Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-16
THE NEW YORK "HARDS"-THEIR
CONSTITUENTS.


THE NEW YORK "HARDs,-TH
CONSTITUENTS.
A distinguished gentleman of the Empire
State, who is attached to the New York ma
tional democracy, and whose opinions merit at
their hands the highest respect and considera-
ton, writes us thus:
eve are waiting anxiously the vote on the
Nebraska bill. Ihope the members of Congress
from this State who have hitherto enjoyed the
confidence of the hards viii not forget that their
constituents are looking for the vindication OF
a principle, and the endorsement of democratic
doctrine, in the passage of this bill"
We said, in the last number of the Sentinel,
that we had reason to believe that the con.
stituents of the national democratic represen-
tatives in Congress desired the passage Of the
Nebraska bill. Our opinion was founded on
representations made to us by well-judging
and reliable persons. 1t was also based on
the belief that the hards of New York, who
have been the consistent friends Of the Con-
stitution and its guarantees, and have ever
refused to fraternize with aboliionists and free
sellers, would not, could not so far forget them
selves, their past history, their but recently
recorded pledges and professions, as to finch
and fail on the first occasion offered to them
to test their sincerity.
We sympathized and agreed with them, be-
cause we deemed them true and trusty men,
and nothing would more mortify and disap-
point us than to find them arraying themselves
against the very principles which were en-
blazoned on their banners. That they could
be so inconsistent, so needless of their profess
sions, SO reckless of the good opinion of the
country, and so false to the friends who sus-
tanned their cause, we could not believe.
Their course is plain. f..they desire to kill
themselves andlose all for which they have so
CALAMITY struggled, they have but to join in
the crusade against the Nebraska bill, with
the constitutional doctrine of non-intervention
embodied in it. More is expected Of them
than of the other wing Of the New York demo-
Gratis, because it has been their peculiar boast
that they are the true men Of the north. They
have but to do. this if they wish to be q
doomed and a broken party.
But if on the other hand, they wish to en-
joy the respect and the confidence of the
country, if they wish to preserve their own
selfrespect, if they wish to make themselves
the rallying-point for the constitutional democ-
racy Of the country, they have but to do their
duty-they have but to redeem their pledges,
and fulfill their oft-repeated professions.
tits in vain to make this excuse or that ex-
cuse for not sustaining the measure to which
we refer. No excuse, however plausible, no
device, however ingenious, will suffice Nor
can the issue be evaded or avoided. 1t must
be met.
We are pleased to learn from such high au-
thority as our correspondent, that the 100000
national democrats Of New York expect their
representatives in Congress to do their duty.
We are pleased to learn that they are waiting
anxiously the vote on the Nebraska BILL and
are looking to them for their vindication of a
principle, and the endorsement Of democratic
doctrine, in the passage of that BILL"
We have the satisfaction Of knowing that, if
unhappily any of their representatives should
falter, yet the hards of New York are firm
and faithful. We sincerely, hope too, that all
of the hards in Congress, however much ap.
pearances may be against some Of them, will
yet yield their support to the Nebraska bill.
How they can do otherwise and yet be hards,
we cannot understand. If they mean to retain
their names, they must retain their principles.
Should they do otherwise, then will there be q
new school of politicians in the Empire State
in addition to the many now existing there
to christen which will be difficult and perplex-
ing.
We do not wish to see any addition to the
political nomenclature that prevails in that
State. 1t is already sufficiently embarrassing