Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-09-20

MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN STATE CoNvEN.
TIoS. - The Republicans Of the Old
Bay State held their State Convention at
Worcester on Wednesday. Over fourteen
huadre9 delegates were in attendance, and
Senator Wilson presided Predictions had
been abundant that the Peoples Liberty
League, which is the title Of the rumscllcrs,
association Of Massachusetts,, would force an
Issue in the convention on the liquor qucs-
ton that Gov. Bullock would be dropped,
and ox-Gov. Andrew be nominated for Gov
eruor as a reward FOR his advocacy Of the Il
cense law (in addition 30 LIS fee Of SI2.57j)
and that II tins or something equivalent was
not done, the p. L. Is would leave the
Convention, bolt the ticket and join the
Democrats.
The result did not exactly bear out these
predictions. The Convention rencminated
GOV. Bullock Jy an immeu=e majority. he
he having 933 votes out Of lI2S, and rouom-
mated tLc rc-t Of the ticket of last year
with outiIe unauimity. \ resolution dis
claiming all responsibility on the part Of the
part Of the party, for the enactment and re-
tontion of the prohiAitory law, was intro
ducei and referred to the committee On res
olutious, who reported '',ha. as the Repub-
liean party has never as a party made test
Of opinion Ou state legislation respecting the
sale Of liquors. it is not czIedien, to pass
any resolution on that subject in this Con-
ycnti5n.
There was some objection TO the adoption
OF this report on the part of both the ez-
tremc advocates and opponents Of the pro-
hibitorY law. The report was supported Ly
Richard Il. Dana. and Rev. Mr.. Thompson,
who said;
81 heartily endorse the remarks male by the
Hon Richard II. Dana. Jr, Il is well known
that the law Of 1852 was passed by the C0ali-
tion party Of Free Soilers and Democrats, and
the laT OF ] 500 was passed by the American
party. Il got every vote in the House but five
or six and every vote in the Senate. And so
strong has been the feeling IN favor Of It that it
mas stood ever since, and i going to stand as
long as you 90. The Republican party never
passed the liquor law; We did not ask them to
10 it. The Temperance people Of this Rtate can
take care Of themselves. (Applause.) / am
opposed to the interference Of anybody with the
Republican party, Matters are too serious at
Washington TO let any side issue be introduced
here. Nor need we sink the temperance cause
q, cove ho Rawuf1tan~ rawtw Tho raw1rf Of
the committee l think wise and judicious, and
l hope viii he adopted
Tie report was then adopted with very
few opposing votes.
The resolutions adopted declare that An
drew Johnson aaErant abuse of his powers
and resistance to the will Of the people make
it imperative to employ every constitutional
means to curb him and deprive him of the
power Of harm and pledge the support Of
Massachusetts, to Congress in all measures
they may adopt for that end, even, if neces-
sary, to Impeachment; return thanks to
Congress, the military commanders and the
freedmen, and approve the administration Of
Gov. Bullock.
With a speech from Senator Wilson, who
said in reply to predictions that the State
might be lost to the Republicans, that they
might as well talk Of losing Vermont, and
th at the Republicans would carry all the
States Of the Union next year for the nom
Inee for President, the Convention ad-
journed.
The action Of the Republicans of Massa-
chusetts seems to Us to have becn eminently
ludicious on all points. OF course those
who would have been glad to see a definite
adoption of a prohibitory-law plank in the
party platform, were not exactly suited /;
much less were the "P. L. L.'s' who came
with their resolution intended to make cap
ital for fresh attack on the law, and did
not get it adopted, The law is secure as il
stands, and would have been made no more
so By making it party issue. The course
of the Convention, on that and other points
will commend itself to the approval Of the
party throughout the country.