The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-04
THINGS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THINGS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
The Republican State Committee net on the
9th ult., at Boston, and chose Henry S. Wash.
burn, Chairman, and Seth Webb, jr., Secretary.
The Letter of Mr.. Rockwell, accepting the
nomination of the Convention, is printed on
our fourth page. 1t is explicit, and to the point.
He considers the National Wing Party no
more, and holds that the only hope of resisting
successfully the usurpations of Slavery, is
through Republican Party such as is now in
process of formation all over the country.
The Straight-out Wing Convention met on
the I'd inst, and did not adopt Mr.. Rockwell
as their candidate. The only effect of its &C
ton will be to give chance to the candidate
of the Slavery and Liquor Parties, Mr.. Beach.
Yesterday, the Know Nothings were to hold
their State Convention, with view to an indie
pendent nomination.
In the complicated struggle, the Slavery and
Liquor Parties hope to carry off the prize. 1t
is evident that the voters who place right above
expediency, and think It of paramount import
ance to put down Slavery Aggression, are all
united in the Republican Party. Its success
will decide whether Massachusetts is really an
Anti-Slavery or ProSlavery State.
The Boston Telegraph publishes a manly
letter from the Hon. JOHN FOSTER, President
of the Massachusetts State Council of the Know
Nothings, resigning his post, declaring his full
adhesion to the Republican Party, and recog-
nising the necessity of ignoring all issues but
those made by that Party.
An intelligent gentleman in Boston, men,
Der of the late Know Kothing Party, submits
to us the following view of the state of things
in Massachusetts,
"The Republican nominations are supported
by three-fourths of the political press of the
State, including every Wing paper except the
Adrertiser, Journal, and Courier, of this city,
the Worcester E.gis, and perhaps two or three
others of no particular Importance. am in
formed that all our thirteen members of Con-
gress except Hon. Timothy Davis, all the mem
bers of the Governors Council but three, and
three-fourths of the last Legislature, sustain the
Republican ticket. The Democracy, under the
lead of three of the most influential Democrats
of the State, Messrs. Banks, Boutwell,, and
Usher the Wings of principle under the lead
ership of Eliot, Upham, and Goodrich; the old
Free-Soilers, guided by Sumner, Phillips, and
Allen and those who have directed the move
ments of the American party in its hours of tr-
umph, Wilson, Foster, and Burlingame-have
all combined under common banner to advance
the cause of Freedom, now imperled by the
rude assaults Of the Judiciary, and the rufian
attacks upon the right of suffrage and of speech,
by Missouri outlaws and their representative
legislators in Kansas.
"The Hunker portion of the Know Nothings
seem to be devoid of any sense of honor in sus-
tanning nominations fairly made. When they
succeeded last year in nominating Gardner, the
Anti. Slavery portion Of the American party
untedly sustained him. Even when DIR. Smith
was nominated for Mayor, there was no serious
detection in the ranks among the Ant-Slavery
voters. But the moment General Wilson was
fairly nominated for Senator, the Hunkers in
stantly refused ito abide the will of the maiori-
ty, expressed in lawful manner Many of
those legislators who then refused to support
General Wilson for Senator, advocated and
voted for Julius Rockwell for that post although
he was not, and never had been, member of
the American party. Now, when this same
julius Rockwell is nominated for Governor, in
Convention in which the members of the
American party largely predominated, those
same Hunker Know Nothings, who insisted
upon sustaining him in opposition to General
Wilson, deny him their support for Governor.
"To the best of my ability, in the Convention
and out of it, ! urged the nomination of Mr..
Gardner for Governor. Twice, voted for his
nomination. / thought he deserved this, in
consequence of his firm defence of Freedom in
Philadelphia, and his more recent endeavors to
initiate a Republican party in Massachusetts.
But he was betrayed and opposed by the very
men who are now the leaders in the movement
for the Sd of October Convention in his behalf
and one of whom struck the fatal blow in the
Worcester Convention, by securing, on the
morning on which it met, the publication of
call for the Native American Convention, sign
ed by nineteen men friendly to Gardner, who
were, at the same time, delegates to the Re-
publican Convention, and yet who declared in
the call that they have no confidence in the
political integrity of many Of those connected
with the Fusion movement. The revelation of
this fact to the Republican Convention, sealed
Mr.. Gardeners fate. Mr.. Rockwell was fairly
nominated. Had the report of the committee
on credentials been adopted, excluding several
Know Nothing delegations appointed in secret
Councils, Mr.. Rockwell's majority would have
been larger. Such being the case, 1 cannot, as
an honest man, refuse to sustain the Republi-
can nominations. ! will not be one of those
ostensible friends of Mr.. Gardner, either to aid
in putting him in position to be politically
destroyed for years to come, OR, by striving to
induce him to accept the Native American
nomination, indirectly to assist in the election
of Beach"
Another gentleman, of the same way ofthink-
ing, writes US;
"The State Council tx. N.Y. sent circulars
all over the State, to induce the Councils to en-
ter the Fusion Movement, and combat it. In
one city they chose ten out Of fifteen delegates
to vote for Gardner. What did they dc?
Every one voted for Rockwell In our Coup-
cil-for 1 have been a Know Nothing, and
stood high in otice-i, together with few
others, tried all in our power to dissolve, and
enter into the Fusion movement, but it was no
60.
ave gained this much, however, and then
left: we passed a vote to take NO political action
this fall, as Council, but to let every man vote
as he pleased. So much, and more: we passed
a resolution in favor of the Fusion movement
but could not dissolve the Council A motion
was made to draw up a paper, and all sign it,
agreeing to stand by our constitution and Coun.
Gil and party, and not one would sign it, and it
was voted down. Our people are up and arm
ed, and ready for the fight We have the best
nomination for officers the State has ever pro-
duced,"