The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-26

barnOurnerB
Van Buren's Letter,
The Herald was much sought after yesterday,
in consequence of its containing full and graphic
report of the proceedings of the Barnburners Con-
venton at Utica, which convened for the purpose
of nominating candidates for the presidency and
vice. presdency on the Wilmot proviso principle.
The proceedings of that Convention were highly
interesting and important. They foreshadow
state of parties and state of things, which will at
no distant day. exert great influence for good or
for evil in the United States. They confirm US In
the views which we expressed few days since,
that if this party gather strength and accession
from all the Northern and Middle States, the
North will, in few years, be again arrayed
against the South, and momentous conse-
quences, even a dissolution Of the Union, may
follow The movement ostensby set on
foot to promote the principle contained in the
30 called Wimot provlso; but that, in real-
ty, had nothing to do with the views gifts orgna
tors, Mr.. Van Buren's letter to the contrary not
withstanding. 1t was originated with the sole and
sage view of defeating General Casss nomination
by the Baltimore Convention, and has been con-
tnued for the purpose of defeating his election af
ter be received the nomination. This was partly
avowed by the Hon. Samuel Young, the president
of the convention at Utica, who, IN defining his
course in the democratic national convention, OF
1874, said that Mr. Van Buren, was betrayed, that
ne should have been nominated instead of Mr..
Polk, and that the nomination of the latter gentle
man was a fraud upon the people. Mr.. Van Buren,
and his friends could not brook this slight, and as
it was brought about by the influence of General
Cass and his friends, he and his friends vowed
vengeance, and determined to pull counter
to General Cass in every possible way
They accordingly sought their opportunity; and
the Wilmot proviso offering fair ground on which
to plant themselves, they organized themselves in
to separate party in this State, and elected their
delegates to the National Convention of 1S4S If
they were admitted into that Convention, they
would have voted against the nomination of Gen.
Cass; but as they were denied admttance, they
resorted to the only alternative left to them-that
of nominating candidates of their own, with the
purpose of defeating Gen Casss election, by taking
from him the vote of the State of New York
Leaving out of view the principle contained in the
Wilmot proviso, which the barnburners have
adopted as their hobby, these were the motives
and these were the purposes of the barnburners
Mr.. Van Buren's letter is ably written; his
views and exposuons are clear, and clothed with
eloquent and strong language. A abored attempt
to conceal modification and chagrin is evident;
bun the cloven foot STICKS out foot or more not
wishstanding. Why so much alluson to himself? ?
Is il because he was, by previous arrangement,
rendered, by letter, the nomination of the barnburn-
ers7 No. that was done by preconcerted arrange
ment, for tile purpose of giving time and OPP
poriunity to do away with the impression that
he was cbarrined by his defeat in 1874. and en-
fertalned no hostility towards Gen. Cass on that
accouni-with what success is apparent
The truth is, this organization Of the barnburn-
ers, as a distinct party, on the Wilmot provlso
principle when Invested of the webs that have been
woven around it ngeniously by the intimate
friends of Mr.. Van Buren,, is nothing more nor less
than another notification movement, for the pur-
pose we have mentioned. il will assuredy, how
ever, break up the democratic party it is at pre-
as a separate party, the platform on which it is
erected being too narrow. II will only serve to
split the democratic party into fragments The
Taylor party, on the contrary, is comprehensive
American party, and when in power, will retain it
long desired, if the leaders only manage pro-
perry.
GREAT FEe AT TAUNTON, Mass Bnrsror.
CouRT HOUSE, BrRNr-We are indebted to Daven-
ton IL Masons n Bedford, Taunton and New York
Express, for slip from the office OF the american
Wig, Taunton from which learn that the
Bristol County House took fire IN the roof aboul
O'Clock y. NJ, Saturday, and ~ a heap OF ruins