The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-05
The Barnburners- rMe,r pos,s,on--rnc,r Las.
Prom

The movement commenced by the baruburnsrs
of this State being OF great Importance IN the
present state of the country and of parties, have
spared no pains or trouble IN fully explaining it in
the columns of this journal We accordingly pub
llshed reports of John Van Buren's speeches, on
several occasions; ex-Presdent Van Euren's letter
TO the Utica Conventions; full report of the pro-
ceedings and nominations of that conventions; and
to-day, we publish our columns, the pronancia ,
mento of that convention, to all good ana true
baInburners, in this and all other States, on the
earib over the earth, and in the waters under the
eaIth-out of which it is supposed Mr.. Van Buren,
has been fished by some of the faithful, with
hook baited with the Presidency.
This Pronunciamento 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,
repudate The proceedings of the Baltimore Con-
venon, and nominate candidates of their own tor
the Presidency and Vice Presidency. 1t Is from
the pen of the Hon. Benjamin +. Butler, Citizen
Butler, as he has been dubbed by the new party.
| The opinions and views promulgated in it, attract
prodgious deal of attention, and are looked upon
as 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 being nominated
as the candidate of that party. This, however, is
the malest feature about it, 1thas, in fact, given
importance to him, and not he to it. This attempt
on the platform of the Wilmot proviso, and ult-
mately 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. 1t 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 exea-
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 prlnc-
pie of any kind. For long period of his life he
! occupied bold and manly Southern ground on the
slavery question, and he never saw or acknow
lodged any immoral tendency in that position, I'M
I'll he was 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
! Is irresistible that he has medtated it ever since
| his defeat in lS44, and on the nomination being
again rendered to him IN 1913. Ali 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 new movement-this terrible current, this
dangerous rapd-comblning, as itdoes, all the mo-
raj and immoral sentiment, floating through the
Northern States, in hostility to the slavery lnstu-
tons of the South. lie and his party have, indeed
planted themselves on the principle contained in
the Wllmot provIso, fulcrum which to use
their lever; but that is all nonsense-a mere baga-
elle-albeit there is much stress laid upon it in
their journals their speeches, their letters and in
the proceedings OF the convention at Utica. 1t
amounts TO one thing only and that is, to form a
great Northern party, for the first time in the histo
ny 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
ground broadly on the platform of slavery, and on
Its extension to the new territory acquired from
Mexico by the treaty which has recently been rati-
fled. Mr.. Calhoun boldly, decidedly and deter
minedly marks out this policy, and is followed in
the same strain by Mr.. Berren, 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 Taylors nomination. In adj
diton to this, we find that the disseminated journals
In this region of the country, which have hereto
fore been in favor of General Cass have repudia-
ted him, and are assuming the position taken by
this Northern party, which being organized on
anti-slavery ground The Tribune, heretofore
leading whig journal jumps into the new move
ment with ecstacy, rejoces 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 on anti-savery principles,
ground of opposition that may lead to unuttera-
bic danger TO the country at large.
The convention ofthe disconnected wings at Wor
ceser has evolved new feeling on the subject,
and the applause and shouts in favor of Mr.. Van
Buren,, and of the position which lie has taken.
may be looked upon a foregone conclusion, that
there will be a vast accession of force to this
movement from Massachusetts and other East
ern and Northern States
| The course Of this new movement is onward A