Washington sentinel., 1853-10-18
THE CANVASS OF 1854.


THE CANVASS OF 1854.
1t is the fashion. of the press to discuss rhat
issue was decided in the presidential contest
one year ago. As our views on this question
may differ somewhat from those Of some Of our
esteemed cotemporaries, We propose to state
them.
1t seems to be thought that the object Of the
proceedings at Baltimore was to grant gen.
,eral amnesty for all political offences committed
prior to that time. Such is not our conception
Of the position of our party. Had this been
the grand point, the result would have been un-
important, and the exertions to secure it would
have been based on unsound and corrupt prin.
ciplcs.
The great issue decided at Baltimore, and
sustained at the ballot-box was, that slavery
was not a fit subject for congressional discus
sion or federal legislation. And the amnesty
granted was upon a repentance for all errors in
opinion, which looked to either, by any man
who espoused the democratic cause. The plat
form was raised, not lo,cered-raised to keep off
those who were false to true democratic princi
who chose to follow the camp for the spoils of
victory.
Some there were who stood and spat upon
the democratic platform. Some acqtiesced for
the sake, it seems, Of what they now so sturdily
demand. Some maintained it in the general;
sustaining the fugitive-slave law as law of the
land. While others-and by far the largest num-
BERN an honest and upright heart sustained
the principles Of the platform, because they be-
lieyed in, and loved them, as the truth and the
right to the democracy and the Constitution.
Among those who spurned the PLATFORM we
may name the New York Ereniag Post, the
present organ of the soft shells in New York.
Those who acquiesced are some who, in the
same State, now claim the patronage of the
government as a reward for their lives of 6del-
ity to freesoil; others there were, of the same
organization, who sutained the fugitive law.
while they said nothing of their SINS embodied
in the Buffalo creed-the Wilmot proviso-or
the vote to import Mexican orerseers to their
southern brethren in their domestic institu-
tions-while, in the full ranks of the sincere
lovers and genuine supporters of the platform,
might be seen those who now are suspected of
nm unholy alliance with whigs and Of deserting
their party organization after the manner Of
Rives, of Virginia, Tallmadge, Of New York,
and White, Of Tennessee!
To understand the difficulties which led to
the platform Of 1852, let US revert to the mem
orable and disastrous era Of lS4S-before the
meretricous union Of ls49, by means of which
freesoilism sat receiving embraces, and as
fcndly returning them! For, let it be remem.
bered, the ticket of l849 in New York was
made up of mottled group Of candidates-the
one moiety of national democrats, the other, Of
Buffalo plotters! The one-half avowing true
principles-the other, the doctrines Of aboli-
ton and freesoil!
The nomination Of Lewis Cass in lS4S was
the work of those north and south who were
determined that the skirts of the democracy
should be freed from the stain Of the proyiso
That distinguished man was committed against
it. The south received him as the nominee Of
the anti Wimot north.
He stood upon a platform which was old and
venerable. 1t lacked the planks which the
young spirit Of democracy added in 1852, but
retained in their original soundness the planks
Of ls40 and 1874. The party rallied to his
support throughout the country; but his defeat
was procured by the soft and benign influence
Of the leaders Of the free democracy Of the En-
pire State-Van Buren, old and young, Dix,
Grover, Cochrane, the Erening Post 4 Code
feated him and the party in November, ls4s.
To show upon what principles and in what at
titude these gentlemen then stood, we refer our
readers to the well-remembered Buffalo plat
form.
That celebrated creed contains an endorse
ment Of the Wilmot proviso- declares it to be
the duty Of the federal government to relieve
itself of the "ertension and continuance of
slaoery," whenever it has authority to legislate;
and that planting its adherents "upon the ma.
tional platform Of freedom in opposition to the
sectional platform Of slavery" it AYERS it will ad.
NIT mo more compromises ,cith slarery;" which
"if made, must be REPEALED" 1t an nounces
with fearful desperation, "that we inscrbe upon
our banner, 'freesoil, free speech, free labor
free men, and under il will fight on and fgh
EVER, until a triumphant victory shall reward
our exertions."
Such was the vindictive declaration Of wa
against Cass and the sectional platform 0
slavery" as they were pleased to term that oi
which he stood, and which had been associate,
with our party success in 1874, and sustained b,
our candidate in l84O,who trampled upon it il
ls4S! Such was the declaration of perpetua
srar made by the freesoilers in ls4s. Sucl
was the bitter announcement Of repeal to al
compromises with slavery! Such their sens
Of the duty Of the federal government agains
the extension and continuance of slavery, when
ever the constitutional power Of Congress coul'