New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-12
FROM BOSTON.
The y. Y. Tribune.

DOSION, S.Ohun!, JulJ - lOJo'
meant to have written to you long agO-but
somehow it slipped my memofy-of an untoGard
occurrence at the last meeting Of the Board Of
OverseeIs of Harvard University, which has
been carefully kept out of the newspapers, and
in fact only whispered in private among very
few of the best informed about what is going on
AZ learnt it by intuition, and can repeat it
without the slightest breach of confidence, l Will
do so because II is curious and significant sign Of
the times in Massachusetts,.
At the last meeting of the Board of Overseers
the Corporation of the University, as is usual sent
in for confirmation the names OF those on whom
they proposed 10 confer degrees at the approach
Ing commencement. Among these were the Hon.
Robert G. Winthrop and the Hon. Samuel A Eliot,
on whom il w0s proposed 10 confer the degree OF
IL ID. Mr.. Eliot, you will remember represented
Ioston in the Congress OF 1850, and roted for me
Iueitte Stare bH He is. hOweyer,a most worthy
and respectable gentleman, and jealous friend
TO the College which he faithfully and gratuitOus-
ly served as Treasurer for long series of years.
Men much inferior to himself iii standing and merit
have obtained the degree of Ii. ID. from Harvard
College without the slightest difficulty. major
ity, however, of the Oyerseers are pestilent Abo-
6tiopists who never forget and seldom forgive.
Mr.. Winthrop is no friend to the FreeSolers, but
then on the other hand he was still less the friend
of Mr. Webster and the Unon-savers. He was
confirmed, therefore, without opposition, while
MI Eliot was mercilessly voted down. Nothing
could save him. Character, standing, respectable
ity services to the College, all went for nothing
when Get off against the fact that he had voted for
the Fugitive Slave bill Even Authorization,
even the fact that he was chairman OF meeting
in Faneuil Hall last year. which denounced the re.
peal Of the Missouri Compromise aud talked
strongly sgainst the extension OF Slavery did not
avail The AbolitiOnists would not relent.
As soon as Mr. Eots friends in the Board Of
Oyerseers recovered from their CONSERVATION at
this unexpected and Unprecedented result they
very naturally sought TO hush up the matter by
proposing vote Of secrecy, binding each overseer
not TO disclose the names Of persons proposed for
degrees OF cOuIfe no enc would oppose such
propostion and il passed. The 0verseers have
since then kept very close, but in these days OF
spiritual communications things will leak out, you
know, in the most unaccOuntable way. L am
really sorry for Mr. Eliot, who well deserved his
degree for his services 10 the University, and
would not mention matter SO unpleasant TO his
friends. only that think the country ought 10 know
how fanafical we have become in Massachusetts,
ard how vigorously the dominant party persecutes
Union-saver who is so unlucky as 10 fall into
their power. They cannot, however, rob Dir. Ehot
of the proud satisfaction of feeling that his namels
forever enrolled in that glorious ist OF patriots ana
| rfx
| and the Constitution in 1850, and gave lasting
peace to the Republic by finally suppressing the
agitation Of the Slavery question What is the title
/ OF l. ID. 10 man possessed Of such enn0bIng re-
/ collections
! The political parties, OF what is left Of them,
/ are moving ia tie matter OF State Conventions.
| The Democratic State Committee have called
/ theirs Tor the 10th OF September think. won't
/ be positive about the date, for really it's Of so
| little consequence what they do thatl haynt cared
t. charge my memory with so useles burden.
| Tiey talk OF nominating for Governor Whiting
! GIswold Of Greenfield llr Griswold is law
yer, a man OF talent, and now stralght-out
| HuIker. Two years ago be was a CoalitlOnlst in
very close alliance WIKI the Free Sellers. He was
a State Senator at that time, and voted for Per-
scusl Liberty bill, not essentially different from
| our present law. His chances Of election are so
III al that il is scarcely worth while 70 pursue his
/ history any further.
Tomorrow the Something's held their
| Convention az Worcester. IL is an attempt TO
| head oh the Know NOthings, which | hope Will
! succeed, though dOub, if it will liberal and
Reasonable platform will be promulgated embrac-
nr.pn national topics, that which was lately put
fsrfh Of Cleveland. The project Of calling gen.
eIal Convention Of a persons opposed to the Ne
brasls bill will be discussed Ii the call Is not Is
sued il Will be for the good reason that had better
! cone from some other quarter. an assured that
the kpow-Somethings will heartily cooperate IN .
| general movement on an Anti-Slayery basis, nc
| matter who originates il.
! / observe that in THE TRIBUNE of Saturday, IL
| commenting on the recent action of the Massachu
setts Knew Nothings, You ask: Why should OLD
party leaders be consulted at all What righ
have these few gentlemen to stand II the way