Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-09-15
TUENEw YORK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SOFT SHELLY STATE CONVENTION.

the Committee on general features was UNANIMOUS o'
not Oh one feature. The majolity resolutions "'' ''
following:
Resol .cd, That the democrats of New "fk IePea'
here the expression of their unchanged urH",lhn !"
the principles of the national d'nucr"'H' d ".w
at the Baltimore Convention Ill ~ "m' " "pi
hy the united democracy of this Ssate III ~ u
lions sinrc--tl.at We recognize in ihn' P'H"n' -,
only sure foundation Of Il national parry u NV u -;
hulwarli against the irritating ana "nnSeiEI: -
tion of Scctionalisin m one side ana i"t ~ ~ u" -
crnHchments Of the federal powers upon ~ ~ .ho,
The States on the other, and H. III" "c>l -" 'u ~.
n political organization can give "l "' ""''' ''''
Union and the constitution. .,uo.;,n of H..
Resolved, That we CONSIDER the ln;fm'ut''"m w W.
c,an.. IN ,h. N,Lruskn and Kansas Bll, repeating The
Missouri COMPROMISE, as ineXpcdlen' ai" uhie.cssa'
nv; but we are opposed 10 any n.'a'."n n","S :"
view the restoration of that line or .SnHn' wr,o.
mote any sectional controversy III Fc'a.r" liz =,
and we congratulate the country iha' me rcSuise :"
glow out OF tlut measure are likely - Prov ucn .tnt
cial Ia the people of tho 1crrltorlcs' anu MOI
while we maintain our position that opinions ihrcsa,u
10 the power of Congress i'll this matter III ~. u'
in rcgurd 10 democracy, we regard the ACT u Ienu'-
cation by Congress OF the power II nus WV
exercised over the subjects rs the prac''rn
of Il formidable function on the par! Oh nc 'eucL"
government. and rs the accession al a right Oh Inc
part of the incipicnt sovereignties thai are 10 consul
tute the States OF the Union, the exercise "a ""tn
can in all probability result only ausPic'cusly 70 Iho
people of the Territories and the peace Oh Tue 'inon'
Resolved, That we recall with pride the vote when
the united Democracy uf the State put forth III the
g-ea. contest of 1852, in behalf OF fr"hkiih ficrce
and w. r. King that the administration tncn maui
purutcd have displayed great ability ana integrity,
and natriutic solicitude for the welfare of the people;
aud the vetoes upon the unGuardcd i.siNia'"h y =,
Congress. the course of internal administration una
management Of public finances, ana The ait'udc us
su,ncd in support Of tie American name apr"""' rs
we'll MS thr impor:ant treaties with foreign govern
mcu.s. prcscn, q series OF MEASURES, the influence ot
which will BE- stamped upon the history ot The cohh-
try. ..L.
trcr,Ion and indcpendcncc nf the several States con-
st.tutiny that Union, rs the fundamental CONDITION 81
MI uutinual existence under the constitution, anu us Inc
r,oons AT nrotec,ion against foreign aggression and
domestic strife. we do not hesitate 10 repent that
1T must and shall he preserved.
Resolved, That the democratic party, true to the
principles with which they have ever been ldentltlcd'
DECLARE that they regard the doctrine OF civil and re-
| iipious liberty as vital 10 Il republican system, aid
that they hold Hi citizens 10 b." cqIa! ort":c the law,
wi;hou, rcfcrcnc" IN creed or the circumstances 81
birth.
Resolved. That we arc in favor Of free trade, upon
liberal principles uf reciprocity, with Il tarIif reduced
TO t:.c poiur Of coilcctiu. revenue sufficient only Tor
the necessary wants of q far ana ccononlcai nolh'i'-
~istra:ion OF the government, without wasting II III
| buuu.ics ior commercial psujec;S and monopoi!cs' ar
schemes for river and harbor Improvement ul d"Eot-
fu, ron>titu,iorali:y aud more doubtful cHpcdiIency, 10
the end that our people may be relieved from bnrthen'
| some taxation ard he suffered l" ENJOY III" fc"aIus
of honest AMI honorable labor.
Resolved. That while our wEis opponents have al,
ways proved themselves Ia be bad ana lnSuccrsSlu
administrators Of our financial affairs, adopting a prod
igal and often corrupt system oil public expenditures
leading TO dishonor and discrcdit, it bch0ores E6 10
look we'll 10 the preservation Of oir agencies III tlat
department., and TO r~tpudiate and discharge all ui-
faithful stewards IN our household, II any sUch oDthih
IdInit.ul!cc therein.
Resolved, That we favor the free distribution OF the
public lands in limited portions as h"mcsteads among
citizens and other persons VIII" snail nave declared
their intentions Ia become citizens subject 10 the con-
diiinn of inalicnablcnrss and occupation that the
opinions which prevailed in the enactmca; OF the
homestead bills Of New Mexico and Oregon are ci!tcr-
;aincd hv u in common with the democratic masses
vt the Union, and that we request our state l."GIs'n-
ture to instruct our Senators in Congress 10 advocate
the passage ot such n measure, and We respectfully
invite the democracy of other STATES Ia procure slmi-
lar action by their State Legislatures.
