The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-10-22
THE MINI ESO TIA n
Saint BG.I, Saturday, Grtuher q, 1858.
The War in New York between the Softs and
observation-disclosures Of the Cabinet.


York, which last fall gave Pierce the largest
majority of any State in the Union, has been
divided, and that the two fractions or frag-
ments, have put in nomination separate State
tickets for which they ask the support of the
Democracy Of the Empire State. The cause
which has led to this rupture is alleged by the
Softs to be this that their adamantine brethren
are mortified because they could not rule the
President and monopolizc all the Offices at the
disposal of the administration, to the exclu-
sion of their Soft allies. without whose aid
Pierce never could have carried the State that
the only motive of ex-senator Dickinson, who
is characterized as the head and front of the
Hunker or Hard Shell party, is desire to be
revenged on the President for having dared to
leave him out Of the cabinet, and taking in his
stead Secretary Marcy for whom he Gickinson)
had conceived dislike, and wish to break
down his administration. On the other hand
the Hunkers allcdge that the Barnburners Or
Soft Shells are no better than pack Of aboli
tionists who desire to dissolve the Union, and
in fact that many of them are notorious aboli-
tionists; that they are as faithless as the Ca
manche Indians, only acting with the Demo-
cratic party when they think they can rule it,
and conspiring to defeat where they cannot
rule. as illustrated by their well-known action
in lS4s, when Gen. Cass was defeated that for
the promotion of these treacherous designs they
will one year meet at Buffalo and swear that
we must have the Wlmot Proviso. and when
they have another object in view. they will
make one single gigantic leap and land fair and
square on the Baltimore platform that good
faith toward the great Democratic party Of the
Union. requires that they should cut loose
from all such 'entangling alliances and wheth-
er successful or not henceforward to make the
Democratic party in New York unit.
Our readers can believe as much of these re-
spective allegations as they choose, and in what
proportion they choose, but we are inclined to
believe them both. 1t is an old saying that
honest confession is good for the SOUL and a.
though they do not confess their own SINS they
proclaim the sins Of each other most admirably.
The final separation between these two fac
lions took place at their recent State conven-
ton. when each faction put different tickets in
nomination, and a separate State organ
ization was effected. President Pierce and
cabinet have been in great state of perplexi-
~ during the whole summer as to which side
to recognize as Democrats: and it was not till
after the Convention before alluded to was held
and an apparent majority of Softs made to ap
pear, that he has been enabled to decide in their
favor.
At the ratification meeting of the Softs in
New York, the Tammanv committee extended
an invitation to Judge Bronson, the Collector
at New York. and Charles OConncr. the l.. S.
District Attorney, both prominent IIunkers
which drew from these individuals letters of de-
clination. any thing but complimentary to the
honesty Of the Barnburners. The publication
OF Judge BronsOa's letter, probably, called
out the following extraordinary document from
the Secretary Of the Treasury. 1t will be seen
that the President and cabinet complain that
the Collector has given the Hards more than
their share of the loavcs (they did mt discover
that till after the result Of the Syracuse con
vention was known,) and that they expect the
Collector to remedy this matter in his future
appointments. But here is the letter:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1858.
DEAR SIR Since the conversation we had
upon the subject Of the unfortunate division in
the Democratic party in New York feel more
and more convinced that the present organiza-
ton cannot fail to endanger the success of tn,
principles Of the party there, and to prove in
furious elsewhere. But the separation is cfcc-
ted. A conviction has forced itself upon my
mind, that by Democrats pledged to each other
upon common platform of principles the di-
sision could and Ought to have been prevented
You are aware that the principles of the Bal
timore Convention. and the policy intmatcd
in the inaugural address the President and his,
constitutional advisers stand pledged to before
the world. They have been and are united as
one man upon these principles and that policy
and had reason to believe that all gentlemen
who consented to accept office under the admin
istration stood pledged to the same principle,
and policy.
As the President understands the principles
avowed at the platform Of the party at Balti-
more, all Democrats who joined in upholding
and carrying out the same were entitled to be
recognized as worthy of the cen idencc of the
united party, and consequently eligible to OIL
cial station.
That all could not obtain Office was manifest
and that the distribution could not | c exactly
equal amongst the different sections OF the par
~ was equally certain. Yet the distr;i ut on
was intended to be 50 made as to rive IN. /
cause of complaint to 10 one section. and IT is
believed that this intention has been carried
out not only by the President himself but by
most OF his appointees in respect to the Offices
under the latter.
1t has so happened that your appointments
nave been very generally made from that por-
ton OF the party to which you adhere This You
tnought best calculated to secure union and
harmony. That desirable object has failed to
De obtained. and the other portion of the partv
,eel tnat tney have not been fully recognized
oy you. ana as things now stand may not do
justice to your motives. call your attention
30 this subject. and to the fact that the President
and his Cabinet. with entire unanimitv. recor
nize that portion of the party a. democrats dis
tinctly avowiug and firmly maintaining the
principles of the Baltimore platform and emit
tied to be recognized by the appointment to Of.
dcial stations in your department. Allow me
to express the expectation that you you will SO
recognize them in the only way that will carry
conviction with il