Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-24
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC MEET
ING IN NEW YORK.


THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC MEET
ING IN NEW YORK.
The national democracy of New York held
meeting at the Metropolitan Hall last even
ing. Amongst the letters read was the fol.
lowing from Hon. ohm B. Weller, of Califor
MIA, copy of which We have been favored
with by telegraph. When the full proceedings
reach US, we will speak more specifically.
1t is useless for US to speak of the past his,
tory of John B. Weller, of California Al
though his residence is now on the Pacific, the
sterling democracy Of the Atlantic slope and of:
the Mississippi valley know him well. Every
one remembers his gallant bearing while occu-
plying the chair Of the House of Representatives,
when the annexation of Texas was before that
body. Every one remembers, or should blush
for not remembering, the bold front which he
opposed to feesoilsm and abolitionism, in
ls4S, when a candidate for governor of Ohio,
against Ford, the abolitionist. Then many brave
men were alarmed, but John B. Weller did not
finch He took the stump and canvassed the
whole State; proclaiming everywhere his un-
dying hostility to freesoilism and abolitonism,
and meeting ut every point the Buffalo plat
form men-the Van Buren, and Adams free
sellers and abolitionists, who now seek to con-
troll the democratic party. He was beaten by
few votes but after the election, and whilst
the result was in doubt, he declared that if he
should be elected by single vote, and should as
certain that an aboltionist had voted for him, he
would decline the Office. Such a man is John
B. Weller, of California, and no one could sus
pect that such man would acknowledge any
sympathy with the wretched crew of soft shells
and freesoilers, who have a second time bro
ken up the democratic organization in New
York, and second time given that great State
to the wing party. But Mr. Wellers letter will
for and unnecessary. .s... ".*. ri
WASHINGTON Cry, Nor. q, 1853.
GENTLEMEN Your letter of the 18th inst,
inviting me to attend and address mass meet
ing of the national democracy Of New York on
the 23d instant has been received. l have
some private business to arrange here previous
to the meeting of Congress, which will prevent
me from accepting your invitation.
1t would have given me much pleasure TO
have had an opportunity of making the per-
sonal acquaintance of the true-hearted men of
your State, who have stood firm under all cir
cumstances in the support of democratic prin-
ciples. have very little knowledge of the 10.
cal politics of New York, but this / do know,
that there are men amongst you now aspiring
to be leaders in the party who shamefuly de.
serted us in the great contest of lS4S, and
whose labors resulted in the triumph of the
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pure and conscientious motives; if they had
left US upon an important principle which they
really considered vital, could respect them;
but when am satisfied that the only object Of
the prominent actors was to defeat one of the
purest and abest men our country has pro-
duced, merely to CRAFTY personal malignity,
must be excused from recognising them as
leaders in the party to which l belong.
If they had succeeded in electing their can
didate upon the Buffalo platform" and their
principles had been carried out, does any one
believe that the Uniou would this day have ex.
listed? Would not secession have been inevi-
table, if their policy had been adopted in the
administration of the government? And are
these men who labored assiduously to dena-
tionalize, to demoralize, to freesoilize the dem
ocratic party, and ultimately to destroy the
government, now to be regarded as our cham
pions-as the oracles of the honest and true
democracy of America? If there are not
sound men enough in the democratic party to
administer the government the sooner we dis
band the better. If you can only succeed by
forming an alliance with treacherous freesoil-
ers and trading abolitionsts, it is far better you
should remain out of power. A pure honest
minority, controlled and governed by high prin-
ciples is infinitely preferable to a time-serving,
corrupt majority The older get the higher
the estimate | place upon true men, and the
less respect have for unprincipled politicians.
who shift their positions merely to obtain the
spoils of Office.
But it is claimed that these men have re-
pented! Where is the evidence of that re-
pentance? Have they changed their opinions
upon the question of slavery? Are they less
deyoted tQjreesspjlism tbaeubyhe same ground
in 1852 which they occupied in 1898? Are
they willing to leave the people of the terrific.
ries free and untrammelled to decide when
they form constitution, whether slavery shall
exist amongst them or not? But they voted
with us in 1852. There were thousand. Of
wings who stood by us, in that contest, on ma
tional grounds, and as we'll might they claim
share of the public Offices for their "secton -
as well might they assume to be the opponents
OF our principles. Besides, what is to become
of that interesting "section" who voted with us
and openly "spit upon the PLATFORM" These
men had sagacity enough to foresee the sue
cess of the democracy, and seeming public pa
tronage in the contest, right gaantly did they
plunge into the fight! II they have really re-
pented, after the lapse of years has tested its
sincerity, j am willing to forgive them, but for
the present, they ought not to crowd into the
front seats-these should be reserved for the
true men, who never failed to discharge their
duty.
! agree with you "that the Constitution and
Its compromises will be sufficient for the fu-
ture." 1t is only by securing in good faith to
each section of the confederacy the undistrbed
enjoyment of its constitutional rights. that we
can hope to perpetuate the Union. Those who
are now engaged or have been engaged in ag-
itating questions calculated to disturb its peace
and tranquility ought to be regarded as our
political foes. BY an alliance with them you
might get the political power Of the State into
your hands but you could never forget that
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