Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-10-22
Governor Gardner. Antl-sInvery.

00FREm0E GHEanGF0
We have before intimated that the much va unit.
ed anti-slavery professions and acts of Governor
Gardner could not bear the test of rigid scruti.
ny. and that his course at the Philadelphia Con-
yention was anything but creditable to himself or
to Massachusetts. We have heard it again and
again asserted, by Massachusetts delegates to that
Convention, that if its secret history could be
written, if its records could be brought to light,
hey would show such an overwhelming weight
of evidence in regard to the weakness of Cover.
nor Gardners back bone and of his meditated
treachery to Massachusetts principles as would
forever silence the clamor of his most vociferous
supporters, on the ground of his fidelity to the
cause of Freedom.
We do not despair, yet, of obtaining the secret
history Of that Convention, and of the publica-
ton of its records, and we trust that those who
have it in their power to give them officially to
the public, as a part of the political history Of
these times, may at no distant day the way
clear to do SO, without violation of any of the
rules of propriety and OF honor. Until such
time. however, as they are so made public, we
must content ourselves with such portions of the
history the transactions OF that Convention, as
come in our way, giving them to the public with
our personal assurance that the statements made
may be relied upon, with the fullest confidence
that they are true, and that members of that Con-
vention, who were cognizant of the facts will not
deny them. With these PREDATORY remarks, we
invite the attention of our readers, and of the
anti-slavery men of Massachusetts,, to the follow.
ing extracts from the
Speech of S. p. HanscOmb, Esq,
At the Republican Ratification Meeting in Sau-
gus, Oct. 10, 1855.
REPORTED for the Spy, by james NJ. W. Yerrington
referred, just now, fellow citizens to his (GOy.
Gardner's) conduct in the Philadelphia Conven.
ton, and his conduct prior to the meeting of that
Convention, and the reason for such reference
wish to give here.
1t is well known, gentlemen, that at a certain
time during the session of the last Legislature,
there wasa State election pending in Virginia
During that campaign in Virginia, which resulted
In the election of Mr.. Wise, there was marked
been in the habit of advising and acting. II
was dlfhcult thing for an anti-Slavery man to
approach him, to get anywhere near him His
advisers were all of the old Hunker school You
remember, gentlemen, that there were two meas.
ares in the Legislature, the principles of which do
not propose to discuss here they are not in ISSUE
mention them because they were exciting cues
lions at that time, and the questions which were
taken advantage Of One of these measures was
the Personal Liberty Bill; the other,the Address
OF the Legislature for the removal of Judge Lor.
ing. Now, sir, Gov. Gardner had stated to GER
tain gentlemen in the Commonwealth. that II
was his intention to remove Judge Loring. In his
own house, in Mt. Vernon Street, he said TO me.
one evening" while was sitting in conversation
with him" My personal feelings towards Judge
Loring are--out NTH him! And," said he, al
hope the Legislature will give me an opportunity
to suit the action to the word" felt myself,let
me say here, rejoiced, because had taken an ac~
tive partln that matter. Well, sir, time passed
on. will say nothing of his pledges to Others
will say nothing of the action of certain Sena-
tors when that bill passed the Senate, which ac
ton was the result of advice with Gov. Gardner
as to how the bill should go through to suit him,
20 aid the removal of Loring but, sir, the time
came, and he refused to remove the judge
What did we hear The thunder of Hunker
powder on Boston Common, glorif,ing Henry J.
uaroner Tor having refused to remove Loring.-
what DID we hear in answer to thats The South.
ern press pleading with him to stand up and be a
man for the Union! During the excitement of
that period, it was decided that Henry J. Gard
ner Should be candidate for President of the
National Council
but,-sir, the refusal to remove Iorino did M,
create quite pro.slayery capital enough for MIR.
oardner. There was another measure on tbe
docket-the Personal Liberty Bill. On the dav
that Judge Loring's case was settled. nv sanro,
Do"ner, VIZ an oil merchant ON Long Wharf,
VINO resides IN dorchester, met Gov Gardner. and
said to him-"Goy. Gardner, thought Won told
me you was going to remove Judge Loripp re.
grei' exceedingly, you have not donelso." "on
said he, 'never mind" hurrying on to avoid Tho
conversation, Il am going to sign the Personal
Liberty Bill, and that will fix it." Now. sir he
had, at that time, examined the Personal Liberty
bili,and he knew what II was he promised 10 sign.
Wei, that bill passed the Legislature, and was
eSsoed! Immediately, without any discussion, It
was passed, over the veto, by the Legislature.
Then, sir, there was some more powder burnt on
Boston Common, and gun answered gun. The
inenoa OF freedom felt that they had triumphed
IN the Legislature, although the one-nan power.
IN the person Of Henry J. Gardner, had well nigh
stricken them down.
Wen, gentlemen, upon the pro-savery capital
created by those two acts, the Governor of this
commonwealth fixed his eyes upon the South and
most especially on the Philadelphia Convention.
You will bear in mind, that at this time il was
supposed that Mr.. Wise was to be defeated in
vnsn,a' and then the Northern and Southern
Know NOtAins' were to unite, and form strong
na,lonai hnow Nothing party; but everybody
snusi.'0Oo' .nen' that II Mr.. Wise was elected,
me line would be broken, and Il would be. almos,
II not quite,impossible 70 make na,;on,t $3.50,
ization-that the prestige Of that orvsn,z.,ion q.
the nation would be destroyed. Wen, in ! row
days. the news came that Henry A. Wise Wa
elected Governor Of Virginia and that verv hons
Henry J. Gardner had Henry Wilson BY the bu,.
ton. Thea he remembered there was MaNss.
ehusstts. and turned his eyes from the rice Acids
and cotton plantations Iof the South, to look