Washington sentinel., 1853-11-08
Letter from Daniel 8. Dickinson TO South
ern Gentleman.

4 Letter from Daniel 8. Dickinson to a SOUTH
ern Gentleman.
i The following letter, giving sketch Of the
views, doctrines, and policy of the democratic
party of this State, was written by Daniel s.
Dickinson to one of the speakers at Metropoli-
tan Hall on Thursday evening. It win be read
with interest by politicians of every section.
BINGHAMroS, Oct. 30, 1853.
Ny DEAR SIR: Your esteemed favor of a
late date, upon the subject Of political affairs,
came recently to hand, but, | regret to add,
found me too much engaged professionally to
bestow the consideration upon an answer which
the Importance of the subject demands, and
can give you only general response. The
national democracy of this State, as you will
have seen, wear no disguises and court no con-
cealments. They have fought hand to hand
with abolitionist, spurious and true, for many
years-have, nnder the procurement of trea-
cherous and interested leaders, endeavored to
harmonic with it, and with its more dangerous
and despicable allies, without success, and, after
this dearly purchased experience, they assume
to understand its character, conduct, and pur-
poses, as well as its hireling eulogists abroad.
| They have determined to associate no longer
with its incongruous elements under any CIR
cumstances, and will leave it for time to show
how far they can be betrayed from their course
1 by the seductions of patronage or driven from
| it by the frowns of power. That their position
will be falsifed by the mendacious and necessi-
tous, whose consequence or bread depend upon
official station is to be expected; but, whenthe
whole question shall be stripped Of its official
drapery, as it viii be in due time, it will stand
out as it is--a struggle between the advocates
of democratic principles on the one hand, and
the hungary votaries Of q demoralizing system
of spoils on the other. The issue is fully made
| up, though not yet fairly submitted to the
American people. But the gulf which sepa
rates the two systems is as broad and deep
and would could add as impossible cas- that
which separated the rich man in torment from
| him who nestles in the patriarch's bosom and,
inasmuch as political associations are deemed
voluntary, treasury mandates to the contrary
Notwithstanding, it is to be hoped that every
citizen viii range himself upon this great
question on the side where his Judgment or In
clinations may carry him. have SO often de-
scribed the spoilscoalition by which the de-
| mocracy of this State were betrayed into the
hands of freesoil leaders, for the benefit of GER
| tain treacherous and faithless individuals, and
the manner in which the corrupt igament was
severed that repetition would be useless, and
/ is omitted.
| The democratic party of this State is no re-
| cent society, nor new fedged organization !;
| nor is it an emanation of the Baltimore plat
form. It was the author of and gave birth to
that celebrated structure, aided by others of
kindred faith, and points with triumphant pride
| to the erection not as to a general bankrupt
law which cancelled its political embarrass-
ments, and enabled itagainto commence bnsi-
ness, but as a monument of its political integ-
rity, and of its devotion to great national prin
ciples- es-principles for which it had done battle
| through long years of good and evil report,
while some, who now invoke their declaration
| as an oblivion of the past so fippantly, were
| either safe in obscurity or resisting them in
Buffalo conventions, in company with free ne
groes, strong minded women, and great-minded
| men, and proclaiming disunion in case of their
practical adoption. The Baltimore platform was
not erected to cheaper principles-to lower the
standard political morals, orto place treachery
and fidelity, falsehood and truth, or the efforts
Of demagoues and patriots, upon equality. i
was simply reiteration of great cardinal
| truths, and with such notifications as were ne-
cessary to couform to intermediate legislation
was, in substance, a repetition of the doctrines
promulgated by the democratic national con
i ventions of 1874 and lS48. But it has SO often
| been invoked as a proclamation of amnesty"
to political ingrates, that the assumption is
worthy Of q moments consideration. 1t was
. Just as much as, and no more, an amnesty
i to traitors than any other declaration of prin-
ciples; and all else that is claimed for rests
in the necessities of those who give it that read
ing. So far as it relates to the democracy Of
this State its amnesty" is briefly disposed Of
The only delegate who resisted the adoption of
the Baltimore platform upon the floor of the
national convention was jerome J. Briggs, of
\ Onondaga, Marcy freesoil delegate, and a
family connection of the premier Of the admin.
i istration. He resisted it most clamorously, es.
pecially that part which related to the fugitive
slave law, and was only silenced by the over
whelming voice of the convention. And among
the first acts of amnesty by Governor Sey-
mour, acting in concert with the premier, was
| the nomination Of this same Jerome j. Briggs
to Que of the best offices in tho State govern
ment
The amnesty" SO far as the platform Of
principles was concerned, was observed by the
presses and leaders of the freesoil faction
through the campaign by declaring, in sub
stance, that, although they supported General
Pierce, yet that the platform was only an ex-
preston of individual sentiment, by which no
1 one was bound, but in which he should tempo
rariy acquesce. The same amnesty was
further observed by the same faction at the
election, by defeating, in strong democratic
districts, FIVE national democratic candidates
for Congress, for no other reason than because
they we're national democrats, and had favored
4 the compromise. Since the administration was
organized the spirit Of that faction has been as
vindictive as ever against every national demo-
crat they could not purchase; and in the State
government, during the last session, one portion
Of those who take shelter under the tamnesty''
. pronounced the doctrines Of the Presidents
inaugural Tdamnable,' and Others fed, as if
from contagion, from voting upon the subject.
Members who sought to procure the enactment
) Of law, or the passage Of resolutions, declar-
! ing the principles OF Interstate comfy sug-
gested by tis dischargeiof the Lennon slaves
by judge Of our courts, comdemnatory of that
strange decision, were hooted and denounced
by this amnesty" faction as bitterly as if they
had proposed that New York, as q State, should
return to her former system Of slavery; and