The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-05
The Barnburncrs-- rSaeir Positlop-rlAcir Last
Pronuuciamtnto.

|
The movement commenced by the barobnrners
Of this State being one OF great importance IN the
present state of the country and Of parties, we have
spared no pains or trouble IN fully explaining i. in
the columns of this journal. We accordingly pub
hshed reports of John Van Buren's speeches, on
several occasions; exPresident Van 3uren's letter
TO the Utica Conventions full report of the pro-
ceedings and nominations of that convention; and
to-day, we publish IN our columns the pronanci1 ,
h,efto of that convention, to all good and true
barnburners, in this and all other States, on the
earth, over the earth, and in the waters under the
| eaIth-out of which il is supposed Mr.. Van Buren,
has been fished by some of the faithful, with
hook baited with the Presidency.
This pronnnciament0 is a curious and remarka-
bic document. II embraces, in full, the principles
advocated by the new party called barnburners,
and contains clear exposition of their doctrines
and position. II purports to explain the causes
that compelled them to hoist separate standard,
repudiate the proceedings of the Baltimore Con-
venlion, and nominate candidates of their own tor
the Presidency and Vice Presidency. II is from
the pen of the Hon. Benjamin f. Butler, or Citizen
Butler, as he has been dubbed by the new party.
The opinions and views promulg gated in 1t, attract
prodigious deal of attention, and are looked upon
of great importance in this part of the country,
and will receive equal attention in other parts
of the Union, especially in the North and East
| The importance OF the movement, however,
! is much overrated, in consequence OF Mr..
! Van Buren's personal connection with it,
and from the fact of his beng nominated
as the candidate of that party. This, however, is
the smalest feature about it, 1t has, in fact, given
importance TO him, and not he to it, This attempt
on the platform of the Wilmot proviso, and ult-
maely to embody the whole ant-slavery sentiment
of the North, has given to Mr.. Van Buren, person
ally an importance which he does not deserve,
and degree of consequences dangerous conse
quence--which he has never heretofore possessed
| in any of the various positions which he has been
placed in before the country. II is like digging
him out of the retirement of Lindenwald, as geo.
logsts dig beneath the earth for some curious and
extraordinary fossil remain, to attract the notice
of philosophers and spectators. 1t is like exca-
waiting the mountains for saltpetre and sulphur, to
furnish materials for general explosion OF con
tinent.
And why all this importance to Mr.. Van Buren
As man, he Is utterly destitute of public princi
pie of any kind. For long period Of his life he
/
slavery question, and he never saw or acknow-
lodged any immoral tendency in that position, I'M
til he defeated by Southern influence, and re-
stored to his private residence che banks of the
Hudson river, one whose public life was for
ever finished and sealed up. But he has changed
that position; and from knowledge of the circum-
Stances and of his past history, together with the
course which he Is now pursuing, the conclusion
| thotb .. has ated
his defeat in 1874, and on the nomination being
again rendered to him IN 1913. All the letters
which have come from him, and all the develope-
ments which have been made, within the last two
years, show that he held himself in reserve for
the nomination in Baltimore; and it being with
held from him, and given to another and more po-
pular man, MIR. Van Buren,, with his personal
political friends, has thrown himself into
this movement-this terrible current this
dangerous rapid-combining, as itdoes, all the mo-
raj and immoral sentiment, floating through the
Northern States, hostility to the slavery lnsttu-
tons of the South. lie and his party have, indeed,
planted themselves on the principle contained in
the Wilmot provIso, as a fucrum which to use
their lever; but that is all nonsense-a mere baga-
tele-albet there is so much stress laid upon it in
their journals their speeches. their letters, and in
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amounts to one thing only, and that is, to form
great Northern party, for the first time in the histo
~ of the country, in opposition to the Southern
States, on the institution of slavery.
This movement acquires greater force, and more
interest, and additional danger from the fact that
the Southern members of Congress, of both of the
old parties, assume position directly opposite to
that assumed by the barnburners. They take their
! - Il. 4 a.
its extension to the territory acquired from
Mexico by the treaty which has recently been rat-
fled. Mr.. Calhoun boldly, decidedly and deter
mnedly marks out this policy, and is followed in
the same strain by Mr.. Berrien, Of Georgia, who
seldom chimes in with Mr.. Calhoun. lie likewise
takes bold, plain Southern ground, openly and
above-board. Yet Mr.. Berrien is wing, and
supporter of General Tayor's nomination. In adj
dtion to this, find that the discontinued journals
IN this region Of the country, which have hereto
fore been in favor of General Cass, have repuda-
ted him, and are assuming the position taken by
this Northern party, which Is being organized on
anti-slavery ground The Tribune, heretofore
leading wing journal, jumps into the move
ment with ecstacy, rejoices that the question OF
slavery has at length come up, and that New York
has uttered her sentiments through Mr.. Dix It is
probable. therefore, that the DISCONTINUED wings of
New York. with the odds and ends of all parties
which entertain feelings Of hostility to the South,
will unite in the Northern movement, and organize
vast and terrible party anti-slavery principles,
a ground of opposition that may lead to unutera-
bic danger to the country at large
The convention ofthe disconnected wings at Wor
cester, has Evolved new feeling on the subject,
and the applause and shouts in favor of Mr. Van
Buren,, and of the position which he has TAKEN
may be looked upon foregone conclusion, that
| there will be a vast accession of force to this
movement from Massachusetts and other East
en and Northern States.
| The course Of this new movement is onward.
/ Il