Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-29
NATIONAL INTELLlGENCER.
THE MASSACHUSETTS, PLATFORM.

The Boston Daily Advertiser, in replying to
some recent observations of ours on the political
declarations promulged by the Republican Conyen-
ton in Massachusetts,, expresses the opinion that
we have fallen into some error when we conceive
thai those declarations symbolic with " the OBJ
iects and views of the party denounced by Postmas-
ter General Blair in his recent speech at Rockville"
Our contemporary resists this conclusion at the
very threshold by stating, as within its own know
ledge, that the opinion Of the delegates composing
the Convention was adverse to the enuncation Of
any definite views which would commit it g to any
particular dogma or theory upon the questions in
volved in the pacifcation of the country" but pur
posed rather to remit each man to his own indie
pendent convictions on these topics, about which
men differ as widely as Postmaster General Blair,
on the one hand, and Mr.. Senator Sumner on the
other To this effect the Advertiser says:
ave can assure the Integencer that the opinion of The
sixteen hundred delegates at Worcester was strongly
against committing the Convention to particular dogma
theory upon the questions involved 10 the pachcaton
of the country Gentlemen holding widely different views
some Of them cherished most ondy as Wa know heartily
agreed in this conclusion We must that in our judy
the resolutions do not fairly bear any Interpretation
of Mr. Sumner. Of Mr. Blair, or Of any boty else on
these disputed questions 1t to us that this fact is
patent bare inspection (without bias or prudce) Of
the resolutions themselves but further proof Is wanted
we can speak certainly of the fact that any intention Of
making them the exponent of any particular theory with
regard to which Republicans differ was positively dsa-
vowed by those who framed them that this course was
advised the proper to be followed by body at
Worcester whom heard express opinion on the snb
ject and further proof point to the circumstance
that they were unanimously and enthusiastically adopted
by an assembly Of sixteen hundred gentlemen which it
is well all shades OF opinion smong supporters OF
the Administration were represented
If this be true, (and we do not question the ac-
curacy Of any fact stated by the Editor of the Adj
vertiser as being of his own knowledge it is of
course decisive as to the purpose of the CopVen-
ton and it, through any infelicity of phraseology,
the resolutions seem to lean more to side than
to another upon questions which it was agreed to
blink, it should be attributed solely to want OF
dexterity on the part of the writer. Under these
circumstances it would be waste of labor to in
terrogate the resolutions with view to ascertain
their me aiming, when in point of fact, it was not
intended that they should have any meaning at all
as regards the points in dispute For to this effect
the Advertiser is express when it says that In its
Judgment the resolutions do not fairly bear any
Interpretation which makes them the exponent of
the particular opinions of Mr.. Sumner, or of Mr..
Blair, or Of any 6ody Else, these disputed ques-
lions" That is, they give no certain sound on
these disputed questions because they arc perfectly
silent Men who differ as widely IS Mr. Sumner
and Mr. Postmaster General Blair On questions
which each deems to be Of vital moment to the
peace and welfare of the State equally sub
scribe to the same resolutions, because it is un-
derstood that they PROFOUND no definition OF
doctrine these points ia party sense. And
this fact, suppose, explains the concurrence OF
men like Mr. Boutwell, and Mr.. Dana, and of jour
mails like the New York AntiSlavery STANDARD and
the Boston Daily Advertiser in their admiration
of these declarations of the Republican party in
Massachusetts,.
We know that Mr. Boutwell, and Mr. Dana are
equally pleased with the Worcester resolutions We
need nothing but the assurance of our Boston con-
temporary to convince that it is perfectly salts
fed with the same declarations of faith and we
have the word Of the most radical partisans of the
anti-s slavery school to confirm the statement that
they are delighted with them likewise For in
stance, correspondent Of the New York Tribune,
writing from Worcester to that journal, and giving
an account of the proceedings of the late Conven-
ton, held the following language:
"It will he borne in mind that there nearly 200
delegates in attendance and that resolutions radical with
out precedent the political history Of the State,
under consider alton, and thus unanimously adopted In
their admirable sp eches Wilson and Boutwell, Dana and
Eliot ranged hemseiUes fully alongside IF Phillips and
Garrison, and TIE conreiion, Nth united enthusiastic
roice said The subject of the future political
la"ns Of the ns under consideration Msssa
chusets leads the God grant that che may guide the
nation through the pathway Of liberty to enduring prope
rity and permanent peace
Now, as it is very certain that Mr.. Dana,
by uhdt lie said, did not 81 range himself fully
alongside of Phillip, and Garrison" it follows that
the writer could have only meant that his adhe-
sion to the action of the Convention would practi-
caUy bring him into political cooperation and fell
lowshp with the men whose extreme doctrines and
revolutionary purposes he is known to repudiate
and oppose. And if we understand the Adver-
tiser it was the deliberate purpose of the late Re-
publican Convention to construct platform which
should be broad enough to afford place for men
who differ as widely in their views of fundamental
policy as Mr.. Boutwell, aud Mr.. Dana, or Mr..
Sumner and Mr. Blair And this, too though
Mr.. Blair has not hesitated to express the convc-
ton that those who adopt Mr.. Summers views as
to the Seeded States are practically (however