The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-18
N EW YORK POLITICS
MANIFESTO OF THE SOFT SHELLS.


| TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN ELECTORS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The undersigned. members Of the State Central
committee, just appointed by the Democratic State
Convention. all OF whom were present during the
ac1on and deliberations of that body, as members
or witnesses Of its proceedings, deem it their duty
TO call attention to single fact which marred tue
body, and to repel calumnious and unfounded
charge made against its members
The majority Of that Convention deeply impressed
with desire to maintain the unity Of the demo
cratic party and feeling themselves per a,ively in
struced by the democratic masses to make all s.cri
fees OF personal feel interest that might inter
rupt or III any way endanger its harmony aud thus
imperl the cause and its great principles assembled
at Syracuse, determined to maintain the most fra
terna feelings towards all the represe atatives of the
democracy, and to carry the spirit of Cancellation to
the utmost bounds of concession that could be de-
manded OF them by aoy portion Of the party.
Ihe sense OF the magnitude of the interests at
stake in the approaching contest, not only in the
national administration, but in the policy of the
State, now about to assume, under a Constitutions
amendment the compile lion of the canals, increased
be held therefore, justly reprehensible if from any
tenacity in their preferences for candidates, any
hesitation as to the avowal OF their principles, any
want of spirit of uuiOn they had given Just cause
Of resentment or Of alienation to any portion Of the
delegates commissioned to act in that body.
1t became painfully evident, however, before the
meeting of the Convention, that there was on the
part ofa small minority of the delegates chosen and
OF others not delegates acting with them fOregone
determination 10 prevent concert of action to break
up the consolidated organization, and to produce
alienation and discOrd, with view to an ultimate
accession from the Convention and the defeat Of its
candidates.
The Convention was called to meet in this city at
IL NJ, on the 18th OF September. There was no fur
ther designation of a place, but the muuicipal
authorities Of Syracuse had assigned the large room
Of the City Hall for the meeting, and had provided
police force for the preservation of order This had
been for several years, the customary place for the
sittings OF the Democratic State Conventions, and
was ample and convenient. The usual announce
ment Of the place and hour ofmeeting was made In
the papers Of the city and by handblls.
It was ascertained, however, on the morning Of
the Convent IN, that several delegates, assembled In
caucus, by the advice and nstgston Of others, not
members, had determined not to meet at the City
Hall but at some place to be thereafter designated
by Mr.. Story, Chairman Of the State Central Com
the Chairman of the Central Committee, Messrs.
Richmond, Ballard, Potter and Herrick, also mem
bers of that Committee, waited on Mr.. Story, and
him Of the general era dd t5as the
preparation that had been made for the convenience
and good order Of the Convention. Mr.. Story de-
clined to recognize the City Hall as the place Of
% where he a and Els o friends 5 would assemb1e % Mr.
Story was informed that quorum of the State Com
mittee were n Syracuse and were desrous Of uniting
with him In the designation OF place. but Mr. Story
declined to meet the Committee.
1t was not till large majority of the delegates
were assembled at the City Hall, few minutes be-
fore twelve o'clock that they casually learned that
a handbill had been just then posted signed by Mr..
Story naming Brintnall Hall as the place Of holding
the Convention Apprehensive lest misunderstood
ing on minor point might nislead some of the de-
legates, and anxious to prevent any estrangement
upon such q pretext, the majority adjourned to
Brintnall Hall, and entering, found comparatively
small body ofdelegates, and number OF persons CO
operating with them there assembled, under closed
doors in an insufficient room, and inadequately pro-
vided for the meeting Of Convention. They took
Their places in the room. At the hour of II M, Mr..
Story read the call Of the Convention anu cle il
to order and nominated Ira =. Barnes of ChenaDg0,
for Chairman, put the question and declared it car
lied The Hon. John Il. Skinner, of Wyoming, was
simultaneously moved as temporary Chair nan, the
question put by the mover, and declared carried.
Both nominees assembled the platform together and
assumed the functions of Chairmen For tue purpose
of ascertainng the sense of the Convention, TO
which of these officers was the choice Of the majori
ty Of the delegates, it was moved and unanimously
carried that as in similar cases, in former Conven.
tons tellers should be appointed to call the list of
delegates, and enable them to signify their prefc-
| reDces Mr.. Skinner appointed Mr.. Madden, of
| Orange, and Mr.. Barnes, Mr. Grant, OF Oswego. To
facilitate this preliminary business. the Convention
unanimously authorized two temporary secretaries to
be appointed--Mr Becbe, Of Tioga, by MI. Skinner,
/ and MIR. Russell, Of Ulster, by Mr. Barnes.
| The roll was then called by unanimous agreement,
and the delegates and contestants responded hand.
ing in their credentials Of claims to Seats and having
| their names duly inscribed on the roll Every dele
gate claimant was heard. the rights OF all equally
recognized and the proceedings conducted through
out with entire unanimity and without any express
sion OF dissatisfaction or any complaint, other than
arose from the insuficiency Of the accommodations
Of Il in which the delegates were assembled.
The procedure was the only mode in which the true
character of the convention could, in acy way, be
arrived at with any degree Of fairness and was the
| method uniformly adopted In former State COnven-
tions where the conflict Of claims Of delegates pre-
| ventf d the ordinary forms of organization.
This order Of business being thus completed, Mr..
Ward, of Westchestcr, moved that-the list being
completed. and order restorcd-the Convention take
a recess till p. NJ, which was carried.
At A p. M the Convention rc-assembled at Brint-
nails Hall the majority of delegates being present
and all the officers chosen during the proceedings Of
the morning taking their places, except Mr.. Barnes
| who had been designated as one of the chairmen.
| committee was appointed to inform him that the
Convention awaited his attendance. Afer an OBJ
sepce Of half an hour, the committee, through their
chairman, Mr.. Mabbett, Of Dutchess, returned and
| Informed the Convention that they had found Mr.
Bornes closeted in a room in the Globe Hotel, appa
lehty acting in meeting there assembled, and that
| he had handed the Chairman of the Committee the
| following communication, in writing
bave been waited upon Dy James Alabbstt, ESD, o.
Dutcbefa requesting my at'endaoce at Brntnas Hal
dual who claims to have besn selected for ha, purpose
Ny reply L. that myself ard friends do not consider
lives in safety in an enbage controlled and overa we'd
BY bulies imported for that pur and therefore
p.c fully present my compliments to the persons there
assembled and decline participating further therein.
| Very RESP tctfully yours, IRA T. BARNES
| september 13 1863
This was the first intimation tue Convention had
Of the existence Of any violense even disorder or
Of confusion, such to interrupt the progress of its
business. We do not hesitate to pronounce the
assertion false. The charge was a libel on the
character oi the Convention and of the city In which
it was assembled. 1t was equally an insult to those
who made 1t and to those from whom it emanated,
who must have known that they would have found