The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-10-10
From the Charleston Mercury.
NEW YORK POLITICS.

l NJ my State Convention OH "euHtSntJ
of last week. adopted the following as its party
creed on the slavery question:
Resolved, That the Federal Constitution was
formed and adopted express TO secure the
blessings of liberty to the people Of the United
States, and their PostrritY; aud that no power
was given therein to extend the curses of slave
ry, wherefore me maintain that Congress has
the right, and is in duty bound TO abolish slave.
ry wherever II exists in the territories of the
Union, and plainly prohibit its establishment in
any portion of the territories at any time here
alter
Resolued, .Tha, recognising the restriction of
cardinal principles of our political faith, VIC
pledge ourselves TO our fellow.citzens and the
country, to exercise, TO the utmost. all the pow
er We may possess to prevent The extension OF
slavery over q foot Of free soil.
This is one side and the occasion is aPpro.
pirate to bring in comparison the position taken
nv the Democratic party, or rather parties, in
The same State. We wish there might he some
thing to choose between them, but lear there is
not. SO far as this issue is concerned.
The Convention the Hunkers nj Syracuse,
early in September, nominated II full ticket for
State officers, but al the same time authorized
IFS Standing Committee to withdraw one half Of
the list, provided the other faction would fill
cd,icket. On the subject ofslavcry they adopt.
ed The following resolutions:
/. Rcsolred, 'Tha, we are Opposed to the cx.
tenlion of slavery TO The free territories of The
United States, but we do not regard the slavery
question, in any form of its agitation, or any
opinion in relation thereto, as test OF political
faith, or as rule Of party action.
2. Resolred, That the power Of Congress
over slavery in the territories, and the particu.
lar modes of legislation thereon, are, among
Democrats. conrovcrted questions; and that
we conccde to every one in relation thereto the
undi>purd right of opinion, not regarding any
particular mode of constitutional construction
on This question part OF the Democratic creed,
or as essential to fellowship with our Democratic
brethren in this Stale, or in any section Of the
Uuion.
They furthermore re affirmed the resolutions
Of the Democratic Presidential Convention al
Baltimore.
The Barnburncrs' Convention was held al
proposal Of a compromise ticket and adopted
resolutions on the slavery question essentially
the same as those of the Whig Convention
quoted at the head of this article, only going
further in distinctly naming the District Of
Columbia. In conclusion, they invited a mass
Convention of both divisions Of the party to as
semhe at Syracuse and raliy the amalgama.
tion. 4 meeting was accordingly held on the
l4,h ult., which approved the compromise
ticket, and adopted the following resolution on
slavery:
Rcsolced, That Congress has the Constitu.
lional power overy slavery in the District Of
Columbia, and has no power over the subject in
the States. That it possesses. in our opinion,
full power over the subject in the territories Of
the United States, and should exert that power
on all occasions of attempts to introduce it
there; but as the constitutional power is 1urs.
toned. we are wiling 10 TO crate The free exer-
else Of individual opinion upon that question
among members Of the Democratic family, who
are willing to rally under ono standard, and
support tho ticket nominated by the recent
State Conventions.
Ifthis resolution were the fair expression Of
the sentiments Of the two divisions, it could
hardly he denied that the Van Buren, wing had
carried the day, and that the union was formed
by ii surrender to their principles. We do not
think this to be the case. The Mass Convention
was called by the Barnhurncrs alone, and it is
affirmed that it was made up almost exclusively
of their party, and was in fact nothing else than
the fas.snd OF the Barnburncrs' Convention,
rot up to cover, with an air of responsibility,
the dissolution of the Van Buren, Free Soil fac.
tinn. A well informed correspondent Of the
New York Journal Of Commerce writes thus ::
What was this Mass Convention? Was it a
Convention oi the united Democracy? Assur.
rdly not. 1t was nothing bu, trick OF the
Barnburners, got up by them for the secret
purpose Of ensuring union in case all their
other efforts failed. and forgive them drcen,
prctcxt 10 merge themselves into the National
Democratic party. But can there be anything
more absurd, or farcica, than Mass Conven.
ton for tho adoption Of great principles OF an
empire such as the State of New York, and
especially as in this case. An assemblage of
300 persons, self appointed, concocted by the
Free Sellers, and consisting almost wholly of
Barnburners, with not more lnau dozen
Hunkers 10 represent their party in this august
assemblage. might have passed resolutions con.
signing the South to one common ruin, and
might have resolved that it was cxpcdient To
deprive the planter Of his goods and chattlrs |!
This Mass Convention WIS in fac1 nothing more
than an adjournment Of the Barnhmrner Utica
Convention to Syracuse.
While il would be has,y, then, to conclude
tha, The Democratic party Of New York are
hpnccforih to occupy the Free Soil platform Of
ihnir Whis OPPONENTS il must he confessed that
they have placed themselves in a position which
deprivcs them of the confidence of The Southern
Democrats, and for the time being, wcakcns
the union and The power of Tic great Demo-
cratic party.
Mr. Editor. For mussy's sake. do fell me.