New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-13
LETTER FROM ABLJAH MANN

sou at Syracuse, after your nomination as c0nd date
ior the Office of Lieutenant Governor, you were
peased to say that if would address letter to you,
sskiDg whether you disapproved distinctly and M
ouslifedly Of the passage Of the Nebraska biI ex.
nding Slavery into that Territory, that you would
favor me with reply in the affirmative and thus act
Yourself right before the electors and that you held
ihe same opinions and position on that question that
YOU had ex xoressed to before your ninatlOn 20
VT: that you condemned that measure with all those
men who hsd betrayed their constituents In the free
States by votiDgfOr il.
have now the honor 10 make the inquiry suggest
sd and 10 Allude TO some other matters seeming 10
REQUIRE explanation. This conversation sought
on my pari in consequence Of my surprise on finding
that you, and all the friends you could influence
among tbo Radical or Barnburner portion OF the De
mo Jracy as cOntradistngUished from the Soft and
patrouree Hur kers voted for the resolutions report
ed by the majority Of the committee, when they sim
ply affirmed that the introduction OF the clause in the
Nebraska and Kansas bill repeating the Missouri
COMPROMISE was iDexpedlent and unnecessary, and
the country that "tbe results to grow
q ont of that measure are likely 10 prove beneficial
10 the people OF the Territories the logic of which
seems 10 be that having committed an Otfense against
the honor OF the nation and the history Of times
We rejoice in theprospective possession of the bene
fits 20 be expected from such offense-deprecatin
any agitation Of the subject before the grand inquest
ofhe country lest any opinions respecting the
Of Congress ia the matter should become tests of De-
Ipocracy and constitute standards by which we
might not be willing TO be tried before civized trbu-
pss for like offenses which we expect hereafter 10
be obliged by cur league with the national party to
commit.
had also other reasons for seeking this xpanatOn
from you Of your course, iDasmuch you had not
only avowed TO me your opinions against the NeDras-
Ia bill, but my invitation had visited my private
room, and had carefully criticised, considered and
agreed TO the resolutions had hastily prepared that
morning, as they now appear in the published pro-
eeediDgs OF the convention; and you may well sup
pOse that after you had expressed 10 me your opnion
having first obtained the views OF members Of the
convention In your ntercOurse-that three fOurths If
not seyeneighths Of the delegates were decidedly in
favor of a firm and distinct disapproval Of the
Nebraska bill, in language so clear and distinct
a. TO admit Of no doubt-my surprise increased
10 painful astOnishment when | found that the
Committee Resolutions selected by you had been
packed to produce and report such resolution in re-
spect to the passage Of the Nebraska bill Including
II ogcl il sta IS out in the political history of
be "SOft democracy of our State. 1t has not within
ny recollection, but one example, and finds only one
Justification, and that is in the Baltimore platform,
ancOned by .he last inaugural, as contained in its
spth resolve affirming that the proposition contained
N the ninth resolution covered and intended 10
embrace the whole subject Of Slavery agitation in
Congress when in truth it did not cover embrace
any such thing-whatever was intended. IL was sim
BIZ false and deusve its face, and has mised not
oBly the President but all other worshippers at its
shrine Such will probably be the result of this
soft resolution of the Syracuse Convention which
Jou voted for. The constitution of this committee
ppeared to me remarkable in other respects, for it
kd Director and Vice President of the Central Rail
road from its western end, with some of its hopeful
beneCiares from it's eastern filled up, will not say
with free tickets the efficacy of which is felt in nearly
all the departments of the government, in its center,
but with highly honorable gentlemen. especial friends
Of the State Administration, wishing to be also con-
tdorpo defenders Of the faith &C., at atWashingon.
Some on these also professed to be in favor of resolu
ions which they voted against. The Surveyor Of the
Port Of Eew-York who assured us he was Barn
burner in ls4s and opposed then to 'he extension Of
Slavery into the Territories and that hesi maintained
Tie same opinions, acted very ably and consistently
Under the friendly advice Of the Collector his supe-
rior who was in attendance and consultation in the |
adjoining room during the long debate and sitting of
the committee. The Surveyor carries with him an
admiration for the doctrine of popular sovereignty
which sho itself eoquently without being crushed
"out" in short there but three members OF the
sixteen opposed to the Nebraska bill
Finding the committee thus constituted under your |
auspices was lea to seek for the reasons which had
governed you in the appointment, and for this pur.
Sose applied TO you directly You kindly informed |
me that you had met the editor Of The Albany Alias,
vhO was also a delegate and member OF the commit !
iee o. well as particular friend Of Gov. Seymour, |
and who had drawn up the resolution which he also |
admitted to YOU and which was adopted by amajori |
" Of the committee with slight modification, as |
passed by the convention, and that he had assured |
you that the condemnaons and congratulations con-
timed In il were strong enough to promote the ends |
ssurance You had yielded, maintaining stu your /
GgiDal opinions expressed to me, although you |
v.td the other way. You may very well suppose |
Dat was not entirely satisfied by this explanation
fSm the remark made in reply, that you must al |
low me to Judge Of men by their actions rather than
BY their language, since language has been said to be
en- invention Of men TO conceal their Thoughts rather
than the gift of God TO express and explain them |
accordingly sought information IN other quarters ana
hh fair that you should be informed of the result,
and have proper opportunity for defense II you deem
n"expedient and necessary.
lwas informed that you had agreed, in cOnsdera-
ton Of a nomination for Lieutenant-GOverno 10 /
change your first opinions and adopt those of your I
rev friends, and appoint such committee as would /
rpOrt the absurd resolutions adopted by the cOnven
tol and aid their passage by your vote, under the !
o9tFatioD of the previous question, to cut me and /
oaen of from the privilege OF debate aud amend |
neni; and thus assign us all over like "human chat
"hs, 10 aid the Administration in extending Slavery
INTO all free Territories where it Is not now permitted
AID secure the nomination Of the patriot Douglas as
administrator de b0HiS of Gen. Pierce Admins
ration. AS had no knowledge of any such bargain
and arrangement could not bring myself TO believe
and therefore, in justice 10 you and your character,
Irpeled the allegation as scandalous; yet was
obliged 10 admit that such was the necessary result Of
a. your acton-a result which, with the aid of the
Immediate agents and servants of the Government,
Constituting large number OF the convention led on
hya notorious character from New-York City, de-
issed according TO your opinion as expressed to me,
e VIII OF large majority OF tho PeoPe vi tS ota.e,
Heluding your constituents and mine, within the
Counties Of Long Island, who delegated us to accom-
phsh very different result.
When the end was, however, attained, and was
called upon TO vote upon your nomlnauon, ana de,
CEned TO vote for you on the ground, as informed
you, that you had voted in favor Of the Nebraska
resolution although had been induced before to
,fge your nomination as Governor, such was my /
good opinion of you ss public man. in case Coy.
Seymour in reality declined, it was alleged he
would and supposed he intended to do until saw
his letter pubsbed before the convention had acted