The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-11
From The -Albany CIV. ~ Register Of October sh
The M&efInn Mt the CnnitaI.

the old Wing spirit is still alive, unquenchabe and
undismayed. The hall of the Capitol was crowded
to OVERLOOKING, and it is seldom that a larger
respectable meeting Is gathered in the city Of
Albany
The meeting was called to order by MIR. John s.
Van Rensselaer,, who nominated for president AN
DREW kIRK, which was carried by reclamation.
The following persons were then appointed vice
presidents and secretaries:
Vice Presidents-Ralph Pratt. John S. Van Rens
selaer, William McElroy, w. w. Woolford, Chris
TOPPER Adams, and William Mix.
Sscretaries--Nathan q. King, B. X. Spelman,
and Hale Kingsley.
On motion the following gentlemen were APP
pointed committee TO draft resolutions for the con-
sideraton of the meeting:
John &. Spencer, Samuel Stevens, James A. Ire
mere, Arthur II. Root, and Philip Wendell.
There had been, prior to this, vehement calls from
the meeting for Mr.. Duer, and motion was now
made and carried by reclamation, that while the
committee were preparing resolutions the meeting
should be addressed by him.
Mr.. Duer then came forward and MADE most
brilliant and telling speech, which was frequently
interrupted by tremendous bursts OF applause.
THE meeting was protracted TO SO late an hour
that prevented giving sketch of his
marks to-day. as we had intended, but will do SO
to morrow
At the conclusion of Mr.. Duer's remarks,
Mr.. John c. Spencer, from the committee
solutions, reported the following, which he read to
the meeting:
Resolred That in the present condition of our
public affairs and in view OF the sectional aglta-
tons ionented by designing men, we feel the pro-
priety of calling to ctr remembrance the last ad
monitons of the Father of his Country. In that
matchless farewell which closed his public life, he
embodied the following sentiments, which seem SO
peculiar adapted to present times, that we can in
no way well express views, by the fial
adoption of his own words "The unity of gov
eminent which constitutes you one people is also
now dear to you. 1t is justly so; for it is main
pillar in the edifice Of your real independence; the
support of your tranquility at home, your peace
abroad of your safety, of your prosperity, of that
very liberty which you so highly prize. But it is
easy to see, that from different causes and from diff
ferent quarters, much pains will be TAKEN many
articles employed to weaken in your minds the
conviction of this truth, this is the point in your
political fortress against which the batteries OF
internal and external enemies will be most
stantly and actively, though often 'covertly and
insdiousy, directed; II is of infinite moment
that you should properly estimate the immense
value of your national union to your collective
and individual happiness; that you should cherish
a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to
1t; accusoming yourselves TO think and speak of
1t as the Palladium of your political safety and
prosperity; watching for its preservation with
jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may
suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event
be abandoned, and Indignantly frowning upon the
hrst dawning OF every attempt TO ALLEVIATE any por-
ton OF our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the
sacred ties which now link together the various
parts" 'In contemplating the causes which may
disturb our Union, it occurs a matter of serious
concern that any ground should have been fur
nlshed for characterizng parties by geographical
dlscrlmlnatons-Northern and Southern, Atlantic
and We5tern-whence designing men may en-
deavor to excite belief that there is real differ
ence OF local interests and views. One of the expe-
dients of party to acquire influence within particu-
lar districts, is 10 misrepresent the opinions and
aims of other districts. You cannot shield your
selves too much against the jealousies and heart
burnings which spring from these msrepresenta-
tons; they tend TO render alien TO each other those
WI uoh IN he hu frate
ton
Resolred, That we cherish in our Utmost hearts
these wise and patriotic sentiments, and that VIC
earnestly commend them to the oftrenewed con-
alteration Of our cOuntrymen.
RssoireG, That the existence Of geographical or
sectional parties is utterly inconsistent with that
unity which is 50 essential To the continuance of
our Government and must inevitably produce col
lisious that terminate only in open rupture and
civil war. That in view of these consequences,
and in obedience to the spirit Of our Constitution
and the injunctions of Washington, the Wings Of
the Union have ever sedulously main tanned the
tionalty Of their party, by regarding essential
articles Of their political faith those principles only
which embraced the whole country, and which
might be adopted by intelligent men ofal sections.
We arc more and more convinced, by daily expe-
rience, that rigid adherence TO tins principle is
absolutely indispensable, not only TO the existence
Of the party, but TO the continuance Of the Union Of
these States.
Resolved, That as opinions on the various ques-
ons sprnging out Of the institution OF slavery are
in their nature geographical and sectional il is inn
possible that they should constitute the basis Of
national partyj and while we cheerfully admit the
right and duty Of every citizen TO form and
press, on all suitable occasions, his sentiments on
that subject, yet we deny the right Of any man, or
Of any body Of men, % prescribe their views in
lation Ia u az the measure Of our faith, the
test Of our membership Of the same political party.
We hold that, like religious subjec IL, IL cannot aud
ought not TO enter into the creed Of political par
", but is matter for the individual judgment and
conscience OF each person.
Resolued, That resolution passed by n majority
Of the convention lately assembled nj Syracuse is,
in our judgment, a departure from the principles
hereinbciore expressed; that resolution declared
that thanks especially due 10 the Senator from
this State, elected by the whigs, Tor the signal
ability and fidelity with which be had sustained, in
the United States Senate thosc principles of public
policy 20 long cherished by the Whgs Of this State.
We cannot regard this ~ mere compliment TO
the individual, but as an emphatic approval Of the
principles Of public policy which he sustained in
the Senate, and declaration that those are the
principles Of the Wings OF New York.
Certainly the most prominent, If not the exclu-
sive principles advocated by that Senator during
the last session Of Congress- were ultra and extreme
on the subject Of slavery, and in respect 10 which
he differed from large number of Wing Repre-
sentativos from this STATE in the House. well
from those who have heretofore been considered the
champions and standard bearers of party in the
Senate. The selection OF those peculiar principles,
therefore, for commentator, accompanied by the
pies OF the Wings Of this State no authoritative
declaration Of political faith by the representatives
Of those Wings, which If not openly and emphati-
cally repudiated and disavoved, became at once
test Of party fidelity. Believing that assertion 70
be unfoundod in fact, 10 be Misrepresentation of
the sentiments Of the great body of the party in THE
State, 10 be most mischevOus in its tendency, both
in respect 20 the continuance Of our communion
with the Wings Of other States, and in its effects
upon success at the coming election; and deem
ing il unjust and unkind to the distinguished
Wings Of the Senate, who had opposed and resisted
the principles thus commended, we heartily APP
prove the Of those delegates in the conven-
ton who, after the regular and legitimate business
completed, by the decisive and extreme act Of
separating from the majority, proclaimed TO the
whole Union their total and absolute dissent from
such articles OF political faith.
Resolped, That convention of those Wings who
satisfied with the old land marks and creed Of
the party, who believe them sufficiently broad for
all who sincerely love the country and lite Union,
and who therefore adverse 10 any new platform,
whether formed at Buffalo or elsewhere, IL demand.
ed by the occasion, in order 20 reassure Wing
friends in other States of our fidelity 10 our com
mon principles, Of our adherence TO the cOmpro-
misses ofthe Constitution, well TO those parts
that are favorable to us, and Of our inhexible de-
termination not TO be separated from them in the
contests which involve our common prosperity.
Rssoived, That we have the strongest confidence
that the deliberations Of such n convention will re-
suit IN not only uniting all Wings, but in Civ
ing strength TO the party by indicating is princi