Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-14
The Coming State Canvass.
General ButIer's Views as 10 Who shall
be Governor.
LYNN. Aug. 10. 1879.

LYNN, Aug. 10, 1872.
Hon. b. F. Butler-My Dear Sir: Many of
your constituents and supporters here, who
have been with you in every contest, personal
20 Yourself since you first rallied to the support
of Abraham Lincoln and his administration,
when the constitution and the Union were in
peril, having heard various and conflicting
rumors with regard to your position in relation
TO the gubernatorial question the coming CAM
pagu, are very DESTROYS of knowing directly
from you, what are your purposes and views
with regard to the next gOvernorship of Massa-
chuSetts. | have been requested 70 solicit them;
and il requires no apology for me to ask for a
glimpse of the future, of one of so much emf
nence as an American statesman, and who nils
so large space in the public eye as yourself.
As early reply to this as suits your conyen-
fence will greatly Oblige
Your friend and fellow citizen,
JOHN B. ALLEY.
BAY VIEW, Aug IL.
My dear SIR hasten TO acknowledge your
kind and by far TOO hattering letter, and to give
specific reply to its question. Failing hereto
fore to make answer to numerous inquiries upon
the same topic, find that my intentions have
been misrepresented by those who assume to
speak of what they do not know.
Believing the future peace and prosperity oil
the country are indissolubly linked with the
success of the republican party; that the ideas
and measures which it represents must he car
ried forward, or the nation will loose much
which is so gloriouSly gained by the suppression
of the rebellion; and not willing to do anything
which shall tend to the hurt of that party, lest
should render the lost life of a single soldier
of less inestimabe value by paltering in any
way with those principles which its sacrifice has
thus far established; no personal wish or thought
shall induce me to do anything which may aid
in any degree to return to power in the national
government, through the ballot, those who en-
deavored, but failed, to overturn its constitution
| and avs by force.
| The question is now TO be settled, by popu-
| lar election, as it has been by arms-and think
| forever-whether under our form oil govern
ment it is the duty and within the province OF
| the federal government TO exert all its great
powers, il need be, for the protection of Amerl-
can citizens in property, liberty and life, upon
| American soil, whenever and wherever the
states or state laws, by their action or non-en-
| forcement imperil either So far as | can see,
this is the most important issue of the campaign
| and its affirmation will bring peace and quiet,
| and liberty under law to every part OF the coun-
| try. No one will deny that on foreign soil all
| the force of the nation must be put forth to
protect an American citizen in every right of
| person and property. Is it not, then, wonder
| full that's great party should be organized and
be canvassing for the government of the coun-
| try where the main issue is that the same pro-
| lection may not be constitutionaly given by the
nation on its own soil, to its own citizens, that
| it must afford them in foreign land?
In view of the importance of the natona
| contest, shall not allow my name to be used
| in the canvass for governor in any manner to the
| detriment of the republican cause. year ago
| canvassed the state very fully, and gave to the
| people of the commonwealth my ideas upon the
| gubernatoria office, its powers and duties, and
the apparent necessity ofcertain reforms IN state
| affairs. These are fully understood by the peo-
| pie of the commonwealth. Ii approved, they
| know how to have them put into execution; and
| there is no occasion for me TO make further eX-
| position of them. | shall, therefore, take no
| step directly or indirectly in the approaching
| gubernatoral canvass, not, however, because
| believe my views and opinions upon those topics
| were unacceptable TO the majority oil the repuD-
| licans or the people of the commonwealth, as |
| see no evidence they were, because they did not
| succeed in a convention where, at twelve O'Clock
| IN the day, there were 901 delegates only pres
/ ent, 524 of whom voted in accordance with those
1 ideas, but which were Overruled at twelve
| O'Clock midnight in the same convention,
| where 1116 delegates threw their votes or
| score more than by possibility could have
therein honestly held seats. Conventions held
| at midnight have not been frequent in this com
| monweath, and perhaps there were as lew
| frauds in that, in spite of this showing, as in
| any other where one man was opposed to an
| attempt to reform an organization wherein a
| few men having the party machinery in their
control were bent on retaining their long-enjoyed
/ power.
| If one might look to political possibilities in
| the selection of candidates, it would seem to be
| well that the present incumbent of the office
| should be again put in nomination, because, as
he was selected in great measure, through the
influence, advice and votes of Messrs. Sumner,
Banks, Bird, Beard, Robinson, BowleS, Davis,
| Sanborn and their peers, who have deserted the
/ republican party in the hour of its need in the
presidential contest and joined themselves to its
enemies, it is to be assumed that, having appa-
reutly done nothing offensive to them, he will
again receive their votes for governor, and if so,
| insure his election.
am very truly your obliged friend.
BENZ. F. BUTLER.
| Hon, John B. Alley, Lynn, Mass.