The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-08
VOL. XII.
BOSTON CORRESPONDENCE.
STATE OF P0LITIcs-MR BANKS AND MP
GARDNER REPUBLICANIsM- KNOW MOTH
INGIsM, &c.

AOA 0uo An'oShitJ Vi Tue nepuDhcan movement
1t perplexes the anxious citizen here, who has
well.deined ideas of civil duty, and is not dis.
posed to allow himself to be the subject or
trade, like stock in the market. Iteuually par.
plexes that class, large in every community.
and no smaller in Massachusetts, than elso.
where, who mean to vote, if possible, with the
winning side. This number is unusually LARGE
at the present time.
There are no strong currents of feeling, evan
among many of Antislavery sympathes, and
what enthusiasm might have existed has been
deadened by the perverseness of the leaders.
While the distance Of the next Presidential
election increases the lukewarmness, no fears
are entertained of the Administration partv
which is sure to fall both behind B .nks ana
Gardner. The supporter OF Fremont las,
year finds it difficult to choose between then,
on the score of professions. Both profess to b,
opposed to the slave-extending policy of tie
Administration, both protest their Know Moth.
ingism as a cherished part of their political
creed, both supported Fremont last year and
but for Mr. Bsnks's great exertious, Gardner
would not have been made Governor last an.
tumn. His administration the present wear
has been harmonious with his past course. and
in this respect has received the endorsement or
Mr.. Banks. Under these circumstances. II e
not strange that the Fremont vote should r..
divided between two candidates whose position.
are so similar. The consequence ia, that the p.
suit is doubtful. Mr.. Bsnks's supporters *.
press great confidence in their success, and Mr.
Gardner's express equal confidence and intel.
ligent men, not enlisted for either, are inclined
to be cautious in giving an opinion, though al
present the preponderance of opinion Is IN
favor of Gardner's election. Suffolk. Essex
and Norfolk, will give Gardner considerable
majorities, while Mr.. Banks may expect hand
some majorities in Worcester, Franklin, aud
perhaps Middlesex.
Throughout the Republican party, great in.
difference prevails towards Mr. Banks. Most
of the energetic workers of past years will lend
him merely nominal support, while many
Republicans, whose fidelity to the Anti.Shy5r7
cause has been tried for years, will not y5,e
for him at ALL
The reason for this prevalent feeling is, that
Mr.. Banks refuses to acknowledge himself
Republican; and while endeavoring to stand
between the Republican and American parties,
he endeavors to engrRft on the former the odious
policy of the latter. Last year, he attended
both the Republican and American State Con.
ventions. In the Republican Convention, he
labored by persuasion aud brow beating to force
the Republicans to adopt Gardner as their can.
didate for Governor. In this he failed but he
brought about such a condition of things that
the Convention made no nomination at all.
Last year the golden opportunity offered itself
Of consolidating the antislavery sentiment of
the State into triumphant Republican party.
That party, in this State, had sent the delegates
to Philadelphia who aided in nominating Ere
mont. 1t had all the prestige of that move
ment on its side, as well as the prevailing en-.
thusiasm for Kansas. The Know Nothing issue
had been entirely excluded from the canvass.
Under these circumstances, victory was offered
to US, and all we had to do was to accept It.
Gen. Wilson was at first in favor of regular
nomination by the Republican party, until his
good intentions were overcome by men Of less
virtue but more steadiness of purpose than
himself. Gen. Wilson has as noble nature as
ever came from the hands of the Creator, but
he is as unstable as water. Instead of carrying
out the honest suggestions of his own heart he
allows himself to become a mere agent in exc
cutting the plans of Mr.. Banks. His weakness
in this respect, which led him last year to bring
all his influence to induce the Republican party
to surrender to Gardner, has already done inf.
mite harm, and may yet lose him his own election.
To Mr.. Banks, Gov. Gardner ownes his election
of last year; and if reelected this year, it will
be "the mischief returning to plague the in.
ventor.P There is not a sound argument in
favor of Gardeners election which existed then,
that does not exist now. His policy has been
Just what Mr.. Banks and Gen. Wilson knew it
would be. He has prescribed all Republicans
from office, and they knew be would do it. He
refused TO remove Loring, and they knew he
would do it. he vetoed the Kansas appropria-
ion, and they knew he would do it. There are
some anti-slavery supporters of Gardner this
year, who retort this on the Banks men. Thus
Hon. Simon Brown, who was a candidate on
he same ticket with Rockwell in 1855, now
supports Gardner. Last year, he was earnestly
opposed to the course which Messrs. Banks and
Wilson advocated-of nominating or acques-
'ing In Gardner. This year, he seems inclined
% pay them in their own coin. In his letter to
\ Gardner mass-meeting, he says:
" shall vote myself for Gov Gardner, and
f / have any influence in the matter, shall
sxert it to secure his election. He was urged
upon the suffrages of our people last year, by
hose who now lead the Republican ranks, they
well understanding that he would be governed
BY the principles laid down in the Springfield
platform, in the administration of the affairs of
he Commonwealth. If they SOere correct then,
hey are tcrong noio, and their opposition, Il
'eerns to me, becomes one of policy, and not Of
principle"
The only apology made last year in favor Of
GARDENERS nomination by the Republicans, was
hat it was necessary to carry the State for
Fremont This was entirely groundess There
vas never the least doubt among sensible men,
rom the day the campaign opened, as to the
result; and if there had been, it was removed
ong before the meeting Of the Republican
State Convention. 1t was also freely stated
hat GARDENERS nomination was required in
other States. 1t is well known that his nomi.
nation was deemed prejudieial to the cause at
1t the West; and Whatever outside opinion in
avor of it may have existed it is believed, was
by our own delegation in Con.
gress, who, upon their return from Washing
.on, were instant in season and out OF season
in insisting that Gardner should continue Gov
ernor another year. The return of this delega-
ion was really the cause Of Gsrdner's being
forced on the Republicans. With the excep-
ion of Banks and Burlingame, not one Of
hem was marked man. Some Of them have
recently shown their want of sympathy for the
Free State cause. On the vote to admit Min.
1esota into the Union, three of them, Traitor,
Jomins, and Davis, 1.-THE last has recently
touched for Mr.. Banks's Anti-Slavery and
Americauism,) voted with the slave State rep