Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-11-01

Virginians made a course, bitter and violent
assault upon Massachusetts in general and
Gen. Wilson in particular. The latter brave
ly defended himself and his state, but its chief
representative, Gov. Gardner, having more
than any other man the honor OF the Com
monwealth in his hands, remained silent
Through that evening, and Thursday FRIDAY
and Saturday following, the slavery question
was discussed in a variety OF forms, though not
technically before the convention. Nearly
every one of the leading members, North and
South. indicated his position. The South
made its demands, the North gave notice,
through members from different states, tat il
would resist them to the end, but all this
yhile..-through the whole first week of the
session, Gov Gardner did not define his pos
ition. He was silenrS Sometimes he consult.
ed with the northern leaders. and gave them
encouragement But as often was he found
in the hands of the opposite party, and FREE
quently did he express his desire for COM
compromise. OF no man were those who had
determined - stand firm by the moderate
northern platform more anxious. than OF Gov.
Gardner They felt that his predictions were
against their course, and knew that the south
ern leaders were endeavoring to tamper with
him.
On FRIDAY was the election for officers Of
the national council for the ensuing year
Gov. Gardner was candidate for president,
and desired election This was against the
wishes OF the leaders the northern move
ment, for they felt that his election would
surely lose him to their side, and greatly en-
barrass the course they had marked out for
themselves and the North. Yet from person
al and local considerations, as well as with
view to secure influence with him, most of
them supported him. He failed of an cleo
ton. Then he became more favorable TO the
views of his associates, aud more freely cDuu-
seed with them. On Saturday the commit
tee on resolutions began its labors, and there
was the contest tonight and substantially set
tied. Long and angry debates kept the com
mittee in session through the day and late in
to the night. Gov. Gardiner was not upon
this committee. He had no disposition 10 90
on, and some of his colleagues had no 1isposl-
ton to have him. They feared his influence
would be against the stand the north desired
to make. The Massachusetts member of the
committee, was Col. Foster, and he took
large and active port in its discussions, pre-
senting and maintaining the resolution, which
had been determined upon as the basis OF the
northern position, "a simple declaration that
the Missouri Compromise should be restored,
or the states from kanzas and Nebraska come
III OILY as Tree sNdktSs lie " a. sustdlAS0 "
the leading members of the committee from
the free states, but out-voted BY the united
South, and the miserable dough-faces of New
York and Pennsylvania. In its place was
adopted the ultra southern platform, endors-
ing the repeal of the Missouri com promise,
eleyating the fugitive slave law to par with
the constitution and dv5asIug the American
party to the mental service Of slavery.
The votes and debates III committee iDdi-
Gated clearly that the convention would fol-
low the course Of its majority and on the
Sabbath the game was considered up, and men
began to take their places. on the one side and
the other, of these resolutions. OF course
with such an alternative, Gov. Gardner could
no longer hesitate. He must stand with the
northern section or destroy himself at home
Then he came fully into the ranks of the
northern party. and not till then. And even
on this very Sabbath when one would think
no true northern friend of freedom would
have thought Of or lisped the word compro-
mise, after such a defiant spirit of nltraism
had been shown by the South aud all sug-
gestion Of compromise Kissed from the lips Of
its representatiyes-Gov Gardner still linger-
ed over the ruins Of an impossibility. In an
swer 10 an appeal from Kenneth Rayner of
North Carolina, who admitted that the north
eFl 8fan9fiiffiAa nan hh himself Vas thAf lhs 10
concede it, he appealed to some of hit col
leagues Tor some concession or arrangement,
by which to avoid division. The reply was
- Do you seek to wear a martyrs CROWN"
and 80 more was said. AS evidence that the
whole affair was now settled, and so consider
ed by both North and South, I quote from my
correspondence at the time. dated Sunday
evening"
=" The resolutions will probably be reported
Tomorrow, certainly by Tuesday, and then
must come the blow-up. The true Northern
men soW Immediately issue brief address to
Ms pe2ple of The nation, and 10 asjH be the sig
nal for that reorganization apon a broad gem
ero5ts, conservative, american and anti sLaUeYy
extension platform, a0hich the true hearts of The
Free States hare so long matched and prayed
for"
In the preparation of that address, which
was done on Sunday and Monday, even be-
fore the resolutions were reported to the con-
vention, so well settled was the question of
the result considered, Gov. Gardner partici.
pated. Several forms were proposed. Most,
if not ell, OF those who had led in the con-
ceutration of northern sentiment were SIREN
uous in the opinion that the address should
br brief, and appeal to the people simply on
the point of difference in the convention-the
sAdNtly QuesLtoHs l Ley helu tnht tueEe Deln 9
no difference as to the essential principles OF
distinctive Amercanism, they were out Of
place in an appeal from the action of the ma
jority on the slavery topic alone. But Gov.
Gardner was strenuous that there should be a
little Anericanism in, and in order to propi.
tiate him, the preparation of the address was
conhded to himself, and a leading Illinois del
egato, who had been from the start one of the
most efficient laborers in securing the union
Of the northern delegates in stand for free
dom. The virtues aud strength of the address
are mostly due to the latter, the weakness and
the timidity to the governor. favorite draft
with many of the leading northern delegates,
was the following
We, the undersigned, citizens OF several States
assembled in the city of Philadelphia on - day
of June, 1855, feel constrained by profound
sense Of duty, to make the following declaration
OF our sentiments:
That the Declaration Of Irrational Independence
and the Constitution OF the United States, en-
joins upon all American citizens, the imperative
Obligation To exercise their national suffrages,
as 'to secure the blessings of liberty and to pre-
serve inyiolate "the self-eyaent truths" that all
men are created equal" and "endowed by their
Creator with the inalienable right of Liberty"
That the Constitution Of the United States
confers upon Congress no more power to make a
slave than to make king-no more power to per
init the exis enee of slavery, where il has exclu.
siye jurisdiction, than TO permit the existence of
an order Of nobility.
That by the decision Of the supreme court of
the United States, "the state Of slavery is a meie
municipal regulation, founded upon and limited
to the verge Of the territorial law"
That the federal government should relieve II.
self from all connection with, and respons ihiiitv