Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-06-23
General Wilson's Letter-Mrs Banks
Republican Nomination. sc.

Wmns, and published, without note or comment,
few days since, the letter Of General Wilson, in
defence Of the course pursued by himself, last
Autumn, at the State Convention, in the matter
Of giving up the Republican State organization to
the Know Nothings, and virtually yielding with
out a struggle, the government of the State again
into the hands of Governor Gardner and his dark
lantern coadiutoIs; but when we did this, we
hardly expected that the Generals purpose was
to make political capital for himself or others, by
which similar trades could be justified in the fu.
tnre, as well as apologized for in the past.
Had we been disposed to make any comments
upon the letter Of Mr.. Wilson, at that time, we
should have stated, as the very best that could
possibly be offered, the fact that Mr.. Wilson has
himself declared to US and to others that he was
satisfied. as things turned, that his course upon
that occasion was mistake, land we doubt not
that there are hundreds in the State Who have
hcardhim make similar confession,) and there
we would have left subject SO odious to all class
es of the people, except the trading politicians
who profted. or thought they profted by the in
famous truck and dicker operations then and
there carried on at the expense of the Republican
cause and the Republican organization.
But Mr.. Wilson does US great Injustice when
he takes us 20 task for commenting with great
severity upon his motives and conduct" upon
that occasion. We are quite sure that he, at
least, has reason to complain of our criticisms,
for the course pursued by him in that disgraceful
surrender to the insolent and arrogant demands Of
the dark lantern party, was so white, pure and
immaculate, that we have always felt disposed to
drop over it the mantle of oblivion. when we have
contrasted it with the course pursued by Mr..
Banks.
We have always maintained, and do now main
tain, that the infamous dicker with the Know
Nothings, in which Mr.. Banks figured SO con-
spicuously, was one of the most disgraceiul pro-
ceedings ever witnessed in any assemblage of the
people Of Massachusetts, Mr.. Wilson never ad.
vised the Republican Convention TO debase itself
any lower TO the dark lantern party than to re-
frain from nominating State ticket against the
Gardner nominations, but Mr.. Banks would have
had them not only not make no nomination, but
even to adopt the miserable dark-lantern ticket
(with Governor Gardner at its head,) which was
nominated at another Convention across the
street, and in which he took an active and con-
spicuous part.
The disgusting exhibition of a mercenary pol.
itcian selling out his party to insure his own re.
election to Congress, by the votes of another par
ty the unblushing audacity with which was play
ed the desperate game, for the spoils, with the
''you tickle me and I'll tickle YOU" in two
Conventions, Of two different parties, upon oppo-
site sides ofthe street, and the insolent and ar
rogant effrontery with which he attempted to
crowd Governor Gardner and the rest of the Know
Nothing State ticket down the throat of the Re-
publican party, will not soon be forgotten by us
or the thousand or twelve hundred other Repub.
licans who present from all parts of the State
to witness it. To Mr.. Banks is due all the odium
which attaches to this past year of Know Nothing
misrule in Massachusetts. But for the cours
pursued BY him, the dark-lantern party would
have become, ere this, thing Of the past alto
gether its council fires would have gone out, its
lodges would have been abandoned and honest
men would have filed the offices of the Common
wealth Upon him, more than upon all other men
in the State rests the dreadful responsibility of
placing Henry ]. Gardner again in the chair of
State, and breathing anew the breath of life into
aparty, which has infused the poison Of its own
Eeeking corruption, into almost every department
Of the government, which has emptied the treasu-
~ to reward its profigate minions, and placed upon
the necks Of the people burden of taxation too
grievousto be borne in patience.
Through the influence of NJ P. Banks. thus
successfully exerted to make Gov. Gardner Gov.
ernOr for third time, and place his party again
In power, that slave-hunting commissioner, Judge
Loring, still disgraces the bench of the Judge Of
Probate, in defiance of the laws of the Common.
wealth, and the wishes of the people, as express
ed BY their representatives in General Court as
Semblsd, in two successive sessions of the Leeis-
lature through him, in defiance of tine wishes of
the people, was the aid Of the State withheld
from the suffering freemen Of Kanzas, in their
time of need; and through him were the wishes
Of the Legislature thwarted in other benefcent
schemes, calculated to promote the honor of the
State, and the happiness and welfare of the mass
es Would to Heaven, that, in view of this black
and damning record Of results which have been
the legitimate fruit of his last years barpainines
Mr.. Banks could stand up before the people Of
Massachusetts, and exclaim, in the words Of the
conscience stricken king, when confronted with
the witnesses of his guilt but with more Of truth.
Thou eanst not say did it." But he cannot
do SO. The memory Of that transaction, and the
o~~ ASeN'ee Va H. WiiA SLICK 10 MIN ike the pOis-
oned shirt Of Nessus. The &c damned spot'' will
not 'out," at his bidding, unless, with repent-
ance Tor the PAST, there shall be the promises and
the pledges Ofistraighter doings for the future.
In presenting this brief summary Of soma - ,ho
reasons why Mr.. Banks is NOT the man ~ ON,
choice, as the Republican candidate for Govern.
or in thus opening to our readers some Of tho
grounds for our distrust Of him as public man,
to whom we could always look with con6dencein
all emergencies that may arise-we would not he
understood as desiring to shut the door of prefer
nent against him in all future time. As there i
said to be " more joy in Heaven over one sinner
that rePenteth, than over ninety and nine lust
persons" 50 we would have the same principle
apply in earthly affairs, and SO would there he
more JOY among the electors of Massachusetts. at
tnls nour, II Mr.. Banks should take a pos,top
,''''lo4s q1'o6'e, that would show his contritop
Tor the past, than if ninety and nine common 1T
hueal trlmmers had come to the ssttlsd 49,.
mination to pursue "the honest coursa !, ~ i.
for the public good, instead of exnsna;.. -, ~
energies IN secret schemes Of private ady.n,.,.~
m With regard TO the nomination to ho 49,
Wednesday,we have seen no reason TO ~ aras. ~
position, taken in the opening Of the causs.s1
and rigidly adhered to ever sinca. W. ~ e-'
made, and shall make, no factious oppos;,;o- y.
Mr.. Banks, but he must come fairly and sona,o,s
on the Republican platform. II ha ,yo,ia