Resolved, That Massachusetts responds with full heart to the acclaim with which the Army of Virginia greeted the appointment to its command of Major-General George B. McClellan. We put trust in him whom brave men desire, to do battle for our cause. Let all irregular and irresponsible intermeddling with his command of the army, whether in high places or low, by letter-writers in camp or Governors in convention, anywhere and everywhere, henceforth cease.The president of the convention was Hon. Linus Child, who described the action of the Republican Convention as ‘of a character to disturb that union, and that unity of action and of government, which alone can render our efforts successful in the great work we have in hand.’ Judge Abbott spoke in favor of every patriot coming forward to sustain the Government, ‘and consult for the best interests of a tottering nation. We must have the abandonment of all parties. The only question now is, Shall the glorious old flag wave over the whole land, or only a part of it?’ In conclusion, he said, ‘Let us pledge ourselves anew to defend the Constitution, and, in the presence of the great Webster, swear that we will give life, honor, and every thing else, in support of it, till it shall float in undimmed splendor over the whole country in peace and in honor.’ Judge Parker, of Cambridge, was the next speaker; and, in the course of his remarks, he took up the address drawn up and signed by the Governors of the loyal States, as agreed upon at Altoona, Pa., a few days preceding. He considered it a treasonable plotting of the Governors, and added, that, if they sought the removal of General McClellan, they met too late to dare to do this, as he was the commander of a victorious army, and it was too dangerous.
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other State officers nominated by the Republicans were adopted by the ‘People's Convention.’
The call for this convention was very numerously signed by gentlemen living in different parts of the Commonwealth.
The resolutions which were adopted favored a vigorous prosecution of the war. Perhaps the last one of the series explains the motives which induced the call better than any remarks of our own:—
1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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