The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29
VOL. VII.

| All see that they have done So The victory of
these two distin guished gentlemen is the most
| triumphant ever obtained in American politics
The Barnburners have large portion of ALI
the papers, and a like proportion of the popular
Democratic speakers of the North One and
all, they have thus pledged themselves hereae.
ter to sustain the Compromise aud the Fugitive
Slave Law, in spirit as well as to the letter
There is now, therefore, no such thing as Free
Solism in the regular Democratic orean;qat ;o,,
there. The very Hards Justify tbemsolyes
for not acting with them now, after thew bava
marched up in solid column and pledged them.
selves by the most emphatic test ever asked
upon the allegation that they are insincere
SO TAR as the moral and practical political Of
feet OF their act Is CONGO rned, it matters litta
whether they are sincere or not; though Wa
| credit them with an honest purpose Sncb or
| them "a may not be sincere, will be az lea,t
prevented hereafter from welding the sliebtest
| influence in behalf of Anti-Slayery meas,,os
or views. This grand result shows, conclusive
| ly, the wisdom of Gov. Marcy's original rem
ion with the Barnburners, and of the policy If
the Administration with reference 10 tbe,,
The act of Marcy secured Pierce the votes or
New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Wisconsin. ana
Maine, neither of which States could have hean
carried without their votes The act of Pierce
in keeping faith with them under a storm of
opposition in and out of the party in every
quarter, has thus ended in their formal and
final abandonment of + ree-Soilism They num-
Der quite half of the whole Democracy of the
non-saveholding States, except in Pennsylyania
and New Hampshire"
The tone of this article is not to be mistaken
and it bears internal evidence that it emanatas
from the Administration. Pierce gave some Of
the Offices to the Barnburners, though onlv
on the express condition of future fidelity to the
Baltimore Platform and the Fugitive Slave
Law!n Their creed was made for them, and
adherence to it was made a sine qua non before
Offices would be bestowed upon them 1t is
thuv that Hunkerism is triumphant, and the
Administration congratulates itself upon the
| achievement the eradication of all Free-Soil
ism from the great Democratic party of the
United States"
The game has thus far been successful-the
leaders have received their reward-the party
is committed to the support of the Fugitive
Slave Law, and the suppression of agitation.
But we apprehend the People will have word
to say to the endorsement of this platform.
They have been tricked out of their votes in
electing Mr.. Pierce; it remains to be seen
whether or not they will sustain him, now that
he. has thrown away the mask Those who
acted with the Barnburners in 1913, in opposi
ton to the extension of Slavery, may here see
that continued adhesion to them will class
them among the apologists and defenders of
the Compromise Measures which were so bit
terly denounced by some of that faction, and
with the Hunkers, whose principle is their in
terest
The Madison county IN. " Whig, thus ex-
presses its opinion of platforms:
"A study of the various platforms Of the
last six years must destroy ones confidence in
them. How the political ones are made is
well conjectured. They are a cunning and
dishonest scheme to catch votes and they com.
promise this principle and barter away that is
sue, and dodge that question, to c0nciate
squad of voters, who act with that party which
has the heaviest purses, the biggest bottle, and
the latest Offices. They are got up to answer
some immediate selfish end. To do this, they
will cry Proviso' one day, the Fugitive Slave
Law the next-shout for the Buffalo platform
one day, and join the Hunkers in fight for
the spoils the next
"Away, them with these platforms We have
some nobler work before us this year than to
read the repudiated platform of dead parties
something more worthy freemen than to cling
to mere party. There are issues TO be met this
year, which parties will not touch. Moral and
humane questions are before us for decision
and men will not shirk the responsibility The
cry is not for platforms, but for honest, indie
pendent God.fearing action, and Christian
principles And that cry will be heard, if not
this year, yet before long. May that day be
demagogues to trick men of their principles
and we want none of thcm--except for spit
toons and to kick to pieces"
We are pleased to see that the Independent
Democracy are organizing in New York against
the adverse influences which surround them.
The Barnburners may be looked upon as fully
committed to the policy of the Administration.
1t is possible they felictate themselves on their
adroitness in having friend at court in the
person of Mr.. Marcy, and in having out-witted
Mr.. Dickinson /; but there may be other causes
of graduation. If it be an exploit worthy of
praise to have succeeded in Hunkerisine the
Democratic party, to have encouraged the
friends of Slavery, and to have disheartened its
opponents, then may the Barnburners congrat-
ulate themselves. One thing is certain, the
correctness of the principles enunciated at Buff
falo in 1913 is not affected by the detection of
any portion of those who united in their adop-
ton. They will yet triumph, and for this end
we both labor and suffer reproach Let our
friends in New York organize and combine
their energies, and by united effort indicate
to the hosts of Freedom that they are not lost
and swallowed up by the detection of the Barn
burners.
The INDEPENDENT DEMOCRACY IN CENTRAL