The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-28

Muetuer py ttoeuee VI usage, tuty miHne oo Wei
| make up their minds to be slaves, either in
their own persons or in their posterty, at nc
very distant day. WILLIAM GooDELL.
REMARKS OF PRESTON KING
AT THE N YORK SOFT SHE'LL CONVENTION
Reported for the New York TimesI
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Conven-
| tion: ! shell not speak long. | concur, Sir,
most cordially in tho resolution offered by the
| minority committee, which hes been presented
| by nv old friend from Queens. It does not,
however, express the whole of my sentiments
upon this subject The power of convention,
so far as it regards nominations Of candidates
for off &c presented to party represented by
tina. convention, is, in my Judgment one 10
which the convention he's the right to bind all
who are in it, and who ore fairly represented
by it. To that extent recognise tho binding
authority of convention. But 90 far as re-
CARDS pronunciation upon the principles of
tho Constitution, and 20 far as it regards pro-
nouncing and defining the powers and liberty
of the cit;zens | deny it. deny TO any con-
vention the power to control tho private OF
personal judgment Of the citizen. Cheers
We have assembled a. period Of great i'm
portanoe TO the country, and especially to the
Democratic party. We have ever denounced
sectionality. Democracy is ia itself national
A sectional combination CT Wings and Demo
Gratis has conceived q measure which violates
tho pEshted faith of the nation and which
stains it with dishonor by tho violation Of
compact in favor of freedom, and we are call
Cd upon by tho majority report to sustain that
violation, and to abandon tina. oourso of action
which has ever distinguished Democrats stand
ing By their principles. l. is the only means,
Mr.. President, by which the rights and inter.
ests and liberties OF this country arc TO be
maintained. Courage and frmness arc sho
characteristics CT Democracy. Without this
quality Democracy would be shorn Of ell It's
strength and all its beauty, and of that which
ass commended it to the heests of the people
of this country. VIA. is il that constitutes
Democracy? IL is iho PRINCIPLES which that
party have declared as their creed The great
apostle of Democracy, Thomas Jeferson, has
presented this ia language go clear that IL can
10. be misunderstood. Is was those principles
that commended the. word Democracy, a.
dist applied to tho party as q term Of reproach,
TO the country, and has made it % honorable
that all parties claim to 30 Democrats. That
Caly ia Democracy which Eustains Democratic
principles. [Applauso. We should &C. with
great caution. We should 60 nothing wildly
nothing rasbly Wo shoqId entertain great
difference enl respect for those wish whom We
act, who diier from us in opinion. That is
due tt them. respectful to them, and due 20
ourselves. But Whero question vital to the
permanent interests OF this country ia present.
cd 10 W. TO act upon, we should be fathless to
cur obligations to the Constitution and TO our
country, if wo failed to meet it with frmness,
ana with sincerity express our opinion. Can
10 now abandon the doctrine which We have
ever maintained, and pass over TO the support
of those schemes developed by the Neb! nsl 2
bill! Cries Of mo mol" cheers and hisse..
The report Of ahs majority of the committee
is designed 10 carry the Democratic party OF
this State to that POSITION. cannot assent to
that. | cannot do il. Let US understand that
the decision Of this convention is not final upon
this subject, and it is perhaps fortunate for us
and FOR our country tEat it is not 3d.
A largo, Intelligent, and patriotic people are
TO hear tho Judgment which this convention
will pronounce, and will hayo to pass upon it.
Then, gentlemen, we shall be compelled to
obey, for it 10 the people who posscss the
power to enforce their decision. Gentlemen
10. me tell you, Is q matter Of opinion, that
have not q particle OF doubt ss TO the iudgmen,
thst the pecp'e cf the State OF New York will
|. pronounce upon that bill. believe that the
stamp OF Nebraska upon this convention viii
destroy its power, snd destroy tie confidence
of the people in it. BY desire TO sustain the
Democracy induces ms to say this with car
dor. tell you | believe that the adoption OF
those principles will te met with derision and
hostility by the people of the country. know
that the men | represent here Will never, By
their Votes ct the election, ratify ticket to
carry negro slavery over the continent Of
America. [Applauro.l
Gentlemen: Upon this subject we are called
upon to ect with discretion, es well as with wis
dom and with patriotism. If G mere question ol
poiiey were presented, it would not 60 much
matter; but when question Of right comes in
| repudi3te tho idea of policy Give me thai
which is right, patriotic, and just and an con
isn't to take il without asking whether il would
DO pCiitic. Loud cheers These resolutions
| ask that we should 20 back and endorse the
Baltimore platform. Now, the great principle
and object Of that platform was to put away
this slavery question from Us; and the Demo
cratic party acquiesced in the declarations
| made in that platform and pledged their faith
that there should DO an end CT the matter
They pledged their faith that we should have
no more sgitstion and that discussion was &c
cease; and they now commit an outrage upon
the country, violate their pledges and ask Us
to go back TO that time, to shut our mouths
against discussion or speaking upon the subject
Gentlemen: We are now In the position
that We we're when the doctrines Of that plat
form were laid down and sssented to. A great
wrong has been done, and we are now asked
to go behind that and to cease from demand
ing O reparation. cannot consent to that
gentlemen. [Cheers.] | cannot consent tG
have constitutional right abridged by the
convention OF anybody else. Freedom Of dis
euss,on is a constitutional right 1t is inherited
IN the Constitution. Is is q constitutional
| right, and | will not consen. to surrender it
Iasre arc other points in the resolution Of the
majority report to which cannot give my con-
sent; and upon this subject it is with grea,
pain that rose to say sny.hing.
Is is because am constrained TO differ with
that report, Whatever may be the Judgment Of
the convention, aud for the purpose of pre-.
senting my views TO the convention, and to
ask them TO consider that perhaps the very
destiny, the very ability Of this organization to
preserve ITSELF win depend upon the position
it here takes today. The popular judgment
has to pass upon It's action. Is there any
doubt what the sentiment of the State of New
York will be upon tho eubjecti Is there any