Washington sentinel., 1853-10-11
For the Washington Sentinel.
The Democratic Split I'm New York.

Ihe Democratlc split In new horks
II is subject of great moment to the demo
cratic party, as well as to the welfare and tran
guilty Of the south, that the unhappy dissen-
sions in our ranks, in the Empire State, should
be satisfactorily adjusted. Let us consider
briefly, how matters stand, and what can be
done to facilitate this vital object. ! fear the
true point of this controversy is greatly miscon-
ceived by the public at large. ! will attempt
to state il III perspicuous terms
In the State of New York there are four great
political parties, or, if you will, factions
|. The national or union democrats, christ
ened the hards."
=. The abolition democrats, christened the
"Softs.'
;. The national union wings, called the
"Sitrer grays." And,
!. The abolition wings, rejoicing in the nom
de g,te,Te of" tcoolly heads"
Here we have the programme of the perform
ance. As to the wings of both classes, we alb
stain from making any comments at the present
time-and yet, the theme is by no means devoid
either of interest or national Importance. l
will recur to the feuds among the democrats.
! do not go back to the origin of them, or the
authors, but confne myself to the acts and pro-
ceedings of their subdivisions, since the treaty
of peace with Mexico. This is significant
enough. That treaty added vast increase Of
territory to the Union, and extended our domain
to practical route across the continent to the
Pacific coast to ensure us almost monopoly
of the trade and commerce of the east. No
sooner was the subject mooted, OF organizing
territorial or other forms of government for
these mighty acquisitions, than body of noisy
demagogues, calling themselves free-soilers, but
really, aboliionists in disguise, sprang up in
NJ al nIa, No
pirate banner Of the 'Wilmot proviso,' com
menced the agitation of the subject of slavery,
and persisted in it, till the Union, itself, was
tottering to its fall The good sense, the ven
Grafton for the constitution, and the patriotism
of the American people came to the rescue i'll the
darkest hour, and all that good man should
hold dear, of civil freedom, was saved. The
compromise as the olive branch Of peace, was
offered and accepted, and the storm-lashed
ocean gradually subsidized into peace. One sub
iect of discomfort remained--the fugitive slave
law--and defeated on all other points, the abo-
litonists of all stripes chung to this last plank
of their wreck. Few were more active in this
work than those in New York. They aspat
on democratic platforms-erected mosaic ones
Of their own--raised presidential candidate in
conjunction with their negro and abolition
allies, and thus produced the defeat of the ma
tional democratic union candidate for that high
place. What next? They formed hollow
union with the national union democrats, OBJ
tanned remission Of their sins and re-admisson
into the ranks from which they had basely de-
serted, and which they had struggled to hard
destroy. They set to work to suppant those
who had borne the heat and burthen of the day;
and too well have they succeeded. They pre-
tended to have abjured the heresies Of the Buf
c,ln tbair 10 +bn la
democratic Baltimore convention, shouted pGans
over the inaugural address of the president, and
without ceremony, have walked into the highest
seats in the political synagogue.
| Now the great question arises: What is to be
done? What master do these men serve, "God
or. Mammon?" They voted for President
Pierce this is all true, but is this fact alone
sufficient to entitle them to Offices and honors
won by the unfaltering legions OF democracy, in
the times when Sunshine patriots and summer
soldiers fled from their colors and went over
to the camp of the enemy? answer no. To
be deserving Of Office under the administration,
they should openly and unequivocally renounce
the tenets of free-soil and abolition-should re-
cant their denunciations of the fugitive slave
law, and should prove by their works that they
are honest and unqualified supporters of the
great principles laid down at Baltimore, on
which Gen. Pierce triumphed,
In voting for the candidate of the party, man
is entitled to no credit unless he also votes for
its principles. 1t has been said that these men
have done all that is here required-but where
is the proof? Have they, anywhere or at any
time, recognized the constitutional validity of
the fugitive slave law? Have they expressed
regret or contriticn for defeating the democratic
party? Have they abandoned any of their
free-so notions? | answer no. They stand
where they did in lS4S and ever since the late
Syracuse re-enactment of the drama of the Buff
falo convention, some of its leading organs have
had the audacity to re-hash a portion of their
pestiferops doctrines 1t is said they have
come over to the party! Should the administra
ton cast them off? Here is the vital mistake !:
They have not joined the party in good faith,
but are striving to divide and defeat it if they
cannot control its action and fatten on the
lions share of the spos. To the people of the
South this movement is ominous The little
black cloud, at first, is no bigger than mans
hand, but how soon may 1t darken the northern
heavens | trust the firmness and patriotism
Of the President will be equal to the task Of
making this brood of sott-shelled crawfsh
bolt out of their holes.
You shall soon hear from me again.
SILAS WRIGHT.
October s, 1858.
| To the Editors of the Sentinel