The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-14
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCES OF THE FREE
DEMOCRACY

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCES Ot IhE FhEt
DEMOCRACY.
The supporters of the Pittsburgh nominations
sustain them and intend to vote for them in
good faith
First, on the ground of consistency The
regularly authorized Conventions of the Demo
cratic and Wing Parties saw proper to endors,
the Compromise, and to recognise it as a fna
settlement of the Slavery Question to sanction
the Fugitive Slave Law, and to pronounce il
irrepealable Their Presidential candidates
were selected with a clear understanding that
their views on these subjects corresponded with
the declarations Of the Conventions; and by
letter they have publicly affirmed such cores
pondence.
To accept the candidates and reject the
platforms, is deemed a mockery they are one
and inseparable To "spit upon the platform
is to spit upon - him who sustains it,
The supporters Of the Pittsburgh nomna-
tons opposed the passage Of the Compromise,
and the Fugitive Law; they approve of
neither they do not regard the one as ire
pealabe, or the other rs II final settlement, or
any settlement at all, of the Slavery Question
They are therefore constrained to oppose and
vote against, the platforms and candidates of the
Wings and Democrats, and to sustain and vote
for their own platform and candidate, repre-
sentng as they do, their views in relation to
the Compromise and Fugitive Law, which are
the issues forced upon them by the Slave Power
Secondly, on the ground of policy. Acqu-
essence in the action of the two old parties
would strengthen the power and augment the
demands of Slavery place the liberal members
of those organizations at the mercy of tyran-
nical Pro-Slayery Conservatism, and repress
agitation. An independent political organiza-
ton, representing distinctly the Sentiment of
Human Freedom, openly hostile to Slavery,
pledged to active resistance to its demands, and
through the press and the ballot-bOx manifest
ing its purpose to establish Liberty as the Uni
versal Law within the jurisdiction of the Fed
eral Government will act az Il counterbaanc-
ing force to the Slave Power, keep up Public
Opinion adverse to its usurpations, impose re-
strants upon the servllity of the old Parties
in many cases be able to visit retrbution upon
politicians most conspicuous for their hostility
to the Anti-Sayery cause, and, at last so far
change the character of existing political or
carnations Us to secure to the Anti-Savery
Principle its ust influence in the councils of the
nation. In the present contest, the Free De-
mocracy may not carry single State, but it
will cast Il decisive vote so that it will not be
difficult then to determine which of the old
parties it has defeated The simple fact that
it has accomplished such result, will teach
the successful Party, moderation, and the de-
feated one, wisdom.
Besides-by keeping up an independent
organization during the National election, a
lever is secured for efficient action upon State
politics In this way, for example, the Free
Democracy has succeeded in the election of
three distinguished members of the United
States Senate, and several able members of the
House of Representatives, and in modifying to
a great extent the legislation of some of the
States
This is q brief summary of the reasons on
which the Free Democracy justifes its indie
pendent action.
But, while its adherents unite in this policy,
cling to it in good faith, and think it of para
mount Importance to make the strongest pos
sible demonstration at the ballot-box, they are
not generally, Indifferent to the result of the
contest IA between the two old parties. In
1874, the Liberty men were steadlast to their
own organization, but some desired the election
of Mr.. Clay, some, the election of Mr. Polk
Just as they deemed the one or the other
event calculated TO work less mischief to
their cause We recollect well that Mr.. Biz.
ney, their Presidential candidate. was unre.
served in his ayowal of a preference for the
election of MIR Polk and to this ayowal OF
opinion u very intelligent Democratic politi
clan, in our hearing few days since, attribu
ted the Democratic triumph in New York
which decided, rs We know the fate of the
election of "A Mr. Birney, it may be remem
bered, while Presidential candidate, was
nominated by the Democrats Of his county, in
Michigan, for the Legislature In a letter, de-
nying that any coalition had taken place
which was published in the Cincinnati Weekly
Herald of October %, 1914, was the following
passage:
81 oppose his election MIR Clay's) because
he disbeeyes the great political truths of the
Dec araton Of Independence, the foundation OF
all just Governments, and because he repudi
ates the paramount object of the Union-thc
perpetuation of Liberty to all, On the same
ground, oppose the election of Mr., Polk. But
more deprecate the election of Mr. Clay
because possessing abilities superior to Mr.
Folks, he would proportonably weaken the
influence OF those truths on the minds of ouI
countrymen'
| In other words, he desired specially the de
feat of that candidate whose election would b.
more dangerous to the Cause he advocated