The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-25
NEW YORK.
OUR UTICA CORRESPONDENCE.

UTICA, n T., September IL, 1852
The Result of the Syracuse Democratic Conuen.
tion-Anatvsis of the affair.
The struggle for which the dscoriant factions OF
the New York democracy had been so long preparing.
has at length been decided on the floor of the Syra-
cuse Convention, and by that decision the faithful
must patiently abide. OF the outside appearance
OF that important piece Of party machinery, the
readers of tho HERALD have already had ample in
formation and description; but the unwritten his
tory of the movements bohind the scenes would
noyo infinitely more amusing and instructive.
Every body knows that the result is bunker de-
feata defeat OF the hard shell hunkers who alone
represent, in these degenerate days, the faith of
ie46. Everybody knows that this defeat was
bIousht about and embittered by the desertion Of
some Of the leading men in which that faction had
for years confded; and yet bow few have compre-
hended or agined the means by which the bunker
pnaiarX has been diyiGed-the wires by which the
state Convention was moved like vast play. house
o. puppets, ut the will of unseen operators-the
lobby intrigms the outside influences and tho cor,
rurtian Of tie chosen deesetes Of tlae democracy
Three parties sat in that convention--three well.
defined, far separated factions--mutuay hostl.
ostIustful, and jealous The hard. shell bunkers
led By Grant. of Oswego, Bristol, of Tioga, and
Mckeon, of New York; the barnburners, generalled
by skinner, of Herkimer, Piper, OF Niagara, and
Stetson, Of Clinton: and the ot-shells marshalled
by Garyin and Suyker, Of Oneida, Bovine, OF Otse-
go, and Parker, OF Delaware, As usual in State
conventions, (and IL is fact which have observed
since 1879 large preponderance Of the talent was
upon the barpburner side--perhaps because that
faction i more careful in sending picked men to
conventions where great interests to be de-
cided; perhaps because the New York city dele
gates, chiefly men Of much inferiority in point
Of acquaintance with the manmuvres and tactics Of
rural conventions, make up so large n part Of the
bunker strength. Skill and experience mainly
with the softs, who reckoned in their ranks some Of
the willy old political stagers who survive the days
Of the regency-nay, some Of the identical "assas-
sins OF Sias Wright" Of whom used to hear so
much few years ago, and who revive the plots and
strategy Of the past, the confusion Of the present
generation.
The convention, like the revolutionary assemblies
in Europe, instnctively divided Itself upon the
benches according to its iactonal predictions Up.
on the right Of the Chair-or what might be termed
the ministerial benches-tbe barnburners ranged
thems elves. The extreme left was occupied by the
rebellious and intractable hunkers, among whom
were especially prominent the New York and
BrooklJn members, who, from their excitability and
the frequent uneasness visible in their ranks, might
not improperly be said to resemble the famous
Mountain" Of the French National Assembly.
In the CENTRE facing the Chairman, and supported
in the rear by detachment of barnburners, embe.
matically placing themselves between the ultra fac
tons, sat the calm and schemipg softs-throwing
their strength alternately with the one side or the
otherregulatng every thing, foreseeDg everything,
providing against everything, and in the end win
ming everything. They reminded one Of the rsnhs
Of 1913, and their leader might be imagined to per-
senate the cautious and crafty Barrere could fancy
bave converted a blue coat and brass buttons into
the revolutionary surtout and round hat Of the Reign
Of Terror.
The convention, when seated, presented curious
study to the philosopher and ply siognomist. Sue
sacec 10 ivsl tna
hubkers Of most of the " old fogies who formerly
aourshed ia their ranks. Certain it is, that their
force in that gathering was mainly composed of
young men - fiery impulsive fellows, who were
forced to compensate by bolduess and enthusiasm
for what they lacked in experience Not but that
audaoty has its weight in the strife Of partzanship
ard sometimes succeeds where caution would FORE
tell failure The barnburners were men mostly in
the prime Of life, almost each man nan Of inHu-
| ence in his own bailiwick-many Of them long and
weI-known in our legislative debates, and heard
TspsatSSy upon the STUMP x ad5Irns crowds
| convention, and there were among them those who
| had seen q dozen State conventions, and had ruled
| in them all.
In this noticeable distinction OF age, there was
| presage Of events.
A caucus Of barnbuners, to which the softs favor
| able to Seymour and Church were invited, and
which all, nearly ALL Of them attended, was held
in the morning and il was found that but minor
ty Of the whole convention inclined to partici-
pate in its deliberations Nevertheless, a candidate
vas selected for temporary chairman, and an effort
resolved upon to elect him. Certain steps towards
concentrating the strength Of those attending the
caucus, "a to vote upon Governor, were also
agreed upon. To the knowledge Of your correspon-
dent, no formal caucus Of the hunkers was held
and thereby they soon found themselves lacking il
that concentration and unity which their opponents
manifested.
On the first trial Of strength between parties how
ever clear bunker majority was evident over til,
bsrnburners and soft5 united, the vote for tempo
rary chairman stanoing-Bristol, (hard shell hu n
kerr 40; Lapham, (baruburner,) 63 On this oc
caslen, too. the votes Of Messrs Miner, Donnoll
Mccarthy, Tompkins, Cochran, Shepard, and Ten
brock, were received, these gentlemen oontestin
the seats OF seven hunkers, and, by their votes 70
I6phsp,, neutralizng that number OF votes give
fot Bristol. These seven seats, awarded TO hut
sers, os tney afterwards were, gays tho MAORI.
!. a. N'a' .pn-'.cr g astesr in tEe Convention