The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-22
Letter of senator Chase to Hon. B. F. Butler

Letter OF Senator Chase TO Hon. Is. +. Butler.
This document, which has been some time looked for
as the authoritative statement OF The grounds upon
which those OF all parties who seek renewal OF the
anslavery agitation at this time 10 unite with the
aboliloniss proper, in third party and upon third
presidential candidate, has at last made It's appearance.
1t fills about six columns of the New York Herald and
the pi,h of il may be briefly stated, do pro-
pose 10 publish it at length
Mr.. Chase makes three main points in his letter:
lst In his judgment. the Buffalo organization, far
from being temporary occasional in its purpose,
designed 10 engage all who took part in it in perpetual
war or legislative agitation against slavery and the
South.
I'd. The democracy OF the North, and especially the
democracy of New York, TO whom Mr.. Chase's appeal
appears 10 be particularly addressed far from
ring in this opinion the Buffalo organization, have
arrived at the conclusion that The occasion for that
ganzaon has passed by and have united TO carry
out democratic principles and policy, the distinct
Outstanding and declaration that the sectional contro-
versy has been settled, and is not 10 be renewed
80. By of this fact MIR Chase, and those who,
like himself, desire this time 10 disturb the settle
ment in order Immediately the sectional contro
versy canno, unite with the democratic party support
the democratic candidates
We give that passage OF MIR. Chase's letter in which
he states the ground upon which the New York
democracy, after the adoption of the compromise
ures united in their State conventions held al Syracuse
10 the autumns of 1850 and 1851:
Under these circumstances, the democracy OF New
York convention Syracuse the 10Th OF Sepiem.
ber while the compromise Congress yet in session.
united ticket for officers again minated; but
the resolutions uttered no condemnation Of the obnoxious
measures Of the Compromise which the free.so demo
In Congress had perevengy opposed urged no
ton against nation lied slavery failed TO
mend the repeal modification of the fugitiveslave law
odiou and irreconcsbe with democratic ideas
than the alien and sedtion awsbut congratulated the
counuy upon the passage Of the compromise measures,
styled by the convention the settlement by Con
gress of questions which have unhappy divided the
people OF these Staes Concurrence in this seton by the
radical democracy a virtual abandonment of the posi-.
tons maintained Rome and Utica and OF the lower
ground taken by the convention at Syracuse.
"Disregard Of the claims Of freedom, lar less marked
than this, had ssoned the Hefkimer
Now, however, acqeiescenca judged expedient by
those distinguished citizens who possessed their confidence
and again the ee.so democrats. with visible reucta nee
the many, sustained the nominations OF the
vention.
"The same conventional action, followed by the same
acquescence, s1as repeated in 1851.
"Stil the soil democracy OF New York uncom.
mired TO the support Of national candidates nominated
upon any other than the national democratic platform OF
lSO 1914, add 1878, which platform referred 10 slavery
only in a single resolution which had generally been
strued by the New York ee-soi democrats dscoun.
tenanoing, constitutional opposition nationazsd
slavery unconstitutional interference by Congress with
slavery In the States"
This statement, excepting that part oil il which de-
scrbes The compromise measures, and making allow
ance throughout for its aboonst phraseology cor
rect so far a, goes but It omits TO state
FIRST That both the conventions only recognised
the fact Of settlement by Congress Of the questions
which have unhsppy divided the people OF these States,
and congratulated" the country upon such settlement
but that the conventions Of both years went step
further, and deprecated all further sectional agitation
Secondly. That the visible reluctance" OF any portion
Of the democracy TO take this ground in 1850 had become
nearly invisible in 1851, when the democrats cmrtd The
State upon this ground, with the nine-mon canal bride
in the field against them.
Thirdly. That in 1851 the democratic party did ex.
pressy pedgen its State convention its support to the
nominee OF the Democratic National Convention, and
furthermore pledged itself cordially TO unite il has
united with the national democratic party. Of course on
the declaration OF opinions which the Democratic National
Convention should put forth.
These omissions being supplied Mr. Chase's account