Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-10-13
Letter from A. p. Bonmey.
AMERIcANs, REID IND PoNDEl


A. P. BoNNEY, Esq, the writer of the follow
ing letter, is the City Solicitor of Lowell, and
one of the most influential men of Middlesex
county. Read his letter.
LOWELL, Oct. 6, 1866
DEAR SIR II have received to-day your cir
cular, informing me that at the late American
Convention was elected member of the State
Central Committee for the ensuing year, and ex-
pressing the hope that l would accept the ap.
pointment.
beg to assure you of my undated attachment
to the principles of the American party as enun.
ciated in the Springfield platform, and of my sin
cere desire for their complete and speedy tri
umph. But, sir, with many prominent members
Of the party, and in conformity 10 the recon-
mendation sent me by the State Executive Com
mitee, united with my fellow citizens of all
parties in electing delegates to the recent Repub.
liean Convention, not for the purpose of pro-
noting to, or retaining in Offices any particular
man or men, but to form such asparty and adopt
such measures should furnish some promise
OF the ultimate success of prominent and in nv
view, the most important principles of the SPRING
Governor Gardner was entirely and unreservedly
committed to the movement, and believing his re-
nomination by that Convention was eminently
important for its success, went into the Con-
vention and gave him my hearty support. But
his nomination was zealously opposed by Mr.. Da-
ma and others, on the ground that he was not
committed to the Convention.
The position which Governor Gardner had pub
lcly taken, and the fact that his most intimate
personal and political friends were active in the
movement and present in Convention as dele
gates, seemed to me sufficient evidence of his
cooperation. felt that to require of him fur
Their edges, at late hour, when communication
would have been impracticable, would be unjust,
and mere trick to accomplish his defeat; and
this course having been successfully persisted in,
Ireturned home deeply dissatisfied, and believing
heeen dha unfairly trvu,vd.
but on reading Governor Gardner's recent
Speech find the grounds of my dissatisfaction
wholly removed; for l cannot deny that it would
have been highly impolitic for the Convention to
put in nomination for Governor any man who was
not only fully committed to the principles of the
party, but to the party itself; and however mag
unanimous such thing may be, certainlyno party
can hope to thrive long by supporting for its chief
officers men of other parties.
And Gov. Gardner has declared in his speech
that Mr.. Dana was right-that he was in ono
manner pledged, committed or bound by the
acts of that Convention by word, deed, letter, or
thought" and howmuchsoeyer evidence to the
contrary may have thought l possessed, must
yield to his own explanation of his position, and
though this explanation may be to him a satisfac-
tory reason for accepting the nomination of anoth-
er party, it shows me the superior sagacity of
those gentlemen who refused to be satisfied by
the evidence which L considered so conclusive
and convinces me l have no reasonable pretext
for refusing to be bound by its action.
1t has been urged as a reason why the friends of
Gov Gardner, in the Convention, are not bound
by the nomination, that his opponents aooud haze
bolted if he had been nominated. This reasoning
to my mind is entirely unsatisfactory. First, be-
cause of the light he has no,o thrown on the sub
ject, am not prepared to say his opponents
would have been justified in such course Had
Mr.. Beach received the nomination of that Con-
vention, should have had very little hesitation
in refusing him my support; and yet it seems he
was no less committed to it than Gov. Gardner.
Secondly, because others would have done so,
seems to me very insufficient reason for refusing
to keep my faith with my fellow citizens
Being so circumstancedl and entertaining these
views, respectfully decline accepting place on
the Committee. Yours, truly,
A. p. BONNEY.
Hon. E c. Baker, President of the American
Convention.