The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-17
The 4. ose of the Proceedings OF the Free Soil
Convention ut BMfluIO.

The convention re-assembed at 3 clock the
time TO which it had beel adjourned for the pur-
pose of hearing the report of the Conference Com
mittee, which it was expected would be ready about
this time. The committee however, did not make
their appearance for an hour and half afterwards
In the meantime,
MIR VIM DAVIS, of Buffalo, addressed the assembly.
He said, Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:-Alow me
to state that had expected to address this grea
and patriotic assembly. This is the first time that
have had opportu nifty to address such multi
tude and, as a young man, must feel that difdence
which always attends first attempt to address ameet
ing But trust in the intelligence and the patriotism
of the Convention to excuse me If shall not be able
to edfy or instruct them We have adopted platform,
and trust ready to carry out its glorious
principles What is the meaning of this vast assembly
who of the Cass and Taylor factions would dare say
that this is not a Convention worthy of the characte
of the American people, and ready to out every
plan and purpose which the welfare OF our country de-
mands! We have been told by all parties that this is
not the time for such Convention as this And why
have been thus told The South wants q little
Northern dough-faces. CHATS it-give 'em Jesse.)
This Is our plan and purpose-to give such nomi-
nations to the people, as shall enable them to elevate
and brighten and edity the country and the govern
ment. (Appause) Fellow Citizens-this Convention
seeks to carry out the great principles of human IL
the power abolish slavery in The several States but
do ella the power and the right to say that it shall
not be extended one foot further We demand
that the territory received under the jurisdiction
the American government shall be placed under laws
free to black and white which shall enable hardy
pioneers to go forth and reclaim its SOIL and build up
cities and villages and establish schools, which shall
gladden. the heart tand conduce to the pros
perty Of the citizens bf that territory. Applause.)
Gentlemen, permit me, moment, to ask every de-
mocrat in this assembly what grounds bound
to support the nominees of the Baltimore Convention!
Where were New York's rightfuly constituted dele
gates at that time? They driven from the Con-
venton Free soil is the spirit the right and the pur
pose of the great Empire State But had repre-
sentaton there and refuse to support those nomi-
nations upon the same grounds that the American
people refused pay the British government
because that people had representation in the Bril-
tish Parliament. On the other hand why is old
fashioned square sided wbg bound to support the
mDees of the Philadelphia Convention? Is it upon
the ground that single wing principle
was there contended for. At a State Convention of
the wings at Utica last fall they went for the Wilmot
proviso out and out But at the Philadelphia Conven-
ton convened for the purpose of placing before the
American people exponents OF wing principles, they
dulterated, Henry Clay whigg-ryt mo, no, mol Is
that old genuine, JeGersonian Democracy? No, no,
no AS we told by the remnants of the old demo.
cratic party composed of the Postmasters Clerks in
the Custom House, and various other retaners of the
governme mt that have forsaken democratic prin-
cples that boilers Let not the conservatives
talk about boilers when they remember the political
death of Slas Wright We are told on the other
hand to vote for Gen. Taylor, and although slave
holder, he will sign any bill that Congress may
pass limiting abolishing slavery But have you any
act word or deed the part Of Gen Taylor that he
has ever adopted single wing principle? That he
will oppose any that the South may pro-
pose Is there anything in the life or character of
Gen. Taylor that entities him to the support of the
American people, upon the great principles of this
Convention-tree soil-[Cries of no, no. mol Well,
the gentlemne let turn deaf to all these N.
situations and protestations of opponents, and
uniting together upon the great principles laid down
in our platform-march forward MISUNDERSTANDING
neither to the right hand to the eft-but keeping
our eye steadily fixed upon the great end which we
have so much at heart, and victory shall eff
[As MIR. Davis closed his remarks, on the plat
form said Wen done, good boy You did not say
anything against Cass W
The CHAIRMAN then announced that Mr. Bird of
Massachusetts, wished to say few words to the
venton. (Cries Of Bird Bird, spread your wings
Mr. BrRD, having assembled the stand, spoke as fol-
lows Gentlemen, ] had not intended to make a
speech. | unexpectedly placed in the position
which now occupy. have only few words to say,
and that upon point on which have been request
An effort is now making by the Taylor papers to prove
that John Quincy Adams spoke approvingly of the
Pected nomination of Gen. Taylor Qouder-we can't
hear you) and it was thought best TO state few facts
in relation to this matter that they might reach
sooner all portions of the Union, than they would by
before the people Of this country. No who knew
Mr. dams can suppose for one moment. that he could
ever have wished for the nomination of Gen Taylor,
unless it should have been with view to the
plishment Of the purpose which it has brought
about may be that that r.seeing man anticipated
in the first place, the nomination of Gen Taylor and
as consequence of that nomination. the breaking up
of both of the old parties and the bringing about this
union OF good men and true, Of all political par
ties, which here to-day 1t may be that Mr. !
Adams spoke as the gentlemen who says he did
for they are uen of honor in such a manner that
his words can be twisted into approval of the
support Of Gen. Taylor But there men in Mas
who knew John Quincy Adams intimately
nd they feel and know that he would have ap-
proved CT the election Of Gen. Taylor to the presidency
Of the United States (Cries of No, no. MOI The last
meeting Of conscience whgs,n in Boston, held
at the office of his only son. And he approved of the
tbs e
his has headed for the last six years against the
slave power 1t is hard my friends to prove mega
tive. but those who knew Mr. Adams intimately, can
not believe that that man who had been battling for
seventeen years against the slave power-cannot be-
lieve that he could under any approve
of the nomination of a who, if elected, will do
more than any other living to aid the Entertainments
OF this power have nothing farther to upon this
point only wish to fre nds here that the
facts in relation to this matter will be put right and
that whatever posthumous aid the Tayorites may
pect to get from MIR. Adams they will be disappointed
Applause) The audience here called loudly for Mr..
Adams, but he begged to be excused inasmuch as he
felt so exhausted by the abors Of the day. that he had
more voice left than would be necessary to perform
the duties of his station. But he would introduce to
the audience gentleman from Ohio, who had made
himself known to the country by his in the
House of Representatives upon the slave question, who
might indeed, be almost considered the father of the
Wilmot provso. He would introduce to them Mr.
Brinckerhoof.
MIR. BRrNcKEnHoor forward amidst great
cheering, and in voice, every tone Of which
ject. (a, ha) But will make you one promise, and
that is, that will be brief. (Oh no, give good
speecn) so tnat IN case i should be tedious, your
tortures will not be protracted daughter and ap-
plause) will, on another condition make you ano-
tber promise and that is that you shall be tolerably
stil-or, Paddy said, I" If you cannot be aisy, be
as aisy as you can Uaughter) And | will make
you hear for beeye can do it. (Ha, ha! what a
devil of voce) When a small boy, and went
to school, read the Testament e. Have you read it
SINCE some one cried out). And one Of the ques-
tions there was "What went ye out into the wilder
ness TO seeln Let me slightly paraphrase the ques-
tion and ask you what come ye up here to see, (To
see Brinckerhoofl man in soft rament' !No)
A reed shaken by the wind' (No) To the mighty
up turning Of the great deep of public opnionsuch
as is stirring In the popular mind such the annals
Of this coun1ry give account of. To see such a
demonstration Of public sentiment in favor Of free
speech and free soil, as will make the advocates Of
slavery propaga dsm trembel If you have, you will
seeit. You will by the side Of David Wilmot,
Hannibal Hamlin and others under trials that make
sick for week, but who held still having faith
like unto grain of seed that you, after your
noses had been held to the grndstone till they
nrnn nd mnletelx off and the grinding had reached