and confidence of his fellow
citizens, as an honorable. able, high-minded,
kind hearted, pure, upright man."
We know that Gov. Washburn was, in
1852, in the /" extensive practice of drafting
resolutions, yituperating the opponents of the
Fugitive Slave law, and also in the :" extern
sive practice" of making yapid speeches in
favor of acquiescence with that act We do
not know what amount of personal consdera-
ton Gov. Washburn now obtains amongst
certain circles of Wings; but we know that
in 1852, it waa not so very high as the Tran
script would have us suppose; neither was
his avoidance of political honor SO extreme as
his organ would have us to infer. When
Judge Fletcher had resigned his seat on the
bench, after clinging to it with tenacious par
tizanship till the Wings regained power, En-
cry Washburn expected to succeed him, but
Clifford and his Council did not see any
eason to crafty that expectation. They con-
TERED the coveted honor on Judge Thomas.
When Caleb Gushing resigned his seat, on
the bench Of the Supreme Court, for one in
the Cabinet at Washington. Judge Washburn
considered himself sure of being elevated to
the status his ambition painted for, but Judge
MerTick glided between him and the goal of
his ambition. Disguised with the ingrattude
of his party he went to Europe, both to ex-
press his indignation and to conceal his cha
grin. When he came back from Europe the
Wing party was apparently on its last legs.
In the language of Artemus Lee of Temple
ton, " the Wing party could not find man
to stand as their candidate for Governor, and
were obliged to nominate one who was out of
the country that he might not have an oppor-
tunity to resign" Emory Washburn was
nominated as cheap compliment to him, and
as necessity for the Wings He was elected
by Irish votes and other similar agencies, and
the gubernatorial Office was never before made
the vehicle of 50 much hunkeyism as it has
been since that time. We have nothing to
say about Emory Washburn as "kind
hearted, pure, upright man." But we DENY
that he has been highminded, able, and esti-
mable Governor. And we are not alone in
this opinion there are thousands of Wings
who recognize him as " good clever fellow,
but not as one qualified to be Governor of
Massachusetts, The prison of Anthony
Burns contains sufficient evidence of Cover
nor Washburn's want of majesterial energy,
dignity. and courage.