Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-03-18

The latest political trick of His Excellency,
and the one most characteristic of his ambi-
tions and interruptions propensities,i is seen in
the attempt which the Governor is now put.
ting forth, to get himself elected U. s. Sena-
tor at the present session of the Legislature
To be sure, such an act would be in the face
OF all precedent, but what of that The main
thing with his Excellency is, to procure for
himself snug berth for the ensuing six years,
after Massachusetts, has done with him. Ac-
cordingly, feelers have been put out to see
how the thing would take; the Governor, with
his usual sagacity. not daring to risk the at
tempt, without ascertaining beforehand what
kind Of a sensation SO audacious move
would be likely to create in the community
Well,haying witnessed the opposition which
i has encountered on all hands, ii is hoped that
on that score, if not from sense of principle,
the proposition will now be abandoned. 10
make the matter plain and beyond all perad-
venture, as to the unparalleled audacity of so
brzen-faced an attempt on the part of Gov.
Gardner and his friends, thus to seek his
promotion against ali precedent, the Boston
Atlas publishes statement, by Ashbury
Dickens, Clerk of the United States Senate,
made in 1858, to Mr. Gwinn of Cafornia,
who anticipated the same kind of trick now
talked of, his term not expiring till 1885, the
sessions Of the Legislature there, as here, be-
Ing annual. Mr.. Dickens says that he has
examined the records of the Senate and other
means of information, as far back as the very
first session of the Senate, in 1880, and he
finds that I" in every instance where, before
the expiration of a Senatorial term, a Senator
has been elected for the ensuing term, he has
been elected at the session of the State Legis-
lature next preceding the commencement of
such term" Such being the case, and the
matter being thus settled by invariable Gus.
tom, which ought to have the force of posi-
tive law, it is very probable that Senator,
elected by the present Legislature, would be
promptly sent home by the body of which he
pretended to be member. Such fraud
would meet with very prompt rebuke So
it is hoped that the attempt has received
final quietus. The Atlas has the following
further illustration of the Gwinn case 80
In 1853, the Legislature of California was
opposed to Mr.. Gwinn at that time one of
the Senators Of that State. and an intrigue
was started for taking advantage of this fact
by choosing successor, although his term did
not expire till two years afterwards, and the
Legislature was chosen annually. At the
same time, it was reported at Washington
that the Legislature of New York, which was
friendly to Mr.. Seward, proposed to anticipate
the expiration of his term, and make choice
Of him for the succeeding term. Under these
circumstances, a conference took place be.
tween Mr.. Gwinn and Mr.. Seward, which we
are authorized to report,in the course Of which
Mr.. Seward declared that according to his
knowledge,no instance had occurred Of Sem
ator taking his scat under such circumstances
that, in his opinion, Senator thus chosen
would not be entitled to a seat; that, for him
self he would not sit by virtue of such a
choice and that he was ready to make this
declaration nc once, In open Senate, in order
TO arrest in advance any such idea, either In
New York or California. The intrigue in
Caliilnia exploded, and the whole affair sub
sided But the incident may be considered in
the nature Of precedent As we have re.
iefred TO Mr.. Seward, we mention that what
he said in 1903, he says now.