The southern press., 1850-10-04
THE MINORITY ADDxEa6
u the N. Y. Wink 6tato Convention


been compelled to withdraw from the convention
and withhold their appreciation OF It's proceed
ings, have deemed 1t proper to submit 10 Your
consideration statement of the reasons that have
impelled them to this 1t was evident up
on the assembling OF the convention, that II was
divided into two parties, one of which was COM
posed of those who embraced the peculiar princl-
piles, and regarded with extraordinary favor the
political course of MIR. w. II. Seward, one Of
the Senators from the State Of New York, IN the
Congress Of the United States; while the opposite
party represented the opinions of that class
which, while recognizing the individual referred
to to be Wing, holding an eminent position, yet
regard his course upon questions more important
than any that divide the political parties of the
country with sentiments the reverse OF approba-
tiou.
1t also appeared that a majority Of the
members were of the former class. Between per-
sons thus differing, it is obvious that there was
but one basis of union. Neither party could rea-
sonabIy expect to degrade the other by requiring
it to abandon its principles on questions where
differences existed but both might unite without
forfeiture OF se!f-respect upon such principles
were held in common. II was accordingly upon
this basis that the undersigned constantly labored
TO preserve and secure the union Of the Wing
party OF the State. 4a3
Immediately after the permanent organization of
the convention committee of eight was appointed
TO prepare resolutions for its adoption. -Four of
the members of this committee were appointed
from the minority of the converton, and the
other four We're selected by the majority, and
nominated by the president at their request. This
committee, after long session, IN which matters
upon which differences Of opinion existed were
frankly and fully discussed, agreed upon a set Of
resolutions In which all the members OF the COM
mittee, with single exception, fully concurred
The dissenting member, who was of the majority
party, was willing to give his assent if an addition
CHI I,A ,dat .t
ton his three colleagues of the same party be-
lIeved to be immaterial, and it was left doubtful
when the COMMITTEES adjourned whether lie would
not, before the report was made, give his assent
unconditionay, so that such report might be
unanimous.
@ When these resolutions were reported to the
convention, they were received with great and
very general applause, and, with rare exceptions,
satisfaction beamed from every face at the pros
pect of harmony and united action. 1t was not
long, however, before malisn influence proceed
ing not so much from members Of the convention
as from others without ii, and which was con-
stantly at work to distract the convention, and
thereby divide or separate the Wing party, began
to exhibit itself. Under the promptings Of certain
individuals, symptoms of dissatisfaction were
manifested and motion was made ard carried To
lay the resolutions on the table for the purpose of
proceeding To the nomination of candidates This
motion was stated and carried, not however as a
reference only to the order of business; and when
II was represented to the minority that this pro-
ceedIng LETT them In ignorance whether resolutions
framed IN a spirit of compromise were to be
adopted, or whether others to be substituted,
to which they could not assent submit, the
convention refused to proceed to the nomination
OF candidates, and after making the resolution the
special order on the assembling Of the conven-
ton The next morning and thereby giving them
precedence over the nominations, Immediately ad-
iourned.
Afer the adjournment OF the convention, the
delegates OF the majority party met together, and
sat IN secret session till late hour in the night.
The undersigned were not permitted to be presen,
even as spectators On the assembling of the
convention III the morning, the effects of this ex-
traordlnary proceeding were manifest. The spirit
of harmony seemed TO have fled from the maiori-
ty. They moved together and voted together,
solidly and impenetraby, reversing the proceed
ings of the preceding day. They laid the special
order on the table, and proceeded te the nomina-
ton of candidates. After this business was COM
pleted, one OF the majority (Mr. CornwelD in
troduced series of resolutions, which, it is pre-
sumed, were agreed upon in caucus the previous
night, and which he moved as a substitute for the
resolutions reported by the committee-to some
of these resolutions the undersigned were strongly
opposed, for the reason that they considered them
as implying censure upon the President and his
Cabinet, and countenancng a repewal ofagitation
on the subject OF slavery.
The substitute, together with the original rcso.
lutions were, after an earnest appeal, allowed to
be recommitted to the committee on resolutions, to
which eight new members were added !; but it was
soon apparent that the concession was one of
form, and not of substance The three members
OF the committee who had warmly supported the
compromise resolutions, opposed them now. The
substitute or Mr.. Cornwe was insisted on with
out any alteration that rendered it, the slight
est degree, more acceptable to us. The commit
tee being thus unable to agree, reported that fact
10 the convention, when the resolutions of Mr..
Cornweil were taken up and passed. Upon their
passing, the undersigned left the convention, as
they had given notice they intended to do.
Thus 1t appears that after the majority would
have been satisfied with the passing of the resolu-
tons reassertlng all the principles heretofore as
serted by the Wings of New York-harmony
might have been preserved, and the Wings have
continued united. Yet with full knowledge that
the consequences would be a secession from the
convention ani division of the party, they in
sisted upon an introduction of matter highly of
fensve to the majority, and certain to produce
disunlon and defeat. The resolutions of Mr..
Cornwel TO which objections were entertained,
were the following:
s. Resoired, That our thanks are especially due
to the Hon. William H. Seward, for the signal
ability and fidelity with which he has sustained
IN the United States Senate those beloved princi-
Wings OF the Empire State, expressed in the State
and county conventions, as well as in the votes
and instructions of our State legisature-those
principles are eminently national ana republican,
because they are just and equitable.
.. ReSoired, That the Wings OF New York have
confidence in the honest purposes and patriotic
motives which animated the Wing representatives
from this State in the federal legislature, upon the
embarrassing questions which have been agitated
during the present Congress.
I. Resored, That the admission Of California
INTO the Union as State, with free constitution,
meets with our hearty approval, and as a terrific
rial government is established for New Mexico
and Utah, without any prohibitory clause, on the
assumption that slavery is excluded by other
causes, tits the solemn duty Of Congress to extend
the JettersonIan ordinances over those Territories
on the first indication that slavery or involuntary
servltude is likely to be introduced into the Terri
tories,
Any one at all conversant with public events
will at once understand what the embarrassing
questions alluded to in the 7th resolution of MIR.
Cornwell, and the 8lh resolution OF the committee
Reference is had to the bills for establishing terri
torial governments in New Mexico and Utah, and
the bill for the settlement of the boundary OF
Texas, ard especially TO the latter measure. The
President of the United States recommended ,be