Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-21
ATTEMPTS AT RECONCILIATION.


difficult work by explaining the platform of the
"Softs." This platform, by the way, reminds US
of the new-fashioned signboards that have differ
emit reading according to the position of the passer
by. The Courier says:
The resolutions include to sustain the Nebraska
law and they all passed by large majority 1t is
they declare the repeal of the Missouri compromise
law to be 'nexpedient and unnecessary, but they
press strong disposition in the Convention TO oppose
any of agitation having in view the restoration Of
the compromise tending promote any sectional con-
royersy in relation thereto This resolution of the Soft
Convention is important it aboshes the point of dis
pute with the Hards SO far as the Nebraska law is
concerned"
Very true it is virtual surrender of one of the
points at issue, because if the dssentients refrain
from "agitation," their soft" murmurs of disap-
probation amount to nothing
The Journal of Commerce kindly asks:
ssWhat forbds the Softs, after being little more
purged of the Abolition leaven with which they have
hitherto been afflicted to unite with the Hards and the
Hards with them in eecng candidates for State ocers
members of Congress- &c.? Acting separately, both sec
ons of the party to be acting together
they have fair prospect Of success"
Thus (adds the Courier) the sSofts hold out the
hand of reconciliation their Hard brethren, and all
Of difference being done away why should they not
shake hands and forget old disputes!'
There is nothing to prevent it if either party will
yield but which branch is to withdraw its ticket?
The "Softs'' receive honied accounts from various
quarters; and, having the Offices may laugh at their
consistent brethren who praise "principle's but
denounce its authors and patrons. The Union Of
Milledgevile, Georgia, is also engaged in the labor
Of love, the effort to bring together again the d.
vorced sections of the party. Speaking of the
SEYMOUR portion, it says:
The resolutions however express the sentiment Of
the Democratic party of New York The expression
of regret at the doing away with the Missouri compro-
mise line will render those Democrats unfit associates
for the Southern Democracy if they say they
posed to any agitation haung co the restoration of that
n or tending 70 promote any sectional controversy in rsia
ton thereto That is all Southern could ask
pec steadast adherence the policy here prescribed
will accomplish much towards allayng sectional ami
mosites and restoring peace to the country any other
There is unquestionably portion of the Soft Democracy
of New York rotten the great and vital issue this is
true also of portion Of the Hard Democracy of the
State Why them cannot the sound portion of the Sos
and Hards join hands and cut off the diseased parts of
their respective political organizations? BY so doing
they would present formidable barrier to the progress
of the Factoniss and Fusionis and be strong enough
to keep the State Government Of the hands of the
anti slavery party. But divided they can do nothing
they play into the hands Of their worst enemies and
strengthen the they both dscam in the strongest
language"
Certainly, I" that is all that Southern men could
ask or expecf'-just to give up and fall into the
Democratic line! Nothing more easy to elastic
consciences. The same invitation has been hereto
fore kindly given to the Wings. Every Wing
must appreciate its generosity well its modesy
BY the same sort Of logic used in the foregoing
extracts the strongest of the antsavery resolutions
adopted at the Wing Convention might be frittered
away and defended Take, for instance, the fol-
lowing:
Resored That by the act procuring the repeal of the
MISSOURI compromise we hold that we are forever dis
charged from all obligations to support any compromises
with slavery except such are contained in the
stiuon Of the United States and most especially that
we forever released from all obligations to admit
into our Union any State which sanctions or permits
slavery"
Now these, upon first reading, are very brave
words; but what do they amount to more than that
declaration of the g Soft Democracy that the in
PRODUCTION of the Nebraska bill was inexpedient
and unnecessary ?" They say they bold that they
are forever discharged from all obligations to sup
port any compromises with slavery, except such as
are contained in the Constitution of the United
States" They also say they are forever released
from all obligations to admit into our Union any
State which sanctions permits slavery" 1t may,
then be remarked that the fugitive slave law is an
emanation of the Constitution, and there is no
danger Of its repeal and, to being released from
all obligations in regard to slave States, they have
carefully abstained from any pledge to avail them
selves of such release.
But we are not to be understood as either APP
proving or palauing the foregoing declarations. We
are but showing that the main body Of the Demo-
cratic party-the portion that holds the Offices in
New York--are not more sound, though a little
more specious, than the Syracuse Wings. We have
uniformly expressed our disapprobation Of all at
tempts sectional and irreconcilabe issues on the
part of the Wings of the North and feel confident
that time will show them the impotency and impolicy
Of such course. 1t is in vain to attempt to disguise
the fact that the action Of Congress has awakened
the dormant but almost universally prevalent anti
slavery sentiment at the North and West and if
the Democrats are more cautious in their mode of
treating the subject they have been in the late
Democratic Convention of Massachusetts,, (omitting
altogether any allusion to slavery it is because
they are in position requiring the of fair words
to conceal their real opinions
But of what possible use or value are pledges of
politicians? Since the open and fragrant violation
of the Baltimore platform by the Democracy, who
can have the slightest faith in them? The very