New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-14
FROM BOSTON.
From Our Own Correspondrnt.

inc hfpuDnctn fntnlDtTS vi tDo LtBisi"'u''
have issued call for Republican State
Convention TO meet at Boston on the ga
of this month, at 7 o'clock in the evening
for the purpose, the call declares OF choo'-
ing a State Committee for the present year
and to take steps to concentrate and organize the
political sentiment of the State opposed 10 inc
further Extension Of Slavery, and also 10 CONSIDER
the condition Of our State finances and initiate
movement for retrenchmcnt and reform IN State
expenses. The Convention Il to consist OF the Re
publican members Of the Legislature, and Of dele
oates from the cities and towns which are not repre-.
sented by Republicans in the Legislature. The call
is signed by Henry Nose, Nel0rus Taft, y. Hinck-
lev and Wendell r. Davis, Executive Committee Of
the Republican Members Of the Legislature. aud by
J. Il. Goodrich, Chairman Of the Republican State
Committee. With the exception Of Mr.. Goodrich
none of these gentlemen are of much note poit
cally they generally known to the people Of
the State No explanation has been given to the
public Of the necessity Of such Convention called
at such an unusual period and in such an unusual
manner. State Conventions in Massachusetts have
hitherto been held in the Fall or late in the Sum-
ncr, at the beginning Of the annual political cam
paign when public attention is turned to political
questions, and when public opinion in the yari-
Gus parties has, to some degree, formed and
manifested itself. Our Conventions alsO have
always been held in open daylight, with ample
time before them for discussion and consideration.
A State Convention at O'Clock in the evening is a
phenomenon heretofore unheard Of in Mas,a-
Chusetts The reason, | presume, for selecting
such an hour is that the Hall Of the House of Rep
resetatiyes in which the Convention is to be held,
will be occupied for Legislative purposes during the
day; and the Republican members Of the Legisla-
ture who apparently are to form the bulk OF the
Convention, will also during the day be occupied
with their proper duties But this assumption by
the members Of the Legislature of the functions Of
State Convention is innovation in our politics OF
very questionable prOprety. Alter residence Of
three four months in Boston, the members Of the
Legislature Of any political party are extremely La
bic to have their views and opinions seriously af-
fected by the views and opinions Of the Boston
leaders Of the party. They do not and cannot
therefore, so well represent even their own cOnst
uents delegates drawn fresh from the people
would do. Again to guard against intrigues and
tactious combinations and to get as fair and full
representation possible of the popular will, the
delegations to our state Conventions have always
been summoned on basis so large that in the State
Of Ncw-York, on the same basis, State Conyen-
ton Of any party would comprise upward OF
three thousand delegates. In Massachusetts
the number authorized to be sent has
been usually ten or twelve hundred. But
at the proposed Convention of which | am writ
ing, the number Of members will be but three or
four hundred, unless the towns that are not rep
resented by Republicans in the Legislature be
allowed to send an unlimited number Of del
egaes. The call ncglects to specify on what
basis such towns are to choose their repre-
sentatiyes to the Conventions And many of
the towns are represented in the Legislature by
more than one Representative some OF whom are
Republicans and some not, while other towns
are represented by gentlemen whose party afhnities
are not clearly detincd-in some cases that Know
Of not even clear to themselycs-it is obvious that
great confusion will prevail i'll the primary elections
and that, III the end the Convention will be really
in the hands Of the members Of the Legislature and
tley as have already intimaed, by their long resi-
dence in Boston, subject to its peculiar Influences,
and by their esprit dU corps are to some extent I'M
fitted to represent the people as State Convention.
TO pass from the composition OF the Convention
to its objects: The prominent one held out Is to
choose Il State Committee for the present year.
Now, the Republican party already has State Com
mttee chosen at the State Convention last year, and
empowered to act till the end Of the present political
YEAR In fact, the call for this proposed Convention
is signed by Mr.. Goodrich as Chairman OF the Re
publican State Committee. Why should Convcn-
ton now be called to choose another Committee
The custom of the Free-Soil, Democratic and Amer
lean parties was to choose their respective State
Convention for the nomination Of State officers.
The custom Of the Wing party was to let the Wing
members Of the Legislature choose the State Com
mitee-a bad practice, which always resulted III a
Committee chosen under undue influence from B0s-
ton. The present movement looks like an attempt
to revive the obsolete Wing method and iear the
result will be the same. AT all events am conll-
dent that on close inspection cats tail or paws WIN
be- seen sticking out from the heap Of meal which Is
being piled up for exploitation on the 22d inst, at
O'Clock D. H.; though what the animal is after Is
more than | can conjecture.
The result of the Kalloch trial with the public is
very much us il was with the Jury-oplnlon Is d.
vidrd So far as can judge, the majority OF those
best capable Of forming an opinion from the pub
shed evidence think him guilty. 1t is greatly In
his favor however, that those who know him per-
souall, are almost unanimous in belief Of his inno-
cence He certainly makes highly favorable i'm
preston on all who approach him. He is hand
some man, with frank, open, manly countenance,
distinguished bearing, and unquestonabk high
intellectual powers. His dcmcanor during the trial
was admirable, and must have helped him very
much with tho Jury. II is pity that man so
gifted and so yOung-he is but 25-shOuld have his
prospects in lie utterly blasted by what If ne be
innocent was the basest of SANDER; and, II he be
guilty. was perhaps only Il momentap impulse OF
passion.
An absurd statement is in circulation in the news
papers that an attempt was made to garrote
Professor Bowen at Cambridge one night last week.
The story is canard, which originated in joke.
The learned Professor in the exercise of that agree
able freedom i'll matters of dress which prevails at
Cambridge, has been in the habit of wearing pecu-
ler-ookng cap which, for some reason or other, OK
cited an intense degree of interest among portion
the students, who finally determined 10 get posses
sion Of it-peaceably il they could, tOrcby If they
must. Several strategic attempts at lis capture
having failed, opportunity WAS taken one dark night
when the Professor was picking his way honeward
through the Colege-yard from Faculty meeting, to