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

age and 10 rally the friends of freedom, the
lovers of justice, and the supporters of the
Constitution ~ that it would again "peal, in
trumpet-tones. at Herkimer and Utica" and
be re-echoed from every hilltop in the State"
Thousands share with me the keen regrets
occasoned by the disappointment Of this hope.
Thousands-and among them not few New
York emocrats-while they will not question
the motives or the fidelity to their own convic-
tons of those who take u different view, fail
to see either the propriety or prudence Of sup
porting the Compromise Ticket and thus CIV
ing the highest possible sanction, even while in
words rejecting it, to the Compromise>Pla
form.
If it be not yet too late, would respectfully
ask these gentlemen themselves, what they ex-
pect to gain for Freedom or Free Soil Democ-
racy by supporting the Compromise Ticket!
Is it that Free Soil Democrats will share in
the patronage or influence the action of the
Administration, in the event of success! This
expectation must rest upon one of two suppo-
sitions: either that Free Soil Democrats will
forego the assertion of their principles in which
case Freedom would gain nothing but lose
much or that General PIERCE, notwithstand-
ing the platform and his present position will
will endanger that very slave interest which be
is expected specially to guard, in which case
the supporters of that interest will have Just
cause TO complain. Is either of these suppose
tons likely to be realized
Is it that the extension of slavery will be
checked, or the removal of nationalized slavery
secured! Every one knows that the leading
idea of the platform, fully endorsed by the can
didates, is the indefinite perpctuation of slavery
at the national capital, with all the reproach it
brings upon our institutions and Government,
and the permanent maintenance, as irrepeal-
able, of the Fugitive Slave Act, marked as it is
by the most unwarrantable invasion of the
rights of the States and the liberties of indi-
viduals. 1t is well known, also, that persistent
efforts are now being made to introduce slavery
into California, either by an alteration of the
Constitution, or by division Of the State and
the establishment of a Territorial Government
in the southern part; to convert Utah and New
Mexico into slaveholding Territories, with a
view to the creation of slave States and to ex-
tend slavery by insular or continental acquisi-
tons, in which the system now exists or may
be established. To none of these projects can
any effectual opposition be expected from the
Administration of the Compromise Nominees,
if elected
Is it that the other great interests of Free
dom and Progress will be promoted What
word does the platform contain in favor of con-
stitutional improvement of Rivers and Harbors
so important to the progress Of the West, and
to which the Free Democracy pledged its sup
port at Buffalo! What word in favor of Land
Reform SO important to the settlement of the
public domain, and so benefcent to the strug-
Cling masses of our native population, and to
the emigration which presses upon us from the
Old World? What word in favor of any action
or declaration by our Government, in favor of
the nations of Europe contending for freedom
against despots? No State has more uniform
ly and steadily opposed all these measures OF
Progress and Reform and Freedom than that
which pronounced first and pronounced
alone" for General PIERCE at Baltimore
Nor is there any vote or act of his, so far as
am aware, which does not Justify its preference
Is it that Free Soil Democrats expect that,
whatever may be the result of the pending
election, the cause of Freedom will still sur
| viye! that the principles of living Democracy
will still inspire determination to maintain
| right and resist wronga that at length, the
| slave power with all the oppression and injus-
tce it upholds, and with all its ostracism social
and political, of earnest friends to liberty, will
be overthrown and that our National Govern
ment will become what our fathers designed it
to be, free Government in fact as well as in
name with all its influence actively and per-
petually on the side of freedom at home and
throughout the world This expectation will
not hope, be disappointed but, if fulfilled it
will not be through but in spite of such action
as that of the Baltimore Compromise Conven-
ton The support of its nominees | am firmly
convinced, will not hasten but retard its fulfil
ment
have thus stated frankly, but with entire
respect for those who differ from me. the rea-
sons which convince me that Free Soil Demo
Gratis cannot, without marked inconsistency.
support the nominees Of the Compromise De-
mocracy. address them to you because it so
happened that we were co-laborers in the prep.
aration of the platform promulgated by the
Buffalo Convention, and afterwards closely con-
nected in our relations to the Convention and
its nominees; because, also, we both profess the
same Democratic faith and desire the success
of the same Democratic measures | know not
what your judgment will be after the persual
of this letter. For myself confess that it is
with the deepest regret that find myself COM
PEELED to separate in action, at this or any
time, from any portion of the Democratic par
ty of the country, and especially from those
New York Democrats with whom it has been
my pride and pleasure, hitherto to act. Had
a liberal and tolerant spirit prevailed in the
Baltimore Convention had no new tests, in.
compatible with Democratic principles, been
imposed; had the nominees represented that
spirit, and the ideas of reform, progress, liber-
ty, and economy, embodied in the original plat
form, no division need have occurred The
Convention is responsible for the division.
The Convention, whieh organised Compro-'
mise Democracy upon neW tests created the ne
cesSity for Radical and Independent Democracy
am ready to submit to the judgment of can
did Compromise Democrats themselves, whether
any honorable course remains for those who
think as | do, and mean to act as they think,
other than independent action? Let even those
Free Soil Democrats, who propose to vote the
Compromise Ticket say whether we, who re-
fuse so to vote do anything more than carry
out their own declarations and adhere to their
own principles.
May it not be hoped that there yet remain
many thousands of Democrats in New York
who will prefer to act with the INDEPENDENT
DEMOCRACY, openly and avowedly on the
side of liberty and progress, rather than with
a COMPROMISE DEMOCRACY. intolerant
alike of the claims and the friends of freedom
remain with the highestrespect andregard
YOURS truly p Cu,sr