Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-09
The Conservative Movement.

AhS yesterday look
the public by surprise, by nominating for gov
ernor, Gen. Charles Devens, worthy gentle
man and an excellent soldier, now serving
with the army of the Potomac. We have too
high an opinion of the good sense and single
minded devotion of Gen. Devens, to suppose
that he was party to this use of his name
Parson BrownlOw recently, IN one of his en-
ergetlc appeals to the country took occasion to
protest against having ''eycry other brigadier-
general In the army a candidate for political
ONCE Gen. Devens, we hope, is sufficiently
awake to the duties of his station to appre-
ciate the wisdom of the caution thus ex-
pressed, and sufficiently earnest in the dis
charge of those duties to decline exchanging
that station for another in civillife. However
this may be, the convention hadno such scru-
pies; but, following what we must regard as
the unfortunate example set by the republic
cans in New York, have gone to the camp for
their candidate, have asked a faithful soldier
to suffer thoughts OF political advancement to
distract his attention from the proper service,
and propose in the event of success, which
we must suppose they contemplate as possible,
to take him away unnecessarily from the
field of his duty, where he is now rendering
efficient service.
Turning for the present from this aspect of
the nomination, however, it occurs to us that
the selection which the convention made ap-
pears to place the avowed purposes and osten-
slbe character of the new movement in a
rather singular light. With no lack of respect
tor Gen. DevenS, but having in view simply
the notorious facts in the case-facts which
would be admitted by him as freely as by any
one-we lay it down as an evident truth, that
his name was selected, not on the ground of
any special fitness for the place, but purely
with reference to availability Charles Dew
ems, Esq, of Worcester, might have looked
forward to a respectable and successful politi-
cal career, leading him by gradual steps, no
doubt, to very honorable position; but he
would not have leaped at once into the front
rank as candidate for governor, as now
But Brigadier General Devens of the army of
the Potomac presents that combination Of fair
position, and of good and well-known services,
which makes his name good one for the pur-
poses of campaign. In short, he was pitched
upon by the managers of the convention upon
precisely the same principle as that on which
candidates for the presidency have often been
selected of late years-on the well understood
principle of availability.
When an organized political party selects a
candidate in this manner for "a purpose, the
movement is easily comprehended. When
the wing party nominated Gen. Harrison or
Gen. Taylor, and when the democratic party
nominated Gen Cass or Gen. Pierce, it was
easily seen that these names were put forward
to attract votes for particular set of prlnci-
pies and measures. But how is it with those
who have nominated Gen. Devens? They
have resorted to very palpable device to
catch votes, but for what are the votes to be
caught? This purports to be movement of
the people, a spontaneous uprising is it nee
essary to resort to stale political devices in
order to gain for it the popular support? 1t
claims to be, not party, but the negaton of
all parties; must it, then, sgnalize its very
birth by resorting to the trick which the old
parties have always been half ashamed to
practice! The new movement does not pro-
TESS to be based upon any distinct principle of
political action not held by it in common with
most loyal citizens, and certainly they will
search in vain who look for any such princi-
pie in the singularly barren series of resolu-
tons which were passed. As Gen. Devens.
then, does not represent and is not put for
ward to represent, any particular avowed
principle or policy, we again ask what that
purpose is for which it is now so earnestly de-
sired to catch votes?
We think that no fair mind can review the
present position of the peoples" movement
without concluding at all events that it has
settled into party of the recognized and
familiar type. 1t may have for its chief pur-
pose the defeat of Mr.. Sumner, in which case,
it is not difficult to see, it is likely to insure
his return to his place in the senate. But if
so, those engaged in the movement seek to
effect this object and to crafty their eager de-
sire to defeat Gov. Andrew and his associates
simply by carrying still farther the very divi-
sions which they deplore. They propose to