The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-23
ITEMS.

MAssACHUsETTs-The Fusion Convention at
Chapman Hall, Boston, on the 18th instant, was
successful beyond the hopes of its friends. 1t
brought together the leading men of all parties
opposed to Slavery extension, and, from the
| harmony which prevailed, there is good reason
to hope for important results. The Convention
was addressed by the Hon. G. B. Weston, Hon.
Samuel Hoar, Hon. Moses Kimball Hon. E. L.
Reyes, Elizur Wright, Esq. Hon. Charles Fran
| els Adams, Hon. John G. Park, Hon. Amasa
Walker, Hon. George Bliss, Hon. Stephen c..
Phillips, Hon. j. w. Foster, Hon. II. Bartlett,
Hon. Henry Wilson, R. 81. Dana, Jr., ESQ.,,
Rev. DR.. Beecher, William Brigham, ESQ.,, J..
l.. Swift ESQ.,, Hon. E. C. Baker, Hon. ]. z.
Goodrich, and others. These names represent
the Anti-Slavery Wings, the Free-Soilers, or
Independent Democrats, and the AntiSlavery
Know Nothings. Mr.. Goodrich was President.
We have now strong hopes of fusion in Massa-
chusetts. 1t is not creditable to her ancient
renown, as the principal seat of civilization, of
literature, and the arts, that she has not taken
the lead in the grand movement of the people
for rescuing the Federal Government from the
hands of the Slavery oligarchy. 1t is true that
her leading minds do lead in the moral move
ment, but they should have the wisdom and
address to lead in the political organization of
the people. We regret that the Hon. Charles
Sumner was not at this Convention. His
clarion voice, in behalf of union among the
friends of Freedom, would awaken responsive
sympathy from every manly breast in Massa-
chusetts and in New England
We are grati6ed to see that the Atlas, the
able and leading organ of the Wings, heartily
endorses the Fusion movement. The Courier,
Advertiser, and Journal, hold off. The Bee,
the Know Nothing organ, is favorable.
DEATH OF THE HoN. ABBOTT LAWRENCE
This eminent citizen of Massachusetts, died on
Saturday, the 18th instant, at his home in Bos-
ton He was in his sixty-third year.
Mr.. Lawrence was the son Of farmer. He
followed his elder brother to Boston about the
year 1903, and joined him in small retail
store. They prospered rapidly-soon became
wholesale merchants and importers, and at
length manufacturers, at which they have be-
come millionaires. Mr.. Lawrence was a mem
Der of the House of Representatives from 1885
to 1889, and was appointed by General Taylor
as Minister to England in l849, in which ca
pacity he served until the Inauguration of Gen.
eral Pierce. He possessed none of the high
intellectual gifts for which the scholars of Bos-
ton are distinguished in the Republic of Letters,
but was a man of practical business talents of
a high ORDER and was generally successful in
his enterprises. He has made many munif-
cent donations to colleges, schools, and libra
ries, which have given him worldwide repu-
tation, and reflected honor upon the New
England character. 1t is said that he died
worth three MILL ons of dollars.
LEGISLATION IN KANsAs-A bill is before
| the Kansas Legislature, by which 100 acres of
land outside of town, and ST. 500 worth of town
| lots, together with wearing apparel and nipple
ments, are protected from executions. The bill
inhicting the penalty of death for writing or
speaking so as to excite the slaves to insurrec-
| ton, and for abducting, harboring, or enticing
slaves out of the Territory, has not yet been
passed. The following is one of the provisions
of this bill
off any free person, by speaking or writing,
| assert or maintain that persons have not the
right to hold slaves in the Territory, shall in
troduce into Kansas, print, publish, write, cir
| cuate or cause to be introduced into the Terri
tory, written, printed published, or circulated
| in this Territory, any book, paper, magazine,
pamphlet, or circular, containing any denial of
the rights of persons to hold slaves in this Ter
ritory such persons shall be deemed guilty of
felony, and punished by Imprisonment at hard
labor for term of not less than two years.
These cut-throats seem not to remember that
their barbarous resolves will be revised by Con-
gress. While we agree with Senator Seward,
that it would be inexpedient to attempt to force
the President and Senate into restoration of
the Missouri restriction by attaching such a
clause to the general appropriation bill, we do
insist that the House of Representatives will be
highly culpable if they vote dollar in support
of the vile bulyism which has been enacted
into law in Kansas.
TEXAS POLITICs.-General Sam Houston of
Texas has written letter, in which he has
endorsed the Know Nothing platform. We
believe that this unlucky commitment was
made before the writer had heard of the break
down of the party at Philadelphia, and perhaps
before the result of the Virginia election was
known in Texas. So much for living on the
| frontiers.
General Rusk, of the same State, and also a
| Senator, has written letter, in which he takes
strong ground against the Know Nothings.
Both are said to be candidates for the Presi-
dency; but their chances appear to be indiffer-
ent at present. General Houston's vote against
| the Nebraska bill might have made him formi-
dable but for this unfortunate ENHANCEMENT
with Know Nothingism. His old Democratic
| friends will now have nothing to do with him,
| North or South.
No STOMACH FOR THE FIGHT.-Ex-G Governor
| Washington Hunt, of New York, has written a
letter to the editor of the New York CONNER
sial Adrertiser, in which he declares his oppo-
sition to the new Republican movement, and
to the disbandment of the Wing party. He is
opposed to the formation of party on what he
calls sectional grounds, although the Republi-
cans take the ground of the Declaration of In
| dependence and the Constitution but these the
starchy and prudish Ex-Governor regards as
sectional, Notwithstanding his former sympathy
with Governor Seward, and his avowed Anti
Slavery Whigery. He says he has retired from
public life. He has certainly adopted policy
which will consign him to the shades of retire
ment.