The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-19
The Presidential Crisis.

meet in the Universalis chuch in Baltimore, for
the purpose of nominating their candidate for the
election which is to take place the seventh OF
November next These delegates are daily passing
through this city, and approaching the place Of
meeting The Southern and Western delegates,
II appears, stop at Washington on their way, to con-
suit with the members of Congress and the friends
of the various candidates, and receive the latest
instructions and the newest fashions from that
central point of political istrgue corruption, folly
and Stiffness. There is no doubt that quorum
will be in attendance on the first day appointed for
the assembling of the convention in fact, the con-
vention will be full the State prison, only
of delegates, but of adherents to rascalty and poll
teal intrigues, who follow in the footsteps of the
members TO head quarters, for the purpose of talk
ing, intriguing, influencing, and bringing about, If
possible, the particular result to which the support
of each may be pledged. Baltimore will look as if
the doors of all the State prisons in the Union had
been opened for one day.
The meeting of this convention will be very
important crisis in the future existence of the de-
mocratic party Since the last convention in Bal
timore, which was held there four years ago, some
important questions have sprung up, that may af-
feet the character, composition and peace of this
lude to any of the old issues-the tariff, internal
improvements, bank, a government treasury, or
even to the Mexican war, or the annexation Of
Mexico, the side, or to the treaty which has
been sent there for confirmation, on the other On
all these questions there appears TO have been
positive unanimity among the various democratic
elements throughout the country, which will pro-
duce, on such points, perfect harmony among the
-. D..
very like the order and unanimity produced
at the castle of Sing Sing, by the authority
of the superintendent, with his nine tails.-
There is, however, one great bone of contention
which, for some months past has promised to exer-
else very important influence on the action, Hpt
only Of this convention, but on the policy of the
wings themselves, and ultimately on the result of
the Presidential election. We allnde TO the new
question which was started in Congress about two
years ago, in the shape of resolution by Mr. Will
mot, of Pennsylvania, for the purpose Of restrict
ing the extension of slave territory to the States in
which it now exists, and for guarantying that in
all future acquisition of territory by the United
States, freedom from that institution should be the
prevailing principle and policy of the government
This resolution sort of half-blood or mulatto
doctrine, which involves entirely new princ-
pie and measure in the democratic party was de-
bated In Congress at the time ii was introduced
and since then il has been taken up in several
States OF the Union, by various sections of the
democratic masses, but particularly il has been
made a very important issue in the State of
New York, and has divided the hitherto united
masses of the democracy in this State, into two
powerful and violent factions, called old hunkers,
who oppose ii, and bamburners who support it, Ii
has been alleged by those hostile to the Wilmot
proviso, that the motive of the barnburners for
adopting such new principle of action in the
democratic party, has been dishonest indirect and
personal. They allege that because Mr. Van Bu-
rem lost his nomination for the Presidency four
years ago, he and his friends, out of thef chagrn
have taken up this question In the State of New
York, and have gwen 1t Its existing prominence,
tor the purpose of creating the very division which
they have produced and, no doubt, in the expecta-
ton that il will the defeat of the democrats
in the Presidential election and the success of Mr.
Clay, if he should be the wing candidate for the
Presidency.
There certainly is some color-a half-blood tint
for such supposition. Wien Mr.. Clay arrived in
New York, few months ago, be was hand and
glove with ex-President Van Buren,, and both
seemed TO understand the position, motives, and
views OF each other Mr. Clay kissed the ladies'
while Mr.. Van Buren, simply looked on yet it Is
probable that although such personal motives may
animate certain portion of the barnburners there
yet large party OF them who support the Wilmot
proviso, or muatto, democracy, from more general
and national principles of action, growing out of
the peculiar character of the measure involved
There is, undoubtedly, among all classes of the
people OF the North abstract dislike and hostility
towards the institutions of the South affecting the
slave population. Hitherto these feelings have
been held In allegiance in consequence of the qua
ranues contained the constitution of the United
States preserving that species of property intact
TO the Southern States, beyond the reach of
interference, either legal or otherwise, from
the agitators and negro-lovers of the North
Of late years, however, certain portions of the
Southern States, and more particularly of South
Carolina and Alabama have put forward this
institution as principle of general action
for that section of the Uuion TO stand on in host
lily to the interests, feelings and preudices of the
Northern States The creation. therefore of n
party in The bosom OF the democracy of the
Northern States, founded in some degree on the
principle of restricting the slave institutions of the
South, and preventing the extension of slavery to
new territory, has been fomented and encouraged
tat least IT is so pretended) by some Of the ultra
movements of the South itself. In the present in
stance, at meetings called for the appointment of
delegates to the Baltimore convention, in Alabama,
and several other Southern States, resolutions
were passed declaring that under no circumstance
would the people of those sections support can.
didate Tor the Presidency who did not concur
with them IN their extreme opinions with regard
TO tn institution OF slavery in the new terrirori
that might be conquered by the arms of III. Uni.
ted States. On this point therefore, the barnbu,n.
ers OF the North, and the ultras of the South. are
directly at issue.
Such Is brief view of one of the exciting