The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-29
Csas +. Adams put on for Vice President. to catch

the whig free soil votes
In 1919 m attempt was made to bring together
the old line and FREQ soil democrats Of New York,
and with some success A joint ticket was formed,
consisting OF part nationals and part free sofers.
This ticket was much scratched especially IN NOW
York city, where large number Of the young men,
headed by Sickles, Schel, Walsh ana DINERS, TO-
fused to recognise the union with the free soilers.
The campaign Of 1850 saw the same result Un-
sat- factory nominees were freely scratched by ooth
factions This year the Castle Garden committee
entered the field wtha mixed ticket composed OF the
friends ofthc compromise measures from bcthpartes
In the early part Of this yearin February or March
"a large meeting was held ia Tsmmauy II all. the
headquarters OF hunkerism, at which resolutions
were passed deprecatng slavery agitation IN the
strongest terms. and calling for an amendment to
the Old fugitive slave law of 1913 As this was be-
fore the compromise measures bad been brought for
ward in Congress the New York hunkers claim,
with some proprety, to have initiated the amended
fugitive slave law as it row stands. During the
summer. also, an important public dinner given
TO Senator Dickinson, in the same hall atwhch Mr..
O'Conor presided; and every candidate for the
Legislature in that city in the fall of 1850 pedg
ed 10 the election of that firm and unswerying op.
poDent Of Congressional nsnrpation. Several Of
them defeated, for that simple reason. by small
major esa few free sellers voting for wings, or alb
staining from tho polls. Throughout the State the
friends Mr. Dickinson. who we're in nomination,
were everywhere defeated by free soil treachery and
that eminent statesman was released from public
service in the Senate in the ensuing spring
Early in the year 1851. secret Intelligence leaked
out that Mr. Marcy was in the field for tho Presi.
Dental nomination. Earnestly warned as he was
by many Of his old and tried associates, against this
course and timdly he lent himself to what he
WAS seduced into believing would be a successful
candidature against Gen Cass, who was unquestion-
ably the favorite of the hunkers throughout the
State-he nevertheless led on, step by step, by
the crafty free soil leaders, whose only object was
to secure candidate with whom to enter the field
nj Baltimore, and under whom they might secure
RI. a
democratic party, so long the hobby Of aspiring
politicians. was the deceptive plea upon which Gov.
Marcy, now very old, suffered himself to be brought
forward. lie should have known that sincere
and hearty reunion of that party is impossible,
long as agitation is persisted in by the Epening
Post Buffalo Republic, and other free soil organs.
Delegates were elected to Baltimore by districts,
and majority Of the delegation was Immediately
claimed Tor Marcy. Tho proportion Of hunkers to
free soers was about three TO one ON that delega-
ton; but many Of the hunkers were favorable to
Marcy, and fifteen only of the thirty-ive fa-
yorable to Cass. OF these, three were instructed
Tor Marcy by the conventions which elected them,
so that Casss utmost strength was only twelve,
while Marcy commanded twenty three votes from
New ork at the Baltimore Convention The Marcy
hunhers, from their alliance with the free sellers. at
once began to be called soft Shells" while the
Cass men took the opposite name of IS hard shells.
Mr. Dickinson, long Mr.. Cass's personal and dsin-
tcrested friend was looked to By the hard shells
as their leader, while the " sos" alternately con-
suited the Van Burens, Corning, and Cagger,
Marcy's prime managers at Albany About this
time too, the State printing was given to the
-dhaS, Mr. Marey's organ, by the advice Of that
gentleman, and through the agency Of his friends,
the Comptroller aod Secretary of state. The schsm
thus became broad and deep before the delegation
went to Baltimore: and while there, the efforts
made by some of Marcy's friends Qortunstely not
agreed to by others) TO compel united vote Of the
State for their favoiite, and thus stiae the voices of
the Cass minority, (Which, under the remarkable
rules Of that body they, had right to do,) eya:
perated the factions still more. Probably nomi-
nation but the which was made could nave
united both in the labors Of the campaign: il is.
the truce is but hollow and temporary.
The position of Mr.. Marcy Is now similar TO that
OF Gov. Boutwell,, of MaSS.-the choice Of TWO fac
tons, which, without opinion in common, have
simply confessed for the spoilsfor the mutual ha-
tired which the free soil0ls and soft she'll hunkors
bear each other is for the time queted Ia tho
tons Of an intenseT hatred towards the hard shells
The latter composed Of men who have heretofore
preferred defeat aud disaster sruress With ircon
grucus and dangerous allies, and with denial or
conceaimert Of principle, ANA who burn with in.
eienaon that the preference OF their party for tue
Presidency should have boon misrcprcscnted abroad
- New ork dclcga -cs. are not likely TO abandon
their position till tho last gasp. The division in tho
party then is 10 lebcer between hunktrs and barn
burners, 'pure and SIMPLE bat between the hard
smell LunkeTs, Who maintain ia lis integrity that
adherence Of anti-siayerv fanaiicism which they
have always protested, AID the soft shell hunkers
BOW fratefnizod ard associated wfh the free .oiless
who feel their fall FROM glacc AID from consistency
ari WHO exhit:. becoming AMOUNT Of disgust al
the "obssinacy3 Of theT cid friends. The diyisuu
Z between pichiHsol--tho ma WHO gcfu:ed tie
Presidential nomination lost he might seem to 8bau
don lis fricpdaua Marcy, who sought o.e. ia OPP
position to his Old and kind freud, Cass and VINO
united With anolitioDists to defeat hin. Nh Marcy
is constant in bis expressions q surprise that his
lurkcr iicuds have left him, aud in this respect
reminds one OF Grccleys amusing assertion that he
democratic party left Mr. Clay in 1921, and aot
Alr Clpy bis party.
That this new war Of The factions viii soon shos
itself in State politics, is und niabc. II may breaI
out in the next Syracuse Conyeution specially
Mr.. Seymour, ono Of Marcy's friends, aud who
delegate from this State to Baltimore, favorable to
han. aud unnecessarily bitter against Clss is promi
nently named by the soft shells for Governor. "
now seems as though the h0rd SHELLS would r;rher
have Il candidate who bas been free soilcr, than
this old associate Of theirs who has miSrepTesened
tholn, ms they ssy, in the National Convention.
Ard this j. tic new phase which New York politics
arc assuming IN this current year 1852. THETA.