The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-20

those years following his return from Mexico, whom
the New Hampshire democracy took ground against
territorial slavery and natonulixed slavery in this
District. In his recent letter. accepting the nomi-
nation Of the Compromise Democratic Convention,
however, after declaring with what "pride and
| gratitude no should cherish the recollection Of
TIE fact that 9" the voice which first pronounced"
for him, +" and pronounced alone" came from Vir-
gina, he proceeds to say
accept the nomination, upon the platform adopted
by the Convention not because IL expected OF me -
candidate but because the principles IL embraees com
mand the appreciation of my judgment and with them
bcieye safely say that there has been no word or
act 81 my life in conflict.
Tie whole political life Of williom II. King. the
noslinee for Vice President. bns been marked by
hostility 70 the principles Of the free soil democracy.
| With Franklin Pierce, he opposed the reference
or consideration of petitions against slavery, and
sustained the Calhoun resolutions in 1887. At
later period he united with the opponents Of the
right OF petition in denying to petitions of this
character the poor privilege Of reception. In 1850
ne even went 20 far az to lay upon thc table
the question OF epton Of petition against the
extension OF slavery to New Mexico and California
and, OF course, voted for the notion the effect Of
which. had it prevailed, would have been 30 prevent
the bare reception Of the petition. In respect to
| territorial slayery, he has maintained the ex-
IRENE doctrine that every STAKEHOLDER is warranted
| by the constitution in taking his slaves into any
national territory and holding them there until pro-
hibited by the State law after the organization Of
a state government-in other words, that all ma
tonal territory is slave territory. In the of
the discussion which arose on the petition just re-
/ ferred to, he said -
What do they ask They ask that, by the action of
Congress slavery shall be prohibited from going into the
territories Very we'll does the Senator pretend that
the prayer of the petition does not call for action the
part of Congress- Does he not know that without
such action every State has equal right in this terri
to hose territories and his property Of de-
scripton with him
| On another occasion he said -
believe that whenever territorial government Is
established persons holding slaves think proper to 20
there with them, this government is bound to protect
I'M lafri shan ho att Ia an0
| cient for the formation Of a State constitution.
| On another occasion he said:-
there? hold we are and that the territorial Legis
latre has power whatever to any law which de-
They arc bound on the other hand to pass laws for the
protection of property, of whatever description.
Sir have no apprehension Of the force of Mexican law
and II choose to with my property into that
territory, would not DO deferred moment by the
apprehension Of any such law.
In his letter accepting the nomination of the Con-
vention, be thus declares his present positions
The PLATFORM as laid down by tho Convention meets
with my cordial appreciation. 1t is national in all its
parts and am content not only to stand upon It, but
on oil occasions, to defend it.
Now, what is the platform thus endorsed by these
eminent citizens? There has been little
tIoversy, of late in the ranks of the democracy,
cept On the subject.of slavery. In regard to this
subject radical differences have existed.
The opponents of natienalized slavery and slavery
extension were willing to unite with their brethren
who disagreed with them on these questions, upon
platform which should leave these matters Of
difference open to discussion, without prejudice to
either side, and in support of ticket so consti-
tuted as to afford guarantee that the influence
of the administration, should the nominees
be elected, would not be brought to bear
against either SIDE Honorable men, having
a common attachment to democratic principles and
policy, and sincere in the maintenance Of free soil
principles or of the compromises, couldnot it would
seem without sacrifice OF self respect, act together
upon any other ground. But the maintainers of the
compromises, and the supporters Of slavery were
not content to unite with their democratic brethren
upon these terms. They demanded an endorsement
OF the compromises, and distinct pledge against
fee soil speech and action. Hence all the interest
felt in the platform conveyed upon the resolutions
relating TO slavery; and in the present condition of
constitute the platform. They as follows:-
Resolved. That Congress has power under the
70 interfere with or control the domestic inst
tuioDs Of the several States and that such States
the sole and proper judges of everything appertaning to
their own affairs. no. prohibited by the constitutions
that all efforts OF the aboitonss Others made to in
dCce Congress 10 interfere with questions of slavery
to take ncpient steps in relation thereto calculated
to lead to the most alarming and consequences
and that all such efforts have bic tendency
diminish the happiness Of The people and endanser the
liability and peimanency Of the Union and ought not
he counteIancec 10y any friend Of political institu-
lions.
Resolved That the foregoing resolution covers and was
Intended to cmbrcc the whole subject Of slavery ogita.
D in Congress- and therefore the democr tic party of
The Union Standing on this national platform will abide
by and adhere fn hful execution Of the acts known
as the measures settled by the last Congress-
the act for retaining fugitives from service labor
iDcluded which act being d.signed to carry
prtss provision Of The constitution, cannot with fidelity
hereto berep'alcd or changed to destroy impair
Resolved That the democratic party will resist all at
'tnpts at icneung in Congress or out Of It, the agitation
Of the slavery question under whatever shape color
tkO attempt may be made
These resolutions satisfy in full the demands of
the compromise democrats. They rcpudatc the con-
strucfion placed by the New York democracy upon |
tie slavery resolution Of the original Baltimore |
platform, and pledge the entire democracy to the |
supl OFT of the compromises to the perpetual main
teDapce and execution of the Fugitive Slave law; |
ard to resistance all discussion Of slavery in Con-
gress or out of Congress, under whatever shape
color.
No two persons, probably, contributed more than
the nominees OF the Convention, to place the demo-
cratic party in its present attitude. Gen. Pierce, in
behalf OF Northern compromise democrats. thus |
wrote to Major Lally, at Baltimore Immediately be-
fore tho sitting of the Convention
The sentiment Of no enc State is to be regarded this
subject but having fought the battle in New Hampshire
upon the Fugitive Slave law and upon what believe
TO be the giound Of constitutional rights should OF
desire the approval of the democracy the
try What wish say you is this if the compromise
measures to be substantially and firmly maintain
ca, inc plain rights secured BY the constitution viii be
North who stood hy the constitutional rights Of the
south are to he abandoned to any timeservng policy
the hopes OF democracy and of the Union must sink to-
gether,
Months before this Mr. King, in his letter to c. Fl.
Donaldson-tbat noted man of straw had thus
strongly expressed his feelings in regard to free soil
democrats, and the necessity Of repudiatiDg all po-
tical connection with them:-
so Icing large portion of the former democracy Of
the North lend themselves to the advocacy Of free soil
doctrines and make common with the infamous
aeators and abotionists portion OF the Southern de-
mooracy will be found acting in concert with them
All troubles have arisen from the extraordinary
duct Of those protesting democrats in whom the demo-
cracy reposed unbounded confidence aud telt de-
lighted TO honor. But for their base abandonment Of
principle abolitonism would have still been confined TO
portion o: the whig party and small squad Of ignorant
fanatics
This statement presents the question = Can
those democrats who united at Buffalo in solemn
declaration OF their independence Of the slave /
tension and naturazed slavery, or those who, |
perceiving the entire harmony of this declaration
with the great principles of democracy, have since
declared their concurrence in it, support the
nominees of the Baltimore compromise Convention! |
II cannnt be .nied that the slaXery resolutions