The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-06-03
The Barnburners and the Loco.
foco Convention.

Tie Committee on credentials refused 10 re-
coive them, but vote was finally cnrried TO
admit both 'IlunlScrs" and "Barnbuners, 'ul-
lowing them TO give, between them, the vote
10 which New York was entitled. Pending
The discussions upon the various motions in
relation 10 this subject, each set Of Delegates
was allowed 10 speak. The correspondent
Of the Atlas, who was present, notices this
discussion us follows:
sienutor Dickinson Of New York, spoke
first. lie gave Il long history ofthe organi-
2ntion Of the party in New y Orll, aud expos
ed the practices aud usnGes Of the party, in
the course of which he laid bare some OF The
/ hidden wheels md springs of the party ma
clInery in thnt State. lie made ont clear
cRsc that the lluukers were the regularly G.
ected Delegates and lhe Burnburners were
considers" party dcmagogues, and 'cow-
boys" Their opposition TO the Hunkers n
rose from tie fact they were opposed TO the
principles of the Wilmut provisu; resolu-
ton embodying those principles lad been
voted down ut the Syracuse (Hunker) Con-
vention.
/ lie read the resolution, which lac snid was
subsequently, passed. word for word, 10y the
/ Wing State Convention, holden few weeks
afterwards. lie read extracts from } ohm VIM
Buren's llerkimer Address, and extracts
from other publications., 10 the effect that Tie
/ Bnrnburners considered the Wilmol Proyiso
as their corner stone. lie paihetcally np-
pcalcd TO the Convention, whether the De
mocracy Of New York ought 10 have this
ioisted upon them. lie could bear no such
anti democratic doctrines Us those OF ;hc
/ Wilmoi Proyiso. Mr. Dickinson spoke his
hour and made himself OH us thorough
bred dough face as coulu well he'
In TtIt
REPLIED. and presented his view Of the case.
III maGe n very pretty speech, the most in
lereslng part Of which was thai which rela-
/ ted 10 the origin of the terms Hunkers aud
Barnburners The former, be said, was CIV
en- 10 that class of Democrats IN New York
! who had succeeded in holding all thc offices
of emOument in the Staie-their ruling
characteristic being ''Io get what they could,
and hold whni they got" The name of Barn
burners was given 10 the ''rudica Democra-
/ cv orthe State" from this circumstance.
| The State became involved Ia It's financial
difficulties: and the radical Democrats, IA or
der 10 bring money 10 lhe Treasury, brought
/ forward IN the Legislature n proposition 10
tax certain interests and abolish certain Off
ccs Presently all the State office holders
cutue 10 the Legislature, crowded the iubhies
and declared that ifthc bill passed, II would
I ruin the cause Of Democracy ia the State.
.
burnt his barns, in order tint Ice nigh, get
rid Of the rnis that infested them. We per-
severed. said Mr. SmIih,uBd Carried the meas
! ure. and these old rats gave Us the name Of
Barnhurners. His hour was mostly cousuHl-
I ed in relating dry detnls of party practices,
! going show that Inc and las friends had
: been elected according to Democratic usage,
aud that they were the true delegates and the
rirhIful representatives OF the Democracy of
. Me-. NurE State L. tpurbpd ltuhIlV on the
! Wilmot Proviso.
Mr. Foster of the Hunker section, next as
cended the tribune, and made strong speech
on that side. lie was even more pro slavery
than Dickinson. lie repudialed and secuted
the principles of the Wilmot PToviso. He
sud that The Convention mUsi decide thc
question WHO were entitled 10 seats. u could
not be evnded They demanded decision
it was all important 10 the salvation OF the
Democratic party in New York. lie wanted
to know whether the Wilmot Proviso, or any
such anti democratic test, was TO be embed
led into the Democratic creed. No man
from the South could have exhibited ere0-
ter anxiety for the preservation aud cNlen-
sion ofsluvcry than This most unworthy son
ofa Free State. And this is Democracy!
Preston King, (Baruburuer, replied. He
spoke about fifteen minutes, and showed
himself every inch man. lie said that he
was also DESTROYS of pressing this question 10
a decision. and inasmuCh rs they had been
refused nearing before the CommitIee, and
their credentials having been denied recep-
Iion, or examinuiiou,he would have the Con-
venlun decide who were entitled TO seats here
on principle. He avowed himselfa Wilmot
Provisu man, he wanted to have this priuc-
pie applied a test, rs 10 their right to seats
here. lie met the issue frankly as presented
hy his opponent, Mr. Foster, and il must he
settled ON that bnsis He asked 10 know
whether they should GO buck to New York
and tell the free democracy OF that Suite, that
they had been refused seats here, because
they were in favor of free principles, and a.
gainst extending the black curse ofSavery O.
yer soil which now is free from IT,. lie wan
ted TO have the issue mei-to know wheIh-
or the extension and perpetuation of Slavery
was test question, in order to admission in
10 the Democratic Party He spoke with
great ability, and his remarks produced quite
a sensation and brought fear into the hearts
the manikin delegates who pretend in this
Convention TO represent the people of the
Free States.
4 Mr. Duoiittie, n young lawyer from Yves
tern New York, followed Mr. King on the
same side. lie spoke about 20 minutes. and
referred to the treatment New York had re-
ceived here. Her g; votes had not vet been
cast. Hervo.,,e had been hushed her mouth
, stopped. Tests were applied to her that had
.iul been to any other States, while the South
Carolina member, who was but the delegate
of one parish in one district had been permit
ted TO take his seat here, and 20 cast nine VoieS
l in Convention
Mr. Camhreleng closed the debate for the
Barnburners. He spoke 20 minutes. and
made rather crafty speech. AS soon as he
2 sat down, some 20 members spranE for The