Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-19

threw that sword into the Van Buren, scale 10 make
weight against the hards." II was the first time
! that good sword was ever employed IN bad
cause, and the first time il ever failed TO effect its
purpose. That gallant sword, ever before in the
hands OF one of the truest patriots this country has
ever seen, was now drawn byiis legatee, in order
TO accomplish the purposes of those who at Buff
talo, IN 1913, had assaied the Constitution of the
United States, and the good blade proved, for the
first time, TO be utterly powerless. Now, who are
the "hards" of New York The men against whom
| this weapon was used
Mr. Chairman in 1874 after Martin Van Buren
had been defeated in 1910, and when he yearned
] again 10 be a candidate for President, Texas had
i applied for admission into the Union. When Mr..
Van Buren, and Mr.. Clay came out against the
doctrine Of annexation, the pages OF that glorious
men who refused 10 follow Mr.. Van Buren,, and
sacrificed our own political preferences for the
purpose Of standing with those who were in favor
! OF the admission of Texas into the Union. This
| difference of sentiment brought about separation
OF our party, as is well known 10 those who have
/ read the political history of our State. From the
| day when Mr.. Van Buren, took ground for ex-
Guiding Texas from the United States, from that
day the hards' of New York determined to gofor
1 presidential candidate who in favor of bring
ing Texas into the Union. The result was that
/ Mr.. Van Buren, was defeated at Baltimore and
! Mr.. Folk was nominated
We, who are called the hards y Of New York,
are the men who went into that presidential can
Il
4 reservations; who abored together for the sue
cess ofthes democratic candidates. and gained for
| them the vote of the State of New York; which
vote carried Mr.. Polk into the presidential chair.
We, the hards, are the party which stood up for
! Mr.. Polk during his administration, and whose
| support Of William Marcy obtained for him
i the place OF chief of the War Department. Those
| who were in favor of Martin Van Buren, as the
democratic candidate, and who were opposed in
heart to Mr. Polk, were dissatisfied; they growled
and grumbled, and watched for an opportune
chance to overthrow the democratic party Of the
/ country.
The "hardsa are theywho in 1913, when the ele-
ments became convulsed, as far as the opportunity
was afforded them, stood by their country. Il
1 will be remembered that in the summer Of that
year, two delegations were sent from the State Of
New York TO represent that State in the Baltimore
4 convention. One Of these of that party 10 which
! belong, was headed by Daniel S. Dickinson.
The other was led by Mr.. Cambreleng. Gentle
men are now here who Were present on that oc-
casion. and can testify whether I'correctly state
its history The committee on credentials report
ed a resolution, requiring that each of the deega-
tons should pledge themselves, whatever might be
the result, TO stand by the decision and the action
the convention. Here you first see this awrig-
Cling in and wrigglng out that has been SO fire.
gqent since. Mr.. Dickinson, in behalf Of the
4 hards," declared that we would abide by the ac-
ton of the convention, whatever it might be. But
4 Mr.. Cambreeng, representing the |" softsn pro-
tested that they would agree to no such PROPOSE
ton, and proclaimed that they would remain open
to do as they pleased after the action of the con
| yention had been announced.
Under these circumstances the convention de-
termined, or was about to determine, that Mr.
i Dickinson and the "hards" should take their seats
as the rightful delegates TO the convention. The
moment 1t was known that the decision Of the
convention was, or would be, averse TO the pre-
tensions ofthe 'solts, then they again resorted to
the same '.wriggling in and wrggling out" They
declared they did not mean to decline submitting
thatr I'll - he, kol,, n
before the convention. The delegates granted
their request and listened to the arguments made
| on both sides. Then commenced that unfortunate
and disastrous process of temporzing; and with
probably an honest, but most il;udged expectation
OF harmonlzlng and uniting the action of the demo-
cratic party ofthe State of New York, the conven-
| ton undertook to form coaltion-a coalition OF
opposite principles--whch must always fail, al
ways has failed, and will most signaly fail now.
They resolved TO receive into the body the hardsr
and the disafected Van Buren, men, as equally
4 entitled to favor and thus neutralized and took
away the vote of New York.
They admitted both of those two sets of dele
gates-the one representing those who afterwards
went TO Buffalo, and became the chief priests of
/ freesoilism; and the other, the "hards,n who
fought them and the abolitionists to the bitter
| end DO you begin to know who the "hards" are
1 nowl MS AZ a1 n
i After the convention had proceeded 10 ballot.
and after General Cass had received the nomna-
ton, same soft" friends who had sswriggled in
and wrggled out SO often, took up their hats and
/ walked out of the convention, after having been
allowed TO neutraze and disfranchise the vote of
the State of New York. After this audacious
| piece OF trickery and efrontery they went home,
/ called public meeting in the Park of the city Of
! New York. denounced the convention that had
received them, and resolved to hold convention
Il at Utica, in opposition 10 that held in Baltimore.
j They accordingly afterwards chose delegates and
met in Utica and nominated Martin Van Buren,
| for Presidents and respected senator from Wis
| consn for Vice President. These straight for
| ward, honest plain.dealng patriots Withheld how.
ever, from their candidate for the Vice Presidency
! any notification of his nomination, until, finally
after waiting in vain for an official notice, he was
compelled TO come out in the public papers and
repudiate the action of those "softs!" ITO Mr..
! SMITH Do you begin 10 see now who the 1sofisr
/ are t
1 When, Mr.. Chairman, they had nominated Mr.
Van Buren,, the northumberland desire to say
nothing dsrespectful of them, because, much as /
differ from them, and totally as repudiate their
| principles, like sincerity, / like open dealing,
like maniness, and like to see men stand by
| their principles when they believe them to be
| right, no matter how erroneous, in my judgment,
| those principles may be-but these abotonists
| from Ohio and elsewhere, seeing the movement
that had been commenced by the "softs,n pro-
posed, at meetings held in several of the States a
| general convention, to be held at Buffalo in Au-
| gust 1913. II is now asked by the south who are
| the hards =" / answer, the men who spurned
| and resisted that convention. Who are the
"softs?" The men who have coalesced with and
now support those who went into that conven-
ito, and who there acted with colored persons and
with avowed aboltionsts. repeat, I mean no
disrespect to the latter, for they, believe, were
sincere.
perceive one gentleman who sits near me in
this Hall who was active participant in that
convention at Buffalo. / allude to the gentleman
from Ohio, Mr.. GTpDiNes.l mean no sur upon
him, because / am sure, that however, much the
freesoil leaders may be ashamed Of themselves
now, he does not in the least degree, as respects
his own participation in il, partake Of that senti-
ment. [Langhier.l see behind him another
gentleman who was also participation in the
movement, one Of my colleagues, Mr. SMITHl-
a gentleman of great and varied ability, and, as
believe: sincere in his views. Ofthese two gen.
temen the former pledged his political friends to
support Mr.. Van Buren,, il nominated, and the
latter recommended TO the now friends Of the
| 'sohs," that they should nominate the candidate
Just named. A son Of John Quincy Adams was
| placed upon the ticket as the candidate for Vice
President, and amidst the accamations Of the
allies Of the "sofs,n Of the wings, and abolition
lists that almost raised the roof from the building,