The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-29

Our Albany Corr dependence.
ALBANY. July %, 1852.
TIE Democratic Party of Nor Toyk-7Re Hard
and Soft Shals-NameS of the Ne,c Factions. SC.
The condition Of political parties in this State,
heir attitudes, purposes, and prospects, have always
been since the days of De Witt Clinton an absolute
puzzle to politicians in other States. New compli-
cations, internal questions, personal rivaries, and
singular party names and titles, have made New
York politics unntelligible to outsiders az the
laws and statutes of China, set off in the mcouth
text of the Central Flowery Land,' appear to the
'foreign devils" beyond the Celestial pale. What
with our canal influences, our anti.rent and native
American organizations, our free school and State
debt questions, free-soil factions, our cotton
tickets, aGa the host &C other and conflicting in
terests entering into elections, creating aud
Initiating ciaues and combinations year after year,
the political complexion of the State varies like the
color OF the chameleon, 70 every passing beholder.
State parties exist here, well parties formed
upon tho great principles which divide the affections
of the people of the Uniona fact which is peculiar
to other Northern State. Matters Of difference as
internal policy are, and have been. no loss scrnly
disputed than matters Of national import and it
not unfrequently happens that those who agree
upon State subjects differ diametIicay upon affairs
like the slavery question or tariff, which concern
the whole United States Ii is not to be- wondered
st, that by those unacquaiItco with political
history-With the character. relative popularity,
and views Of the leading men Of the Empire STAG
ourparty disputes aud attitudes should Do EilSuuder
stood ana misinterpreted
The present attitude Of the democrats Of New
Sork-evscently subject ot my stery out OF the
State-is curious proposition for study. The fac
tons 40 long known hunker and banournef.
longer exist il their integrity. The old landmarks
which divided them have been broken down. But
Of their ruins Is growing mp and last developing
itseif division, to be the signal for Warfare
which viii ren6 the parry fabric once more 70 he
foundstian. The new designation OF parties i.
thst of lizard Shells ana 'r~o;t Shells. and tho
free ers mainly swallowed up in the latter.
The rise and progress of the barnburuing move
ment, SO long as it confined itset to matters exclu
sively Of import to the State government. excited
little interest beyond the Stltc, except az il eX-
hibited the democratic party distracted less by
novel principles than b. ambitious aud stubborn
rivals The measures upon which the barnburaers
baseo their efforts, Incorporated entire in the
constitution Of 1876. and nog form the furdamtn.
tel Law ofthe State That the5 IN fact met the appro
baton Of the democratic party proper OF New or,
is evide1ced by the fact that both il the Logisla
turer which just preceded he constitutional conven-
ton, and in the body of the convention itself, q
iATgc majority OF tbe hunkers favorable to and
voted for the radical propositions which ere en-.
graft ed in that Instrument Although doubtless
the b1yuburning faction originated in personal
strife, il thus became the instrument by which the
vast mass OF the democracy brought into ad-
yocsey of progressive and strict principles
But the constitution once formed, the barnburner
leaders, in order to retain ,heir ascendercy over
the parry, were forced to look about for new sub
iects of agitation and = continued mo yement."
Unfortunately, they turned tneir attention to ex-
ter al matters The with Mexico, carried so
successfully through by the ability Of buchanan,
harcy, and the other members OF Folks cabinet,
was about Terminating, ana vas acquisitions OF ter
rtory we're about to he added to the public do.
msn Wilmot had offered his celebrated anti
slavery ''proyiso, and an opportunity 10 seize
upon and exssperate Northern preiudees upon this
subject, was presented, 700 good 10 be lost. Ac-
cordingly, We soon saw the Afbdng AtiaS exhibiting
the proyiso in capital Letters at the head OF its
columns. and proclaiming it the : corner stone
Of Northern democratic faith Its satellite pa
pers. from Montnuk to Niagara, followed tho
dangerous leod In moment the barnburner
party was diverted from Organization Tor State
Effort into faction hostile to the harmony OF the
Union. Here ana there throughout the country
some of the wiser Gifts iherents abandoned it, but.
except in the city OF New 1,rk TIE rank and file Of
the self-styled radical democracy followed their
standards firmly right into the aboiitionist camp
New York city and The adjacent counties had.
through many years in fact ever since Clinton bad
first proposed the digging OF the great canal-been
charged with hostiit! to the internal improvements
Of the Western part Of the state. Along with the
river counties, II hac certainly been made to iee
Ioss or political power by the rapid settlement and
growth Of population in he rich grain districts of
the West, consequent upon the opening OF that
great channel Of communication. Nevertheless,
the charge OF hostility 10 the canal was gross
and bic accusation, for the benefits which
New York has experienced TO her trade by the
wealth. poured into her lap through that gigantic
artery, have never been unappreciated condemned
by her citizens The truth Is, the leading demo
Gratis OF you city. are, and ever have been, radical
to the core, and averse TO the mourning of large
State debts, whether under clear authority oil the
constitution, or by means Of doubtful deviation
from its provisions; and interested politicians OF the
west and centre of the State have only seized upon
that striotDess Of principle 10 msrepresent It.
The radical democrats of the Empire City alone
did not follow in any number, the exodus OF their
leaders towards the promised land OF anti'slayery
agitation.
Opposition to the person and the friends Of Gov.
Marcy had had much 70 do with this advocacy OF
the proyiso That politician had boon invited to a
seat IN Mr. Folks cabinet, TO the exclusion OF Mr.
Flagg, whom the barnburners. through the exer-
lions Of the Albany regency, had endeavered to get
appointed Secretary OF the Treasury. Dir. Marcy's
chief aohersnt had been Edwin Croswoll, and the
argus under his management had been tho
faithful organ and exponent Of his political
views. The policy OF the Mexican war had
found strenuous supporter in Croswtll and the
proviso, by which the self government of the peo
pie Of the new territories was ATTEMPTED 10 be tram
melled and subjected to the VIII Of n Congressional
majority, had met with an argumentatye and
earnest opponent in that paper. Marcy and Cros-
well must be crushed, If the free soilers would rule
the State.
From this condition Of things grew mp the schism
in the democracy Of New York, which resulted in
the laying upon the table ofthe WmotP royiso reso-
lutioDs, by the bunker majority in the Syracuse
convention OF 1917, without oven concesceDding to
argue them, and the consequent secession Of the
barnburntr minority therefrom Tnen came a
double delegation ~ the Baltimore convention Of
1913, where the weak aud timid policy recommend
ed by Mr. Polk and carried ont through his friend
Senator Turney, Of Tennessee, the chairman Of the
committee on credentials, was acted upon, OF adj
hitting both delegations, without deciding the
question OF orthodoxy. There followed In close sue
ocssion, Utios convention Of free soil democrats
and The famous Buffalo convention, at which Soma
tor Dodge was taken of the free soil ticket, and