Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-09-26
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER ee, Is4e
Hunkers and Northumberland Of
lIni0M


Hunkers and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of
Union.
That Southern Democrats should raise the shout
OF JOY and triumph upon the coalition recently form
ed between the Hunkers aud Barnburners Of New
York, is something strange. To realize the force
of the remark, il is necessary 10 know who these
Hunkers and Barnburners are-their points of agree
ment and disagreement, and the attractive power
which has brought them together. Previous to lS47,
these party factions OF the Democracy were known
as the Conservatives and Radicals, or Democrats
and Radicals, whose operations referred TO matters
Of internal State policy, merely. In September of
that year, convention was held at Syracuse, com
posed OF both factions 10 prepare for the altered
state OF things brought about by the new consiitu-
ton, which had introduced the elective system full
ly into the State and expressed by distinguish
ed actor in the of that day, had "decentral
iscd" all things. In ;his convention the following
resolution was offered and laid on the table.
"ResolDed, That while the Democracy of n Y.
York, represented in this Convention, will adhere
TO all the compromises of the constitution and main
tain all the reserved rights of the States, they de-
clare-since the crisis has arrived when that ques-
lion must be met-their uncompromising hostility
to the extension Of slavery into territory now free
which may be hereafter acquired by any action of
the government of the United States"
The disposition of the resolution (laying on the
'abe) offended the radicals in the meeting, and they
called another, the Herkimer Convention, which
met not long after New nominations were made
by this body; and in their address to the Democra-
cy of New York, they assert that the resolution set
| aside at Syracuse, was an "inseparable article in
their creed''-one which the civilized world ap-
proved, and which the N. York Democracy should
sustain. Hero. and by these means, the disorgani-
cation of the Democracy of the State was completed
After this, we hear of the Hunkers and Barnburn
ers; and all remember the two sets of Deegates
representing these factions, and claiming seats in
the Democratic National Convention, which met
in Baltimore, May, 1913, and the exclusion of the
latter Than this party, more determined and more
efficient opposers Of Southern institutions and in
terests, Cannot be fUand Through all their meet
ngs and exhibitions, the anti slavery plank of the
platform is carefully preserved and down to the
present time will presently appear, they hug to
their hearts the one principle upon which they set
out-and yet Southern Democrats rejoice, that the
New York Democracy now embody such power
full and persevering enemy Of their rights.
We now turn attention to the Conventions of
1919, where we shall find the party names, Dem
ocrats and Free Sellers, INTERCHANGEABLE used for
iunkers and Barnburners, and that the proposition
for union came from the former. This single fact
speaks volumes in regard to the natural allies p
Yes, upon the invitation of the Democracy, they
and the Free Sellers met at Rome, on the 9Th of
August, in separate meetings, to "bill and coo' it
for while, by way of experiment, 10 ascertain if
love was there, and which loved the more. Well
whatever might be the degree Of the tender passion
for each other, they united most heartily in their
hatred of slavery an institution, and conceded,
one TO the other, the power Of Congress over it in
the territories. find get Southern Democrats re-
oice al the union Of two factions utterly at variance
with their views of Southern rights. This is Won
derful!
They differed, however, in this, that willie the
Free Sellers would have their principles the test of
political orthodoxy, the Democrats demurred and
so the parties separated to think over the past and
lay new plans for the coming regular Conventions
| for State nominations. The Democrats according
y assembled at Syracuse, OF the 9Th of the present
month, and again made conciliatory moyc, and
| thus verified the remark of member Of the Bal-
more Convention, that ''the idea of a Democratic
party not changing lis system of organization 10
meet new circumstances, certainly not very
progressive" There is certainly progress in these
! Observation-Disclosures leave to such of the
Southern Democracy, as glory in the coalition.
MARTIN VAN buren, was once "Norihern
man with Southern feelings" Failing to receive a
nomination in 1914, change over the esprit
| of his Dream" and he is Northern man with
| Abolition feelings. How soon the whole Deluocra-
! cy of New York may be with him, heart and soul
is question brought up by the late movement
Certainly Mr.. JOHN Van buren, is in high spirits
at the prospects ahead. In speech before the late
Convention, at the moment of sealing the Union; he
is reported thus-"We expect 10 make the Demo
cratic party of this State the great antSlavery par
| y Of this State, and through it to make the Demo
cratic party Of the United States the great anti
SIdrcry party Of the United States" Southern
| Democrats, if permitting themselves TO rejoice at
such combination Of forces, in view Of its effects
upon Whiggery, have reason 10 rejoice with tremb.
! ling. The fusion may lead TO an eruption fearful
! in the extreme. Hear Mr.. john VAN buren, again ,
in resolution submitted by hm and passed, as we
presume:
| "Resoiotd, That. in common with the Demo-
cratic Convention {!Iunker) recently assembled at
! Rome the 9th August last, satisfied that
! there is such agreement in favor Of the princi-
/ pies OF human freedom, not only authoTises, but
demands the reunion Of the Democratic party Of
! New York." &c.
And yet Southern Democrats throw up their caps