Washington sentinel., 1853-10-20

fostering anti-slavery agitation for political puI-
poses--no matter what his party or his professed
political assocIations--no matter with what stu
dious observance of the forms of party nominaticn
he may have been robed for the canvas"
Sent by the same district to the next State
convention, (l85l,) / attended, and soon learn.
ed that the same policy was to be pursued.
The section" openly held its separate caucus,
and, though in the minority carried the organi
zation by the usual intrigue Shaking the dust
from my feet, ] left the convention before any
platform was adopted or candidate nominated.
The Hon. Francis B. Cutting, now demo
cratic representative in Congress, adopted the
same course.
If anything connected with the political
course of men in this State was a fixed fact,
known and conceded on all hands, it was that
would not, either in conventions or at the polls.
vote for any freesoiler of lS48 who continued to
act with his associates in maintaining distinct
section Of so-called democrats.
The chief leader of the freesol party, in his
speech at the Albany ratification meeting, held
few days ago, truly asserted that my course
in opposing his ticket harmonized perfectlywith
my whole previous political action toward his
section, and that nothing else could have bess.
expected from me.
So much for my connection with freesoers
or freesoilism, or with sections of the demo
cratic party.
next refer to the alleged violation Of i'm
piled pledges.
Neither when consented to accept Office
from the President, nor at any other time. had
any human being the slightest reason to sus
pect from any act, word or acquiescence Of mine.
that stood pledged to the principles and pol
icy in relation to the distribution Of offices be.
tween "section" or "portions" of the demo
cratic party, mentioned in the letter of the Sec
retary of the Treasury, or that | would give
influence or corporation" in aid of the policy
mentioned by the Iiion No one who ever
spoke to me, or with me, on the subject, could
possibly have doubted that / stood pledged
against those principles and that policy.
1t is intimated that this principles and this
policy are embraced in the Baltimore platform,
and were indicated in the inaugural address. /
cannot find that the slightest countenance is
offered to them in either document. "Princi-
pie" it cannot be called; but if the policyn of
keeping the democratic party, in this or any
other State, forever divided into contending and
jealous sections, by recognizing snch sections
and patronizing their leaders, could be found in
the platform or in the address, should at once
withdraw from the former my adhesion, and
from the latter my admiration
If, indeed, as a counterpoise to, and qualify
ing set off against the true and trusty national
democrat, at the head of their ticket, the Balti-
more convention had nominated for the Vice
Presidency Cassius M. Clay, Joshua r. Gid
dings, or even some noted freesoil democrat who
was willing to recant his errors, that body might
be charged with having approved the dstribu-
ton policy That is said to be the only way of
recognizing section I" that will carry conyic-
ton with it." The course of the convention
was not marked by any such dereliction of prin-
ciple.
1t is said by the Union that the Presidents
of his cabinet was distinct
avowal of his policy. His enemies have often
said so. | never gave credit to their assaults,
assertions, or opinions. When the New York
appointments were published, itwassaid that the
names of Mr.. Dickinson and myself were mere
ly used to whiten the sepulchre in which lay,
entombed the mutiated hopes of the national
democratic party. / did not subscribe to this
imputation on the motives of the President.
Neither the Baltimore platform nor the inau-
gural address contained the slightest hintin favor
of a distribution of offices between the sections
of the democratic party, or any recognition of
such sections, without concurring in the re-
proach cast upon the cabinet by its political
enemies, and now, for the first time, given on
authority in the Union, could not have sup
posed that its very mate,ael and construction
indicated such a policy; my own action had
been uniformly hostile to the policy; nv speech
had always been, and still was, openly, frankly.
and distinctly adverse to it. What right then,
had any one to imply that would aid or con-
form to it?
| deem it unjust in itself and subversive of
political morality; believe that an adoption Of
and adhesion to it, would be mischievous, if not
fatal to the democratic party
1t any man should say public events gave
good reason to fear that this pernicious policy
might obtain an ascendancy in the councils of
the administration, and should ask why, in view
Of that fact, accepted Office, / might be willing
to acquiesce in his judgment and to assign that
as the very reason Of my acceptance Appre-
hension that friend may have hearkened to
evil counsels-that he has egred in degree,
and may perchance err more seriously-fnrn-
ishes no just reason for standing aloof nv
political and social morality is to adhere the
more firmly, in proportion to the degree in
which conceive my party or my friend to be
in danger. The true-hearted mariner remains
by his ship while a single hope remains. Will
ling to contribute my little stock of influence to-
ward preventing what deemed a catastrophe
| stood by the President. He had been, hoped
he would remain, / still believe he will remain,
the sheet anchor of the democratic party.
The Union says that in judging the freesoil-
ers to be insincere, there is " a severity which
leaves no room for repentance or reformation"
This is evading the question No one objects,
or ever can object, to receiving into the ranks
Of the democratic party any one who will vote
for and support it. But the question is whether.
in party conventions, and in the dispensation Of
offices, honors, and rewards, we shall especially
recognize as section of the democratic party
the set OF men who revolted against the party,
and defeated it in '4S, whilst they still continue
10 act as a distinct section, and arrogate to
themselves, as merit, the distinctive character
which results from the memory of their treason.
am on the negative of this question; others
have taken the affirmative. !" Time, which at
last brings all things even,' will decide between
us.l The doctrine which repels from the dem
ocratic Threshold all organized bands Of polt-
zeal opponents, presents no opposition to the
return of erring brethren have shown how
The masses who had gone off upon the Buffalo
platform could, and if permitted, would, have