Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-30
THE CONDITION OF THINGS.

THE CONDITION OF THINGS.
All the political organizations of the State
OF New York have held their conventions, and
the character of the forces arrayed against the
Democratic party can be readily distinguished.
Some time ago we directed the attention of
our readers to the efforts of the Northern
Wings to collect around them all the fanatical
factions of the non.slaveholding States, in
order to combine the elements of crusade
against the rights of the South, and against
the Democratic party which adheres to the
guarantees and compromises of the Constitu-
ton.
Those efforts have now fully developed them
selves, and the result is in accordance with our
anticpations. The Wing party of the North is
now thoroughly and completely denationalized
1t is thoroughly and completely abolitionized,
and, instead of composing portion of great
national party, it can be recognized only as an
element in reasonable combination against
the peace of the country and the permanency
OF the confederacy. 1t has abandoned all its
old issues, and consigned them to the grave, to
gain admittance on the Abolition platform, so
as to use the antislayery sentiment of the North
to carry out the selfish and ambitious designs
OF its leaders, whilst it lends its strength to
give force and effect to the fell spirit of fanati-
cism.
There were difficulties in the way of forming
such combination, and still grayer difficulties
IN making it compact, efficient, and permanent.
We have already mentioned their character
when predicting the result which we now wit
ness. That the Wing organizations, in most of
the North would unite with the Abolition and
Freesoil organizations, we have never doubted;
and we have always felt sure that majority
OF the members of the Wing, Freesoil, and
Abolition parties would act in concert; but we
have never believed that the organizations
could unite all their followers, or that the fu-
sion would continue to be formidable, either
after victory or after defeat. We have that
faith in the patriotism and intelligence of the
people Of the North which leads us to believe
that they will not permit motley combination
OF reasonable elements to gain the control of
public affairs; and in the event of disappoint.
ment on this point, we could not then entertain
doubt but that the Fusion league would soon
perish by discord when it undertook to divide
the spoils of victory.
In Massachusetts the Wings adhered to their
former organization, but they adopted resolu-
tons as ultra on the subject of slavery as those
which emanated from the Abolition convention
Of that State. This latter convention made no
nominations, thus leaving the Abohionists
free TO sustain the Wing nominees-the disap-
pearance Of the Webster Wings making for
NAL fusion no longer necessary. In Pennsyl-
vania the Freesoilers have Withdrawn their
ticket, and recommended the election of the
Wing candidates. This body consisted of the
friends and followers Of the notorious David
Wilmot, and now occupy the position which
their hostility to the nationality, unity, and sue
cess of the Democratic party entitled them to
many years ago.
But public interest has been more particu.
larry directed to the course Of events in New
York. In that State the Wing managers
played their game most adroitly. Their pur.
pose was to unite with the Freesoilers and
Abolitionists, but to bring about the fusion in
such manner that it should be under the con.
troll OF the Wing organization. Therefore pro-
minent Wing leaders declared that all former
political divisions should be disregarded, and
new party formed on the principle of anti
slavery alone. Then they we reactive in get.
ting up a Fusion convention, which should
unite and organize the anti-slavery sentiment
Of the State, without reference to any other
sentiment. Then they took measures to send
sufficient number of Seward Wing delegates,
under the lead Of Raymond and Greedy, to
the convention to control its action, prevent
the nomination Of ticket, and to force an ad-
journment, until after the Wing State Con-
yention should assemble.
This was cunning move, and its object was
two-fol6. In the first place it was designed to
collect as many as possible Of the Freesoilers
and Abolitionists, who did not belong to the
Wing party, and commit them to disregard
past political differences, and to regard only
the questions connected with slavery. In the
second place, to adjourn to a later day
than that fixed for the Wing convention 10
fetter the Silver Grays and secure the ends
OF the Seward Wings by the fear that the
adjourned Fusion convention would frame a
separate organization unless the Wing conven-
ton planted itself firmly on the abolition plat
form and nominated ticket which should be
acceptable to the aboltionists. The game
succeeded in producing the fusion. The Wing
convention passed anti-slavery resolutions, and
nominated ticket to correspond with it; and
when the regular Fusion convention met at Sy.
racuse, it found that il must either adopt the
Wing nominees or admit that it had not for
gotten past political differences. Being con
trolled by delegates who had "no past political
differences with the Wing candidates, the
adoption Of the entire Wing ticket was made
certain. When this was done the tactics of the
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