Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-30
THE BALTIMORE PLATFORM NOT A
FRAUD.

lucky, sthltines Itself Dy using the folloWlng
language:
If the softs had done wrong, they acknow-
lodged their error at Baltimore; they made
suitable concessions, as did those who had been
denounced as disunionists, and all stood, thence
forth, on the same platform, and agreed to fight
shoulder to shoulder against the common po
litical enemy. The softs conceded what they
had ayowed as principle, and SO did the ultra
State rights men. They have so far, kept their
faith. To disown them now, or to attempt to
drive them back into their old party divisions,
after having received them into fellowship and
secured their votes, would be dishonorable.
And yet this is what the hards demanded the
administration should do. They renewed the
war of lS4S at Syracuse; they kept up the war
until the election, and it seems they have ont
voted that section of the party which had acted
, in good faith ever since they recanted their
error and acknowledged the principles Of the
party to be their principles. The hards acted
in bad faith. The administration has acted in
good faith, and so long as the softs adhere to
the principles they profess, and stand by the
Baltimore platform in good faith, the democrat
cy of the Union viii refuse to unite with those
who wish to prescribe them.
Now, we will not call special attention to the
distinction between the soft shell and the free
soiler, because the soft shells have gone over
TO the freesoil camp, and placed themselves
under the control of the freesol organization.
But we must deny that the freesoilers acknowl
edged their errors at Baltimore. Does the
Louisville Times mean to say that, because
they sought admittance into the Baltimore con-
vention Of 1852, they renounced their heresies?
If so, the Louisville Times should post itself
up. 1t should endeavor to gain some little in
formation Of recent political history. The
veriest tyro in politics knows, or should blush
for not knowing that the Van Buren, freesoilers
applied for admission into the Baltimore con-
yention of l848. Was that application con-
fession of error?
If it was not confession of error, how comes
it that the application of the freesoilers to be
admitted in the Baltimore convention Of 1852
was q confession and recantation? If our
memory does not deceive us-lf there is any
truth in history, the freesoilers went from the
Baltimore convention of l94S full Of hatred to
the democratic party and to the democratic
ticket. They held convention in New York,
at which they denounced the Baltimore con-
vention, and then they went to a place called
Buffalo, and there, with the aid and support
of the abotionists, erected the celebrated Buf.
falo platform, and nominated Martin Van Blu
rem and Charles f. Adams for the presidency
and vice presidency Of the United States, in
order to defeat the democratic party.
Tho on;svilla Ty,ney - ,,;s;nrcr,n.5 TIL
freesoilers did not concede at Baltimore " what
they had avowed as principle As soon as
the Baltimore convention adjourned, the organ
Of the Geesoilers denied most emphatically and
most earnestly that the platform was adopted
at ALL and, from that day to the present, it has
adhered firmly to its freesoil Buffalo platform
position-denouncing the compromise and pro
nouncing the fugitive-slave law an insult to the
age. fit be true that the freesoiers repentet
Of their errors at Baltimore, and promised tc
amend their conduct, it is not true that "they
have, so far, kept their faith" On the con
trary, they have adhered to their separate or
ganization.
In the New York legislature they refused to
sustain the Baltimore platform, and refused to
sustain the Presidents inaugural. They used
every means and appliance to gain control Of
the democratic organization. Finding that the
majority was against them at Syracuse, they
sent for band Of DULLES and backguards to
seize forciby on the democratic organization.
If the Louisville Times calls that keeping faith,
it can only mean to play on words, for it was
only punc faith that was kept by the free
sellers, who can only speak with double
tongue.
The Louisville Times does not speak truly
when il afIirms that the national democrats Of
New York have acted in bad faith 1t is not
true that the national democrats have attempted
to drive the freesoilers back into their old
party divisions The old party divisions have
never been obliterated. The freesoilers have
never abandoned their treason for they have
stood by their purpose, and it was physically
impossible to dyiUe them back to position they
had never abandoned. They were never re-
ceived into fellowship Cor the purpose of secu.
ring their votes. 1t is a gross libel on the de-
mocracy TO say so.
The Baltimore platform of 1852, was moi
intended to invite factionists into our ranks
II was made more specific and stringent thar
that Of ls4s, in order to nationalize the democ
racy by drieing of traitors and factionists, Sc
as to purify the party. The purpose and in
tent was to crush out freesoilism, and drive tn,
reesolers to the wings, or to their abolition
sympatmzers--to force them TO leave the demo
crailc camp, and go where they could fnt
shelter. In the name, and on behalf Of tn.
national democracy, we spurn the idea that tn,
Baltimore convention was cheat, VIC den,
that the election of General Pierce was f..,d
as the Louisville Times would have the publ,
believe by its senseless clap-trap.