The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-14
Our Boston correspondence.
BOSYON. Jan. &. 1860.

! naocrdcy, de-, dc.
Unable, numerically, to cope with their political
adversaries, apparently tired of the monotony Of
UNMARRIED defeat and believing inaction to be nglo-
rious, the Bay State democracy seem to have given
themselves up to intermDabe intestine ouarrels
If they fought abolitionsm with 1.-THE of the per
| sstance with which they assai each other they
could reduce, after telling fashion, the maortes
with which Governor Banks is annually comiorted,
as he deposits his not over huge frame in his well
| cushioned gubernatoral chair. The coalition Of
lS50-'62, which sent Charles Sumner for the first
time to the United States Senate, has been, as il
deserved to be- the most fruitful source of the con.
tentions among the faithful causing just such d.
vision between the old line National "hunkers and
the free soil democrats, as arose in New York with
the Van Buren, heresy of ls4s. The remains of the
rump of the democratic portion Of this old coali-
ton have contrived to enliven political matters
here for the moment by o warfare upon Mr.. Col
lector Austin. The quarrel is an old one,
though some new people are involved in
its agreeable changes Any one believing in
the value of party history will be interested in this
episode in Massac husetts politics.
The copartnership-s dishonest as to weaken
all confidence in the existence of political integri-
| ty, and monstrous enough to appear impossible
between the leaders Of the free soil and democratic
parties, in 1850, made distinguishing era in the
political history of Massachusetts,. The followers
OF each party had regarded those of the other as
their very antipodes, in fact, great part of the
eectioneering capital of both seemed to be denun-
citation and sometimes abuse Of each other. How
such parties could act cordially together was rid
die, to be solved only by thoughtful regard Of con-
sideratons no more solid than power and place.
Generally the democracy of the country looked
upon the idea of such combination with wonder,
dislike and contempt. AT that time majority vote
was required to elect State officers in Massacbu-
sets, and neither of the three parties in the field
| could, unaided, throw an absolute majority of
| the votes cast at any election. The wings for a
long time, led by their natural affection for here
tics, had enjoyed a monopoly of free soil support
But the ambitious abolition wings, of the Henry
/ Wilson stamp, finding at last that they were
sagaciously used by their friends to elect
more respectable men 10 Office, having every
thing to gain and nothing to lose, became
! unreasonably FESTIVE, and were ready to make
oyertures to receive offers from their democratic
opponents. Long years OF hope deferred had al
| most sickened the democratic heart shut ont by
| the election of Taylor from federal as well as Sta e
spols, and the djsafiection OF the abolition allies of
| the wings found them very glad Of an opportunity
| TOR any kind of profitable trade. The bargain
was room struck. The wings were taken from their
| strongholds and delivered, bound hand and foot to
| the enemy. The spos were divided and 'honors
| were easy" The parties to this nice bit OF bust
ness Were az the representatives OF the free s0lers
| Henry Wilson and George 5, Boutwell,, N. z. Banks
| d Go. from the democrats. The offices to obtain
which these patterns Of political purity united heir
| energies were two teIu.s in the United States Sc
nate one full and one short, and the State Offices.
| The free, soilers were willing 10 allow the demo-
Gratis the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, a ma
jot;y OF the Council, with all the Offices directly in
| the gift Of the Governor They could also have the
short Senatorial term while the free soers prefer
| red 10 take the long term in the Senate and
| the lesser share OF the State Offices. The plot
WAS good plot, very specious and very
cally one. The darling object Of the abolitionsts
| Was To place Charles Sumner--an ultra free soier
and preacher Of glitteriog. ilusive and quite
maudn philosopby-in the United States Senate,
| 10 succeed Daniel Webster, and thus wreak their
vengeance on the great statesman of Massachu.
seits Every important place, but that Of the long
term in Tie senate, they were willing TO give to
| then new and needy political allies. The prizes
were too great temptation for poor political hu-
| man nature The game was well played, and those
connected with it can look upon the result with
pride and establishment, but il was a blow at the
integrity OF the democratic party, and was doubt
| less one OF the most important of the agencies
| which have fibally effected the dismembermepJ and
| decentralization Of almost the entire democracy Of
| the North.
At this time, it is well known, there was pow
| erful though Inadequate minority in the demo.
| cratic party which did not bow the knee to this
| new Baal There Were set OF "indOmables" of
single minded, straight forward. honest democrats
who felt no desire TO trade their political birth
| right for mess Of coalition pottage. They
! fought the whole nefaIiOus plot from the begin
ning 10 the end in State Convention and in
county ana LOWE cancus, npsucceatnlly a. first, but
| tIlpmphantIy ~ last, although mischief per-
perated thar Is not yet repaired. Among the lead
ers OF this opposition to the coalition was Arthur
| W. Austin, ana with him associated such men
| as f. II. Beach, $. j. Bradford. Fl. n. Childs, VIM.
h. ParmeDter, B. l.. Wales Ezra Wilkinson, s. &.
Bemis, and oihertrue men in different parts of the
| State. BY this opposition Mr.. Austin acquired the
bitter hostility of the parties to the measure which
| remains 10 the present day. Against the efforts
! Of many of the best and leading democrats, the
| primary meetings and conventions were so managed
as to form coalition tickets for State Senator'S in
almost every county in the State. Their election
was supportedby the Boston Post, the leading de-
| mocratic organ in the State. But when Messrs.
| Greene and Hallett saw the probable result Of the
election Of such politician as Charles Sumner to
the United States Senate, after that work had been
performed by the November elections OF that year,
| they, as John Randolph would say, "got frightened
| 81 their own doughfaces," and besonght Mr.. Brad
ford to write letter to the members of the Legis-
lature to warn them agains Mr. Summers elevation
| MIR. Bradford, Mr.. Austin and others were con-
| stantly and actively engaged in endeavOring TO
! procure the defeat of Mr. Sumner: But he pre-
| the reflection that they were not only without
sin in the matter, but that the election
| was carried against all their endeavors,
prayers, admonitions and prote stations. Boutwell,
| was elected Governor. Originally free soil wing,
he joined the democrats in the time of PRECEDENT
Won Buren, and was rewarded therefor with the
Postmasiership Of Groton. MIR. Wilson did not
lind any hard work in dealing with him. The few
days remaining of Mr. Webster's term-his seat
having been vacated for place in the national
Cabinet, and then filed until the assembling Of the
Legislature by the appointment of r. g. Winthrop
by Governor Briggs-were given to Robert Ran
toni, Jr, who subsequently supported the coalition
in Congress by speech, ia which he iaveighed
against the Fugitive Slave law, and who was shut
out Of the Baltimore Convention of 1852 as free
soiler, though there his claims were defended by
republican Commissioner Nye, of New York,
and General James s. Whitney, of Springfield,
Mass. This latter gentleman was firm friend of
Banks, in those days, and it is whispered, by those
who are supposed TO be posted" that through the
influence OF the Little Iron Man., while Speaker