The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-07

THE PHNburgh CoHunii0a-Hy d,pcrt>-H,
Influence on the N0riircd- ProyDccts oc The
Campaign, &c.
BALTIMORE, Oct /, 1852.
To Tie Editor Of the National Era.
On the Sth of August last | left Baltimore
as delegate from Maryland to the National
Convention OF the Free Democracy ut Pitts
burgh, and returned on the DIST of Sentombor
making an absence of between six and seven
weeks IN all. 1t was my intention 10 have
written frequently to the Era as has been INV
hamt heretofore, as one of its accredited cor
respondents but the noise and confusion -
oi travel the want of ixdity for any consid-
cradle length OF time, at any one place. #
would add. somewhat of IA reluctance to sneoL
frequently OF myself if did not fear of heinz
even N"lPccied OF letting my modestv unduly
interfere with my uselulneSs-nO unusual weak
ness m those engaged IN advocating the RIGHT
rs was )-conspired to prevent the carving
out that intention.
now propose To take II rapid glance over
the field OF my observation under the imnros
SION, winch has remained upon my mind ever
SINCE came home, that can perhaps. afford
some encouraging data to the friends of Pro.
greSS IN general, and of the Free Democracy
IN particular,
FIRST, then, OF the Convention. | reached
IlttSbnrgh on the evening OF the 9th bv the
balumore ana Nusquchanna and the Prnnsyl-
wanna Central Railroads, which constitute n
continuous and expeditions route, only LAYING
over lew hours of the night mt that deliobt.
lul ana comfortable travellers retreat the
Mountain House. Already | found collected
ut Pittsburgh II considerable number Of dele.
gates, who were busy in private council ns
earnest men, devoted to the hest interests az a,
great, common cause: and every steamboat
and ral-car added to the number until the
hour Tor assembling the great convention Of
ireemen ! will not take up your space, at this
late date, IN any estimate of the number nrcs
ent Suffice 1t TO say, that the multitude exceed.
ed my antclpatons, Us did also the snirit tho
SiorIously hopeful and efficient spirit of tho
occasion. Surrounded az had been for mony
long months, by llunker and pro.slayerv ina1.
0nces with only such refracted light whom
not wholly withheld, rs the papers in this ro
glon are in the habit of giving from tho fold
Ot the free States, and with the dinning words
OF disconragement--"O Oh it is of no uso IN
attemptto rcorganilc the broken forces of vour
party constantly in my isolated ears was il
unnatural IN me not to expect much of our
Convention Imagine my agreeable SUNRISE
as you perhaps may from the descriptions
which others gave you of the rennimatinc
scene; and | regretted that YOU could not
have been present to add to its interest while
drinking m a. know you would have done.
the rare pleasures Of the occasion But This
much feel that ! ought to say: that wheths.
considered with reference Ia tho surface of the
country represented, the regularity of delega.
ton, the parties and sections of parties repre-
scented, the talent Of the delegated agents the
harmony of the body, which had nm opnor.
tunlty to contrast, rs an eyewitness. with the
discord OF the two Baltimore Conventions. and
the moral influence reciprocally exercised in
the Convention, and diifused upon the mass in
attendance whether foreign or local. il was a
most triumphant vindication of the deathless
Anti-Slayery sentiment Of the country against
the predictions of the prophets Of evil To
whom had been more or less induced to give
ear and whose ,c'Aes, so wOfully disappoint.
Cd thereby, were doubtless father 10 their
thoughts! went TO the Convention greatly
discouraged by the dsaiiection of John Van
Buren,, with whom ! frequently met en- route,
an 1913, and David WilmOt, Preston King, and
others, whom had watched in Congress and
elsewhere so enccuragedly, not to name that
other fallen spirit Henry B, Stanton but |
left it full of hope and JOY, feeling that there
was cheering truthfulness in the good old max
i'm, that "all is not lost that is in danger!p |
left it wiser if not better man-certainy a
more hopeful one, because | felt the better pre-
pared to endure the conflict for the Right in
the midst of the Wrong, here ut home, on my
return. . In this latter respect there was one
feature of the Convention, which | have neg
iected 20 notice by leaving it for the climax of
the above catalogue of good results, whereof
desired To speak ] refer to the large increase
m the number Of slaveholding States repre-
ented, over those represented ut the Buffalo
Convention rs also in the number of Southern
delegates Our strength wGs fully dopbied :
Was there no sign of hope aud progress in this
Tact! ! feel that there was
Next let us see whether the influence upon
the minds Of my co-laborcrs in the great North
west, where ! have been, was different in ma.
lure. will now hurriedly trace my route ia
Ibai direction From Pittsburgh | went TO
TIeveland, LA Belle Cleveland y by the safe
ana ShFadt'Ye, as well as speedy, route OF the