The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-08
NO. 562.

s-biican, was nominated in the eleventh dis
-, and beat Mark Trafton, American, by
. l00 plurality In the ninth district, Eli
1I.aver. Republican, was elected over Alex
oder De Witt, American, by $500 plurality.
/, Barnstable county, the Republicans refused
- mite with the Americans, and elected their
~, county officers. Tins, wherever the Re-
Onbr;csns stood alone, they triumphed, and
~ victories show how utterly without founda-
ton was the plea that the nomination of a Re-
,nbTcan ticket by the Republican rarty would
+ rBinous to the Republican cause. The in
e5aTtv of the Republican leaders, in forcing
carsner upon us, have had other remote con-
..ouences not less disastrous than those which
;r,oedately appear. 1t destroyed, or weaken
II rhere it did rot entirely destroy, attachment
:, the party No party can long sustain itself,
,-L;ch does not cultivate an esprit de corps
.r,ong its members, and make them attached
- the organic alton and name as well as to its
rr;rc;pleg. To do this, it must make its NOM
lions resrlarly and sustain them, come VIC
a., or come defeat. There is no longer any
srachment to the Republican party in Massa-
cbrsetts. One year it makes no nomination,
ar3 popliedly invites its members to vote for the
n,minee of hostile party which abhors its
n,neiplee This year it dominates q candi-
fa,e who will not avow his Republicsnism, and
luus
,a,kss. Can such a party ever maintain the
s laChment OF Its own members, or the respect
q. Us opponents?
The opposition to Mr.. Banks, or the Repub-
bean party, which is greater in energy and the
thence it exerts than in numbers, arrays
elf against him on the ground that he is not
Pspubcan, but as much an American as a
Republican, and therefore no more entitled to
H.. monort of Republicans than Gardner.
TIE Republican Convention was called last
..,;og. 70 meet at Worcester on June Oath.
her this Convention was called, portion of
the Americans who supported Fremont, and, for
rs-,ain reasons more personal than political,
sled Convention, to meet at Worcester, on
I;ns l6. eight days in advance OF the Repub
Loan Convention. Mr.. Banks has been charged
V..h completely in this movement to anticipate
H. Republican Convention. This American
Convention nominated Mr.. Banks, numerous
.cambers protesting that he was member of
~. American party, and in full sympathy with
= usinc;vlcs. 1t passed resolution, declaring
81 ts unwavering adherence to the principles
.pnnciated in the Springfield PLATFORM" and
that Z" il would nominate and support as cand-
datas for office those men only who endorse
ttose princiJles" The nomination was tender
q 10 Mr. Banks the same day by commit
t.a. % whom he was reported by them to have
expressed his concurrence in American doc.
trnes. as declared in the Springfield platform.
Tse next day he wrote formal acceptance of
lie nomination In the original draught, he
lated that he thanked the Convention. all the
.9r. for the honor. because he pas member
II aaother organization. This was deemed un-
..,isrlctory to the Americans, and this clause
sag stricken out by Mr.. Banks before the letter
sss finally delivered up by him. In the pub
..hed letter, after stating that he had sop
yosed with earnestness the policy of the Sla-
very Propagandists," he says
II have as earnestly opposed that policy
Al p,ad by the mass of foreign voters, or by
hose who for sinister purposes seek to direct
their political power, with view to the control
O.; our elections or to direct in important mat
IRIS the policy of the Government itself. Upon
his subject my record is open, and my convic-
ions unchanged; and | am ready now, as here
,olJre, TO concur with the people of Massachu
sells in every jast measure that shall tend to
diminish this unnatural influence, and to re-
store to the American People the full share of
power aud direction which was designed for
them by the trainers of this Government"
He was now the candidate of section of
the American party, and had committed himself
to its peculiar policy. He had done all that
auy man could do to make himself member
oft. Under these circumstances, 1t was dlffi-
calt to see how the Republican party could go
beyond its own members for candidate, and
nominate Mr.. B anks, without losing it's selfre-
spect, az well as the confidence of the public,
and violating the integrity of its organization.
Nevertheless, at the Republican Convention
Of June oath there were many delegates deter
mined 70 nominate Mr. Banks, no matter who
oc what be was, with what party he affiliated,
or whether or no. he was q Republican.
There was another class, constituting the
majority of the Convention, who were in favor
orMr. Banks's nomination, provided he accepted
II upon the Philadelphia platform, and as a
member Of the Republican party. OF these,
there were too many who we're open to be gull
FL by smooth and cunning words. Mr.. Burlin-
game who, by the way, secured Gardeners NOM
nation by the Know Nothings in 1854, made
one of bis enthusiastic speeches, protesting that
AT. Banks YVES Republican, and declared OF
L.ln. IL he is not nominated by you, he will
withdraw from the canyass. Ii be is nomina-
ted, he will accept upon the Philadelphia plat
form" These assurances prevailed on Judge
Allen and some leading men, by whose iutu-
elce the nomination of Mr.. Banks was carried
By handsome majority-a large number OF
delegates, however, protesting against it, and
refusing 10 make it unanimous. But the Con-
vention, in order to prevent Mr.. Banks running
as an American, and to secure his acceptance
a. a Republican, and nothing else, passed this
Is It's first resoiuion
Resolred. That the Republican Party of
Massachusetts adheres with uuwavering fidelity
10 the Philadelph Platform; that it recog-
nises those principles as the only test of politi-
ca fellowship, and will support no candidates
fer public office who do not, heartily, unequiv.
ocaliy, and in good faith, subscribe to those
-. III. 49,.
mount object of political action"
Some Eve days later Mr.. Banks's letter of
acceptance appeared. He declared in it his
opposition to the extension of Slavery, or the
increase of its political power, and promised, if
elected, TO make every exertion to meet the
.,ast expectations of the Convention, but what
expectations he considered ".just," he left in
doubt. He was careful to avoid any allusion
TO the Philadelphia platform, or, in the lam
guage Of the resolution of the Republican Con-
vention, 10 heartily, unequivocally, and in
good faith, subscribe to It's principles, and &C.
kdowedge them as the paramount object of po-
liGeel action" BE thus did not accept the
nomination upon the conditions on which it
was rendered. This he could not do, as he had
already accepted the nomination Of, and allied
himself with, q party which makes nativism
60 equal If not more important issue than Sla-
very; aud, furthermore, one clause Of the Phil
sdelphia platform contains q protest against
the proscriptive dogmas of Know Nothingism,
10 which Mr. Banks has subscribed.
After MIR. Banks's nomination by both Con.
vehtions. o Mass Banks Ratification Meeting
was called, to meet at Worcester The cal
was che ofthe most peculiar that was ever made
for political meeting. 1t invited the partici
patton of ell in favor of Mr.. Banks's election
'oitloR distinction Of political creed OF or
gmizztioa." Thus, if man was in favor