Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-06
MIR. Dana's Report"


his ''report' as delegate to the state conven-
ton. This speech contained several misrep-
RESERVATIONS so unwarranted and injurious that
we thought they should not be allowed to pass
without proper notice. We have delayed
public notice of them because itseemed prop
er to wait until his own attention had been
called to the matter in another way; and
now we propose to do no more than put on
record the necessary corrections. The mis-
representions appear the in following passage
in his speech
MY resolve meaning the resolve he intro
duced in the convention, was that we should
support the president in the war. The COM
mlttee struck out the president. That was
intentional and in pursuance of their policy"
In another place he asserts without qualifi-
cation, as if it were true. that the committee,
carrying out a purpose of those who shaped
the business, aimed to ''indicate to the prcsi-
dent policy for him to adopt, and to with
hold any assurance of support of sympathy
or encouragement, unless that policy should
be adopted" The misrepresentation are
first, that the committee had purpose to
withhold support of the president at that time;
and, second, that the committee altered Mr..
Dana's resolution in accordance with this pur-
pose. Nothing could be more contrary to the
truth. The writer of this article was a MEM
Der OF that committee on resolutions, and we
are saying merely what we know.
l. The committee had no such purpose as
Mr.. Dana imputes to it. The imputation is
an unwarranted calumny. Instead of wish
ing to slight the president, the committee
would have passed the following resolves if
Mr.. Dana and his resolve had been out of the
way
''Resolved, that as Massachusetts with all
her resources of men and money has support
ed the efforts of the general government, she
again pledges to the president and to congress
her last dollar and her last man in the same
just and holy cause"
''Resolved, that next to the duty of rallying
to the support of the general government in
this hour OF its peril, and of maintaining by
armed men and all the other resources of a
loyal and patriotic people, the national cause,
is the duty of seeing that by no neglect of ours
at the polls and in the primary meetings shall
congress or the president fail to receive that
moral and political support and encourage
ment, the want of which will be well nigh as
fatal to our cause as defeat and disaster to our
armies in the field. The spirit of the country
must be reinforced and revived; discomfort
and opposition must be rebuked and discount
tenanced; the government must be stimulated
and encouraged; loyal, faithful, and fearless
public men must be sustained, and no man
nor body of men must be permitted in this
hour of national peril to succeed in distract
ing public attention from the great and all i'm
pfS 10 o,,I+ 81,
dear-bought heritage of freedom"
These are the resolves touching the presi-
dent that had been prepared for adoption ''by
those who shaped the business" They were
read to Mr.. Dana while the committee were in
session. but he preferred his own. Accord
ingly, as his less expressive resolve had been
thrust upon the convention and referred with
that relating to Mr.. Sumner, the committee
waived doing as they desired and left that mat
ter in Mr.. Danas hands. In return for this
courtesy he accuses them of intending to
slight the president Under the circumstan-
ces, he should have been incapable of framing
such an accusation.
2. Mr.. Dana's resolve was not altered 6y
the committee in the slightest particular. As
introduced in the convention it read as fol-
lows =
'Resolyed, that Massachusetts, with all her
heart aud soul, and mind and strength will
support the president of the United States in
the prosecution of this war, to the entire and
final suppression of the rebellion"
In the committee, he stated that he did not
write it. He thought the expression might be
improved, and seemed DESTROYS to make some
changes in it. 1t was finally adopted thus =
Resolved, that Massachusetts with all her
heart and strength will support the govern
ment Of the United States in the prosecution
Of this war, by the employment of all the
means sanctioned by the usages of christian
and civilized warfare"
The changes were made by Mr.. Dana HIM
self, or with his consent, while in conversation
with one or two members Of the committee.
There was no vote of the committee to alter
it in any particular. The purpose was to al
low Mr.. Dana to have it reported in whatever
form might please him best. He himself SUI
perintended every change that was made, and
substituted the word government for ''pres-
ident, with his own hand,we supposed, accept
ing somebody's suggestion that the word 'gov-
eminent would be more appropriate in that
connection. Our recollection in regard to
this matter is like that of every other member
OF the committee whom we have consulted.
+. W. Bird, Esq, member of the commit
tee, has addressed TO Mr.. Dana a letter on the
subject, from which we take the following -
"You say-'My resolution was that we
would support the president in the conduct of
the war. The committee struck out the pres
ident. Mr.. Dana, the committee did nothing
of the kind, ami you can not have forgotten
the facts. In discussing your resolution,
some one, do not now recollect who it was,
suggested that government was better word
than president, that our loyalty was due to
the government primarily, and to the presi-
dent only rs the representative of the govern
ment You agreed to this at once, and APP
proved Of the substitution. Not one word
was said in committee, by you or any one, of
any want Of confidence or sympathy or en-
enlargement to the president'-not one word
If you had objected to the change in commit
tee, you know, no one would have pressed it,
The words were considered as near as posi-
Bile, synonymous"
II Mr.. Dana had not interfered with the
business OF the convention, by that ill Judged
attempt 10 substitute himself for the commit
tee on resolutions, the result would have been
more satisfactory. The truth is, he did not