The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-29

parry lhcb III hldSs iOnNeDllOu NJ lluNu'N'
At this Convention a resolution on slavery was
adopted, affirming the constitutional power OF
Congress over slavery in the District Of Column
bia and the Territories but not recommending
the exercise of the power in respect to the Dis
trict and only recommending its exercise IN
regard 10 the Territories "on occasions of at
tempts TO introduce slavery into them. The
resolution further declared, that simple agree
ment in support of the ticket and not concur
renee, even in these views was to be made the
basis of the union. This was certainly a seri-
Gus retrogression from the position taken at
Buffalo, and, only two days before at Utica;
and yet the leaders of the Radical Democracy
still assured the friends of freedom that all
was safe, and that the entire Democracy of
New York would advance to the impartial APP
plication of Democratic principles to all ques-
tons, slavery included and array its unbroken
strength against the encroachments Of slavery
and the domination of the slave power. Many
earnest opponents of slavery, relying on these
assurances. gave to the united ticket not hes
itating and reluctant but cordial and vigor-
GUS support
What ground they had for such reliance
will appear from declarations made at the Sy-
racuse Mass Convention, and on other occa-
slOfS. ABOUT the SAINT IIllt w ECulltIilCh VIM
possessed their undivided confidence.
Among these gentlemen. PRESTON KING
stood very prominent His action in Congress,
his course at Buffalo his high repute for sin
certy and integrity, had knit to him the affec-
tons of the Free Soil Democracy. He was
formally called upon to address the Mass Con-
yention, and among other things said: The
great question before the American people now
IL haII 10 info Of ala "a POLITICAL
power, predominate over the principles of free
dom in this country! There is no doubt that
this is the prominent question before the cOun-
try. n y There is no doubt that the
reason for not expressing such sentiments on
this subject as are entertained, is the appre-
hension that the slave States will be lost
There is no doubt that this mercenary consd-
Grafton binders many from speaking out what
they think and feel The object Of This Con-
venton is TO unite the party, SO that its action
may be unanimous in Congress in favor of
freedom And that action must be unanimous
We must require that every member of Con
gress from the North shall stand firm upon this
question. believe that our Conventions at
Rome and Utica were sincere and unanimous
in the determination to sacrifice everything
else except principle to procure union. and
sacrifice particle Of principle. | believe, and
we believe, that nine-tenths of the Cass men
agree with us on this question If not, should
not desire this union; but for certain reasons
which are unknown to me, certain men who
have had much influence with them are not
here Perhaps they do not agree with us and
do not desire this union In the county 10
which reside there are many men belonging
to party which united their strength with
ours last year, at Buffalo, in way which ex-
cited my admiration They wished to see the
advancement of the principles of freedom, and |
showed no solicitude about the distribution of
Offices Let us now be true to principle under |
this union, and they will go with ~, and so |
will all honest and liberty-loying men but the
moment we abandon this principle they will
quit and will quit with them"
JOHN VAN buren,, who had been regard
ed as the CUur de Lion of the Free Democra-
cy and whose bold voice for freedom had rung
throughout the land like a trumpet call eve
rywhere arousing enthusiasm and everywhere
inspiring determination, also addressed this
Mass Convention. After declaring, in strong
terms. his unaltered convictions on the subject
of slavery and the existing necessity for speech |
and action. he said 81 have had occasion to
y,
man for the Presidency who does not believe |
slavery to be an unmitlgated evil, and who will |
not use all the power which the Constitution !
and laws may place in his hands for its over
throw ! would give notice now that the gen
eral judgment of the people of this State j. |
that they cannot and will not swerve from this |
position and az for me, shall live and die by
it, This committee have not reported that az
q resolution, and have therefore fallen far short
of what want said but, nevertheless, Aey do
say something
The speech to which Mr. Van Buren, referred
was delivered at Cleveland, ON the anniversary
Of the Ordinance Of 1887, just one month pre-.
vious to the assembling of the Mass Conven
ton at Syracuse. In that speech he had thus
defined his position
"When have heard it said that no slave
holder shall be President of the United States
have dissented Washington was slave
holder; so was Jefferson Madison, and Monroe
When a stakeholder like them shall sustain our
principles he can bring to our aid class Of
men no other man can reach; therefore, ! do
not think it proper to take such position.
am however, the unmitigated enemy of sla-
very and would have it abolished without de-
lay | say, therefore for myself-and wish
to be understood AS speaking for myself alone
that, let what will come, shall, under no ne
cesslty whatever, support any man for Presi-
dent who does not believe slavery to be an I'M
mixed curse, and who will not, by virtue of his
office use all constitutional power to abolish it,
But ask, by what mode are we to reach the
object in view The answer is plain. By going
back directly to that adopted and pursued by
the immortal founders of our Government Ii
is comprised briefly in this: No more slave
States-no more slave Territores-the with
drawal of the support of the Federal Govern
ment from slavery and the abolition of it
wherever it can be reached by constitutional
means | know very well we have no power 10
touch it within the States where it now exists
but, even there, we can surround it by free
States whose action and example will wear il
away
Against Compromise, that insdious enemy of
liberty, he thus emphatically warned his hear
ers
An our danger lies in Compromise. Then
see to it, that those who represent you are
faithful to the cause of freedom see to it. that
they make no Compromise with slavery
While these prominent Free Soil Democrats
thus gave their sanction to the proposed union,
1t was understood also that the measure re-
cciyed the appreciation of MARTIN VAN Blu
rem, who, in his letter accepting the Buffalo
nomination, had not only declared himself as
approving of the platform which the Conven
ton had adopted but as conscious, from nv
impressions of right and duty in regard to il,
that shall be among the last to abandon it
and who, in very recent letter to the Cleyc.
land Convention, had declared his UNCHANGED
conviction that /" the influence of the Govern
ment should be kept actively and pcrpetually
on the side Of freedom
Quotations of this character might be ex.
tended indefinitely. They might be gathered
from the speeches and letters of public men
from the resolutions and addresses of political
assemblages and committees; and from the
columns Of the Dress but il il not necessaru