Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-09-26
Why the Republican Convention did not
Nominate Governor Gardner,
SPEECH OF
RI OH A RID H. DANA, JRr
Of Cambridge at the Conpention

place, was 80 rash as to predict harmonic
GUS termination to this Convention. l rise,
in the hope that a few words from me may
tend still to secure that result. l rise for no
purpose of a personal alteration with any
man. nor for the purpose of any attack upon,
or defense of, the character of the chief mag
istrate of the commonwealth. desire to re-
spect him in his character of chief magis-
trate; but the question here is on the nomi-
nation of a candidate for the Office Of Gov
ernor by the Republican party, and the ques-
ton for us is, whether HenryJ ]. Gardner, not
as Governor of the State, but as an individ-
ual, is in such position that we can vote for
him, and whether, if he should get majori-
ty of the votes here, this Republican party
can sustain him.
l understand my friend Mr.. Brigham (Wm.
Brigham of BOSTON, to put question to Gov
ernor Gardeners friends, not as to what have
been his anti-slavery antecedents-w he
did at the United States Hotel, or elsewhere
but question perfectly Ineligible, and
which the gentleman from Boston CA. 0.
Brewster) could answer, if any man could
which lie took upon himself to answer-but
which he did not answer,-the answer to
which he did not approach. l do not say he
avoided it, in any sense that can be offensive,
but must assume, that if the gentleman did
not answer that question affirmatively it was
because he could not He had the last per-
sonal intelligence from Gov. Gardner, late
last night-it anybody could answer it, he
could. That question l had in my mind all
the while the gentleman was speaking. l
paid no attention to his defence of Gov. Gard
ner's anti-slavery position, because that was
not the question; but listened attentively,
earnestly, to hear the question put by my
friend from Boston answered; especially did
hope to hear 1t when the gentleman said he
was going to answer with entire irankness.-
l have no doubt he did: have no doubt he
told us everything he could, tending to show
that Governor Gardner is in this move
ment. Now, l assure every gentleman in
this hall, that my purpose is to ascertain that
fact.
What have you dones You have adopted
a resolve that you accept the name of the
Republican party" which has been adopted
by your neighbors in other States you have
organized yourselves into political party for
political purpose; you have appointed your
State Committees and County Committees,
and you have adopted your platform. Now
the question is, what candidate shall the Re-
publican party nominate? One class of can
didates we can put entirely out of the field;
we need not ask what their personal qualif-
cations are; we need not inquire into their
past conduct at all. We can dispense with
all inquiries into the qualifications OF men
who are not members of the Republican par
ty; and, after the speech of the gentleman
from Boston, it is a matter of demonstration,
that Coo. Gardner is not of this party 1t
was conceded by the speech of the gentleman
from Boston, that Governor Gardner is not
member of this party. He did not concede it
in terms-O, no; but he could not say that
he aeas. He was asked to say it, and we got
no response. I consider this to be a conces-
sion that he is not member of the Republi-
can party.
Well, gentlemen, one moment, and will
prove what l have said. The question is not
whether or not Gov. Gardner is an anti slave
ry man, because you know the whig party
has been an anti-slavery party, according to
their resolves, very long time. l suppose
that Gov. Washburn, of this city, will sane
ton every word of our address and resolves,
but is helm this party No. Isuppose there
are gentlemen ia the democratic party who
will sanction every word of our resolves and
address,--but are they in this party? No.
Do YOU propose to vote for them to- days No.
Well, then, gentlemen, you have spared your
selves the labor of an investigation of the
question whether Gov. Gardner is All anti
slavery man; and the gentleman from Bos-
ton need not have attempted to account for
his refusal to remove Judge Loring. These
are not the tests If he be an anti slavery
man, am glad to know it. l have known
him IN public stations for some time, and l
have known the few anti-savery men in Suf-
folk since l848 pretty intimately 81 not only
never knew him to be such, but l always
considered him mean not to say anything
against him) to be one of the most thorough
going of the supporters Of what we common.
ly call the bunker wing party of Boston.
1 may be mistaken, but if am it is very
extraordinary mistake. know it was by his
motion in the legislature that our attempt to
carry through the resolves against the fugitive
slave law was defeated. But l do not wish
10 raise thot issue. 1t is not what he was in
lS4S, 40, so, 81, or 81 that concerns us
now. If, since October, 1854, to this day, he
has been stronger anti-slavery man, [ am
very glad to hear it; but that is not the CUES
ton; SO were others in the Wing party and
in the Democratic party. The question is,
whether Governor Gardner is with us in this
movement. What evidence is there of it ,
Is there word in writing? Is there word
I in prints Not one. Is there word said in
public? Not one. Is there word whisper
ed to the ear of his confidential friend in Bos-
ton last night: Not one. lie says" l can
not think that amy man in Massachusetts,
from my antecedents, can doubt my position
on the question of slavery;" and then the
gentleman proceeds to argue that he is an
antl-slavery man from his antecedents. This
is not the question. The real question is
What has he done about this movement p.
Why, it is said that at the United States Ho-
tel in Boston, he was the first to initiate the
movement. But the name he suggested was
the american Republican party; and at the
ssoaosf of fr;ene}e he an;fb ,I,osc a,,a,, 3Bot
Now, d not understand that he is proved
to be in this party because he has sought to
initiate movement which should contain our
platform and another linked together-the
very thing we have resolved should not be-
We have decided to inaugurate, not an An,er-
ican Republican party, but Republican party.
If there is no better evidence of Governor
Gardeners being a Republican, than the fact
that he sought to be, at one time, half Repub-
lcan and half Native American. and aban-
doned that at the request of friends, and if
this is to be regarded as satisfactory, then 1
wish to know what proof such a Convention
as this is disposed to act uponf
One other thing. understand the gentle
man himself, Mr.. Brewster. is not in this
movement. | understand his speech to be a
concession of that fact. He is here, it is
true but il has been said that he has also sign
ed another call. He is here, and if it is not
80, he will spare me the trouble OF referring to
it by stating the fact
Mr.. Dana paused for a reply, but Mr..