Resolved, That the administration Of Governor
Seymour has been conducted IN conformity with the
principles Of the party which elevated him To the po-
sition which he has so Eonnrhbly filled, aud that hls
great talents and large knowledge Of public affairs,
his integrity and the tirmne-s which he has developed
nj all important crisis, command our admiration, and
entitle him to our gratitude.
After the resolutions had been read, Auluh Mann
o iered the minority report H. follows:
Resolved, As the sense of this Convention, respect
inc the Democracy OF this State, that We unqllaiibri'
IL disapprove oi the repeal, by i!e present congress
Of the section of the net commonly iiIi"wli as me Mis-
souri, compromise, where slavery is permitted 10 tX-
,end over unnrganizcd territories indefinitely. us Il
violation alike OF legislation. good iai!h, the NATIONAL
honor, the spirit Of the age, aud the Christian! riVlllzs-
ton aud liberty of which we boast.
Mr.. Mann being asked Low many signed the re-
mort, said he regretted 10 say but three. Mr.. "c!cl,
Judge Ellsworth and himself. He regretted to differ
FROM his colleagues, but II was demanded oi MN 10
speak to his Southern brethren OH this occasion. The
lanpuure Of this resolution was very clear and dis
tnct. The Democracy demanded al Us to speak out
upon this subject that they might endorse IT,.
Mr.. Cornell moved Ia amend the report of the ma
.icri'y, by putting On It the GrI"!% IL n fcsa W MI
Mr.. Porter, OF W,stchestcr, seconded the motion.
1t was the sen,imcn. Of tie Democracy OF Westclre'
ter and OF the Stale.
Preston kim then took the floor amidst laundering
cheers. He concurrcd heartily III Mr.. Mann's rcsolu-
ton, but il did not mean all that hc supposed II dId.
This was q period of great importance To the country
and the democracy. The Democratic party was na-
,loual, not sectional. There had been conceived IN
act in deadly opposition 20 this. We had now Ia OPP
pose this measure. What constitutes democracy IL
Is the principle the great apostle, Thomas Jefferson,
had applied, so it could not be misunderstood. that
that only i. democratic which su.tnin- democratic
principles. Where Il question vi,nl &" the permanent
Interests Of the country is insisted On, we fail IN duty
ii we do not speak OH; plainly. The decision OF tins
convention is not inal-a large, Intelligent people must
heartheir judgment, and will pass upon it. have not a
particle OF doubt on the judgment that the people will
pronounce. The stamp of Nebraska will prove ITS
condemnation. They will hold the Judgment oi the
convention III utIlslpu Nu!C wv ANOItuSNu
Jill. The county | represent will r~cpudiatc every
thing savoring OF such II thing. These resolutions dt-
inunI us to 20 back and endorse the Baltimore plat
form. We are not III the position we were when That
platform was adopted. a great wrong has since been
done. Hence. there are principles III The lnalorltys
report to which ] can never consent. The very utii-
ity of this Convention to preserve It's organization
depends on the work Of To-day. This body can never
carry over the democracy OF the State TO the cause oil
slavery propagandism.
John Cochrane repealed the charge that they were
leaving the democratic creed and standing Oh the
quick.sGnds of policy. lie stood on the platform now
vt free sol, free speech, and free mon. But there is
more than one channel in which these principles flow.
Times chGnSc-mcn change with thenI-but princi-
plies change never. They are eternal. The princi-
pie which was here enforced WAS OF that PLATFORM
tIat nt the people IL govern themselves. This is
| higher law-hctirr than al! organic law. Il was bot
ter than the conaiitution, for the constitution was ba-
.cd upon il.
Mr.. Wilkins Sccor. of Oswcgo, said he would an
uouucr his name for the benefit vi the reporters. He
J was gratitiud to hear Mr.. CvclIranc acknowledge that
| all men were born free. Tn" contract between the
| North and the South has been violated.
The previous question was now moved and loudly
| called for-and being sustained by u large majority,
the question was pat upon adopting the resolutions
separately. The first was adopted. Mr.. Abjah Mann
moved to substitute the resolution submitted by him
on behalf OF the minority, but this was ruled ont oi
order end the muioritv resolution was adopted. Ayes
2i5, noes li9.
The remaining. resolutions were nil adopted.
Several members Withdrew from participating in
the proceedings of the Convention.
Mr.. Mann submitted resolutions. The first asserts
the power of Congress TO Make all necdtul regulations
for the Territories and its bounden duty TO provide
against the extension AMI establishment of slavery
therein. The second disclaims interference with
slavery by national legislation, and it must Gbidc
where it exists ,ill our brethren shall wisely discover
and apply the proper remedy. The third declares
l .l,. =, A.. o. s ,r.nIn,.. - ,l.,,l, N,ni, Iis-