The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-15
TIL E R EPU BLIC .
w ASH N GTON:
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUG. Is. ls49
UNDERSTANDABLE REUNION"

We are watching with some interest the
movements of the two branches Of the De-
mocracy in New York, preliminary to the
peace convention. From the resolutions
in the various districts, we are at loss to
imagine what may be the result. The
politicians of the BUTLER school, who
have been living on the public for thirty
wears, and cannot endure the idea of ex-
clusion from the offices, will fall in, per-
haps, with the principles of reunion re-
commended by the ex-ohicial organ. They
will agree to all mental reservations, and
perfect liberty Of thinking on every sub
| iect, and to recognise the name as the
only test of Democracy, without reference
to principles. Then there are some honest
Free-Soilers, who will adhere to the VAN
BURENs, and persist in their determine
ton to emancipate the Democratic party
from the control of the corrupt Richmond
clique, who broke down the elder VAN
buren, in 1874. They will go into no
struggle based upon the idea of sharing
power with the DENBYs, MAsoNs, RIT-
cHIEs, and STEvENsoNs. They are de-
termined to rescue the party from the
odium of connexion which has brought
SO much disgrace upon the name worn by
| the followers of Mr.. JEFFERSON, whose
principles have descended upon the pre-
sent Administration. Then there are the
Old Hunkers, who are willing to abandon
all tests, but they will never consent to
give the "Free Democracy" that degree
of control by which they can take the
power of the party in the State; and the
Barnburners, thinking the Old Hunkers
have held and abused power long enough,
will probably agree to nothing less.
We find in the journals of the two sec
tons of the New York Democracy the
| resolutions of the various local conven-
tons, which seem to partake very strongly
of the color ofthe respective prints in which
they appear. First, we turn to the Al
bany .drgus, the organ of the Old Hun
kers, and find that the Democrats in the
first Assembly district of Steuben county
have agreed that the Wilmot proviso quar-.
rel is a mere quarrel about goats wool,
and amounts to nothing; but they have
also agreed to another resolution, which
seems to modify the effect of this under.
standing. The latter is in the following
words:
Resolved, That we opposed to the extension
Of slavery into territory now free, and are in favor
It adopting every constitutional means for Its pre-
| :. that in the opinion Of this convention
C .nuo,; power to legislate upon, and con.
sso''sn,' no nosr 70 establish, slavery in free ter
rtory acquired by the Unite S'a'eS
The Democratic convention - 'ne 'iiiiu
Assembly district of Erie county haTS
also passed resolutions, which we find IN
the .4rgus. They are opposed to the Will
mot proviso test, because they think IT
will break up and destroy the Democratic
party. We copy two of their resolutions;
Resolved, That our faith in the principles OF the
| Democratic party, as proclaimed and practsed IN
times past, remains mistaken; and although de-
feated in the last election, that defeat was, IN our
opinion, the consequence Of disafeeion in our oton
party, and not from the popularity of the men OF
doctrines Of our opponents
| Resoiped, That the points Of difference between
the two sections Of the Democratic party theo-
retical rather than PRACTICAL that although the ex
istence Of slavery is considered by the people OF
| the free States without reference TO party,
moral and political evil, that It is their duty as vel
as their privilege to express that sentiment through
their representatives IN Congress, yet we are OPP
posed TO the incorporation into the creed Of the
Democratic party Of the nation any new principle
or test upon the subject We feel that such at
tempt would fail Of it's design, and, instead Of ben
citing any portion Of our people by the action o.
the General Government, IT would break up and
destroy the Democratic party, and thereby post
pone indefinitely any action upon that subject
which would be but one Of the many evils conse
quent upon the Reorganization Of the Democratic
party.
Now we come to the organ of the Barn
burners and their resolutions. The AL
bany .Afias publishes the resolutions o
the free Democracy of Sullivan county
from which we copy the following:
! Resolved That the fearful increase in the numbe
Of slaves IN our country is, in our Judgment, th
natural and inevitable result Of the almost unlimite
extension of slave territory; that regard slayer
national, social and political evil; and that, q
a moral and religious people, we feel ourseve
bound 10 resist its further extension.
Resolved That we consider the question as to III
power Of Congress TO legislae upon the subject q
slavery in the territories Of the United States, a
one that has been long settled, az well by the dec
sons Of the Supreme Court Of the United States
and the passage Of the ordinance Of 1867, as by tn
legislation Of Congress for more than fifty years
sanctioned and approved as II has been by JefieI
son, Madison, Jackson, Van Buren, and Polk.
ResoIred, That we regard eminenty just an
wise the exercise by Congress Of that power, b
which Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan
Iowa, and Oregon have been forever secured sgani
the evils Of slavery; and that we hold II TO be III
1 high and solemn duty Of Congress to extend TO ou
brethren in California and New Mexico the sam
{ legislative protection that has been thrown aroun
the citizens Of Oregon and elsewhere.
] Resolped, That, in our judgment, the success an
permanent prosperity Of the Democratic party n
= qure that we should nscribe upon our banners, q
part Of our creed, eternal hostility TO the furth'
extension Of slavery and that the earnest and "
ceaslng opposition Of the illustrious Jefferson to D
e further extension furnishes abundant authority e
Al. he