Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-09-06

allowed to be made matters of party faith,
or to form the basis qprty organization,
either al the North or The South.
"The Democracy of the United States,
well knowing this, have a all times stu
diously excluded the subject Of slavery
from their platform of principles, leaving
every one to the enjoyment Of his own
opinion on this subject, and 10 net thereon
as he should think proper, holding that q
Southern man who sustained the institu-
ton of slavery, was not, for that cause,
less sound as Democrat Than the Nor
thern man whose views were Of an oppo-
site character.
:'These have always been the views of
the Democratic party Of the Union, and
here we propose to leave all questions on
the subjuct of slavery.
''If you concur with us in these views,
holding that individual differences of opin-
ion upon the subject in question must be
allowed to exist, and that the opinion of
no one, on that subject, can rightfully be
called in question as. involving depart
ure from Democratic principles, or be con-
sidered test of his democracy, and de-
claring to act with lis upon that basis in
support of the regularly nominated candi-
dates of the Democracy of the State and of
the nation. we are prepared 10 Join in Sc
curing the formation of State ticket sat-
isfactory to both Conventions, and, as we
should hope, to the Democracy Of the
State at large"
The Free Soil Committee, Mr. Pres
ton King, Chairman, } replied as follows {:
"Our Committee are prepared to state,
in reply to your communication, that we
are willing, with view TO unite the
Democratic party, to waive all questions
as to the regularity Of the two organiza-
tons, and to pass over, without remark,
the controversies of the past two years.
We can say to your Committee, that we
adhere to all the established principles of
the Democratic party ,and are authorized
to assure you that if the two Convention,
shall be found, upon the statement of the
opinions of each, to agree in principle on
the questions relating to slavery, we shall
desire TO unite, because We do not appre-
bend difference upon other questions of
princi pie, and to form single Stale Tick
ct for the whole Democracy of this State,
to reorganization, and TO form one united
party.
1--WE would remind your Convention
that our Convention ha. submitted
ted to yours proposition upon the ques-
tons OF slavery, in the territories, and the
power and duty of Congress upon that
subject, and on which we would respect
fully invite some action Of expression Of
your Committee and the Convention you
represent"
The Hunker Committee said in answer
to this:
In regard to the first and second of.hese
resolutions, We presume that neither Of
them is disputed or denied at the North;
and in regard to the last, and in fact upon
the whole subject of slavery. We propose
to recommend for the adoption of our Con-
vention the following resolutions:
"Resolred. That we believe the people
of the North are opposed to the introduce
ton Of slavery into territories now free;
that we deem it to be unwise and imprac-
ticable, and We cannot consent to make
that question party test, or TO incorpo-
rate it as an article of the political faith of
the democracy Of this State"
The Free Soil Committee refer red this
proposition to their Convention, which
adopted a resolution embodying commu-
nication 10 the Hunker Convention, in
which they say:
"Satisfie that the resolutions yester-
day adopted and communicated by this Con-
sention to your body are sound and De-
mocra'ic in principle-conident that they
are the sentiments Of great majority of
the people of this State, and especially of
the Democratic party regarding this pub
lie avowal by the Democratic party of this
State, at this time, as essential TO the in
terests Of the country, and believing that
the election Of Democratic candidates to
the State offices cannot be secured even
upon united action of these two Conven-
tons without distinct announcement of
the principles of these resolutions, this
Convention feel constrained to insist upon
them, as a frank expression of the views
entertained by the great body of the Dem
ocratic party of this States.'
"It regards this expression as alike due
to the party in this State as to their in the
Southern States, and to the world, that
there may be no concealment of the real
sentiments of the people On the subject.
whether they are thus tenacious on
this point, they are free to say that they
propose it as no test of any Mans indi-
vidual democracy, or OF his right to mem
bership and association with the party"
The reading of this sentence naturally
produced shout of laughter amongst The
Hunkers. The Free Soil communication
proceeds 10 say.
"under this explanation of the position
held by this Convention, it now tenders to
the other Convention an invitation TO as
semble together in one common Conven-
ton, adopting this distinct expression upon
the subject of slavery, and leaving all
other subjects upon which they apprehend
no disagreement TO the action of the Uni
ted Convention. If this invitation shall
be accepted, the members of this Conven-
ton will be prepared in their joint action
with those Of the other, to make the most
liberal concession. upon any other matter
of detail in the business which may occu-
Ply the attention of the United Convention,