Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-18
THE NEW YORK HARDs AND THE
NEBRASKA BILL.

Unjust attempts have been made to misre.
present the New York Hards because some of
those whom they sent to Congress voted against
the Nebraska bill. That circumstance was
eagerly seized on to justify the assertion that
the New York Hards were insincere in their
professions, and that their claim to nationality
was put forth only for effect. They had sepa.
rated from the followers Of Mr.. Van Buren,, be-
cause they repu1iated the sectional sentiments
and freesoi ideas of that faction as unjust to
the South and dangerous to the confederacy
but still their enemies endeavored to prove that
they favored the Missouri restriction. This
was done for the purpose of creating the belief
that they were tickle and unsteady, and that
their policy was founded not on principle, but
on sel6shness and ambition.
The leaders of the Hards were known to be
in favor Of the Nebraska bill, and the position
which that party had taken was almost equivo-
lent to direct and positive committal against
the restrictive clause in the Missouri act, and
in favor ofthe principle that the people Of the
territories should dispose ofthe question Of sla-
very for themselves. Some few who permitted
their feelings to sway their judgment, were car.
red too far by their hostility to the administra-
ton. They were pointed out by cunning men
as furnishing fair indication of the sentiments
OF the national democracy of New York. When
men are bent on Misrepresentation it is diff
cult to pursue any course Of conduct or use any
form of expression which they will not torture
and pervert. 1t is almost impossible to satisfy
them for they will pretend to find evidences
of equivocation in the plainest actions and in
the most direct and positive language.
The national democrats of New York at their
State convention held at Syracuse since the
passage Of the Nebraska bill, adopted series
of resolutions, which committed them fully to
-the support of that measure. The fact that
portion Of the members of Congress who be-
longed to the organization Of the Hards had
voted against the Nebraska bill without meet
ing the public censure of the party, was held
up as evidence that the organization was not
to be trusted on the issue presented by the pas
sage of that bill. Such step was not called
for by the duties which usually devolve on State
conventions assembled to make nominations
for State officers. But no matter for that The
enemies OF the Hards were determined to find
fault and when men come TO that determine
ton they always succeed in bringing forward
some pretext, if they can produce no good rea-
son, to justify their complaints.
These remarks have been suggested to us by
reading the resolutions adopted at a meeting
of the "Young Mems Committee" which re-
presents the Hards of the city Of New York,
and which may be considered as the best ex-
ponent Of the views and sentiments Of the ma
tional democracy Of the State Of New York.
Among those resolutions is one which, we trust
will silence the assertions and insinuations OF
those who have labored so earnestly 10 weaken
the national democrats in the confidence Of
their friends in other States, and put to rest the
efforts that have been made 10 misrepresent
their position and assail their consistency.
The resolution to which we allude, is in these
words:
"Resoloed That we disapproye ofthe course
Of those Of our representatives in Congress- who
permitted their republican principles to be over
ruled by their prejudices on the vote upon the
Law to organize che territorial governments Of
Kansas and Nebraska, because we claim to be a
party ofprinciples and not Of exnedients. The
justification they have laid before us does not
give them right to our sympathy"