The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29
The NEW YORK BARKBURNERs.

ily to their candidates and platform.
The NEW YORK BARRBURNERs.
The resolutions of the "Softs" at the SYRIA
cuse Convention, which we gave last week, were
not unanimous There was one dissentent
yoice-one "unterrifed Democrat among
them. PRESTON KING indicated his maDli-
ness by expressing his dissent to the Slavery
resolutions. A letter in the Evening Post says
"You will have observed that when the res
buttons ofthe Syracuse Convention of the " I'M
terrified Democracy were put, Preston King
rose and said that he dssented totally from
| that part of them which related to Slavery; the
rest he as fully and most cordially approved
1t would have done you good to see the respect
with which this declaration of dissent was re-
ceived Imagine all the audience mOtlonless
! all eyes fixed on the speaker, and silence per-
vading the assembly 80 complete that you might
have heard every sound in the street. lt was a
demonstration Of the involuntary reverence
which men have for sincerity, consistency, and
courage"
John Van Buren, is reported to have said
"a word as to the resolutions. have to
say that have not had time to read over care
fully those resolutions, therefore, ] voted nei-
ther for or against them. | am not prepared
TO say with my friend from st. Lawrence Hon.
Preston King that | am prepared to dissent
from portion Of them my own impression is
that shall not. Applause My impression
is that these resolutions are simply re-afirm-
ance of the Baltimore platform. have over
and over avowed since that platform was con-
structed, that stand unreservedly on that plat
form Cries of good go further, and say
that it Is unwise for any man who believes with
me- that Slavery is unjust and an evil, to agi-
tate the question | think it is settled-wheth.
err wisely or unwisely-it is settled, and should
not be agitated. Applause. think, further,
| that there is a provision in the Constitution
which requires us to surrender slaves; and that
like every other provision, must be faithfully
and cheerfully lived up to- Applause. | do
not stop now to consider whether the present
law in force precisely does that. IL simply says
that the constitutional requisition is entirely
clear, and it is the duty Of the Democratic par
ty who are the true friends of the Constitution,
and the actual administrators of the Govern.
ment, to live up faithfully and firmly to the
provisions of the Constitution"
The Barnburners arrogate to themselves the
title of Radical Democrats" or Democrats
from principle, as distinguished from the Hun
kers or Democrats for the loaves and fishes of
Office. We regret that this characteristic will
no longer distinguish them. In lS4S they pro-
tessed to stand upon principle, and united with
the Free Democracy at Buffalo; but in 1851
they "caved n," and united with the Hunkers
to elect Compromise President; and day
they stand upon the Baltimore platform, and
resolve to put down the agitation of the Slave
ry question. The EUeniDg Star of this city,
kind of demi-semi, official organ of the Presi-
dent, in it's issue of Goth inst, exults over this
detection of the Barnburners from the platform
Of 1S48, I" as it proves the eradication of all
Free Soilism from the great Democratic party
of the United Statesn This article from the
Star is instructive, and the Barnburners may
behold in it, as in mirror, how they have been
fooled by the leaders, and tricked out of their
principles. We copy it below. 1t is entitled,
"The Last Important Event in the History of
Politics in the United States:n
"The action of the recent Democratic Con-
vention, at Syracuse, New York, upon the Flu.
gltive Slave Law, &c, Is most important, as it
proves the eradication of all Free-Soism from
the great Democratic party of the United
States In l847, even the New York Hards
were Provisoists. In l848, under the lead of
Senator Daniel s. Dickinson, they abandoned
that position, being first, of the North, to mount
the true constitutional platform upon this ques-
ton Before their eyes were opened, the South,
| in Congress, very generally believed that tho
Union would hardly last another decade. Sub
sequently they stood the brunt of the contest
over the whole North, fighting the battles of
the Constitution under such odds as would have
overwhelmed less determined men. They fair
ly earned the confidence of the South, without
distinction of party. Their example paved the
way for the conversion of Messrs Webster and
Fillmore in 1850, who, abandoning their for
mer ProvisOist opinions subsequently, repaid the
cordiality with which the South welcomed them
and their friends into the ranks of the defend.
ers of the rights of the States
About the same time, the present Chief
Magistrate of the United States fought his gal.
liant battle against Abolitionism in New Hamp-
shire, wherein he rescued well nigh his whole
political party there from the Anti. Slavery in
fuence, under which they were rapidly sinking,
when he General Pieroe) reached home from
his service in Mexico. His exertions and
achievements in that political contest gave him
the favor of the South to the remarkable ex-
tent to which it was manifested towards him
in the last Presidential election. While he
was re organizing the Democracy in N. Hamp-
shire after this fashion, his Secretary OF State,
an ardent bunker Democrat essayed to 40 the
same by the Democracy of New York, where,
however, Anti. Slavery influences had gained
much stronger foothold in the party. In the
State Conventions Of 1850 and 1851, Governor
| Marcy held out the olive branch to the Barn
| burners, offering to unite with them on equal
terms on the basis of forgetting and forgiving
past differences. Through his exertions, and
| those of his immediate friends, the Barnburners
were brought to the point Of agreeing to this
arrangement, though they refused to pass res
olut0ns at that time which would commit
them to the Fugitive Slave Law. They never
theess agreed to sgtate the Slavery question
no more. This promise they kept religiously;
the Abolition journals formerly acting with
them only refusing to be governed by this
agreement Subsequently, they kept faith with
Marcy in the matter Of aiding to elect Pierce.
The whole Hunker Democracy Of New York,
prior to the Presidential election, endorsed the
proprety Of the union with them, though some
Of the very ultra Hards demanded as surety
Of their good faith, that they should endorse
the Baltimore platform and the Fugitive Slave
Law especially, without qualification or reser-
walton. Pierce, being elected, kept faith with
them-in turn, giving them share Of the of.
fees though only on the express condition of
future fidelity to the baltimore platform and
the Fugitive Slave Law
but the very Hards, fared up and CON-
planned because so many Offices were given to
that wing Of the party. Pierce replied that he
felt 1t to be his duty to keep faith with them
otherwise, he could not ask them to keep faith
with the baltimore platform. The very Hards
set up the cry that they were prescribed In
| an 1nino than cnn farrad an b,,, m A., Sorth