Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-12
WHICH ARE THE TRUE DEMOCRATS
THE HARDS OR THE SOFTS.

WHICH AXE THE TRUE DEmoClNAIs,
THE HARDS OR THE soFTs.
The matter of particular interest just at this
time is the position of the New York Soits, as
developed in the proceedings Of their recent
. convention at Syracuse We commented at
some length on those proceedings in our last
issue, but there are certain aspects presented
by them that yet remain to be considered.
These proceedings have elected much and
various comment from the press. We have
seen no paper that expresses hearty and en-
thusastic approval of the resolution that re-
fers to the passage of the Nebraka bill. The
most bigotted Softshell papers give to it only
heartless sanction and cold acquiescence.
The papers of the Hard persuasion treat it
with derision and contempt. Other newspa-
pers, so far as we are informed, look upon it as
most lame and impotent conclusion" 1t
has not merit, force, and responsibility enough,
either to delight friends or exasperate foes.
From the one it wins a reluctant assent, from
the other it draws contemptuous smile. Nor
is this to be wondered at, since it is a misera-
BILE continuance, intended to cheat alike the
friends and the enemies of the Nebraska bill.
The most that it has elected from that leading
Soltshell journal, the Albany Atlas, is q tame
and spiritless sanction. The EUening Post,
while declaring that what is said by the con-
vention "about not agitating the Slavery
question further, and about not making it a
test, is undiynifcd and absurd" yet construes
the resolution in regard to the Nebraska bill
as a distinct declaration against it. The Post
says:
"This resolution is equivalent TO an invita-
ton to the people of every congressional and
assembly district in the State, to choose men
this fall who will be prepared to use whatever
influence they may acquire to prevent the re
petition of such folly; it is equivalent to a
rebuke of every representative in Congress, and
every public officer, who shares any of the re-
sponsibility of it, and it is highly flattering
though indirect commentator Of those who
had the courage and the good sense to resist
it."
The Post continues
"But humiliating as the adoption of these
resolutions must be to those who advised and
voted for the Nebraska bill, they appear to
have come short of expressing the sense of n
very numerous and influential portion of the
convention"
The allusion here made is to Preston King,
Mr.. Mann and others, who retired from the
convention As we design comparing this
resolution of the Sohs, with the resolution of
the Hards on the same subject, we again pub
lish it with italics.
RESOLVED, That we consider the introduction
of the clause in the Nebraska and Kansas bill,
repediing the Missouri compromise, as iner-
pedie,a and unnecessary; but we are opposed
to any agitation having in view the restoration
of that line, or tending to promote any sec.
tional controversy in relation thereto; and we
congratulate the country that the results TO
grotc ont Of that measure are likely TO prore
beneficial to The people file Territories; and
that while we maintain our position that
opinions in regard to the power Of Congress
in this matter are not tests in regard TO de-
mocracy, we regard the act Of remuneration by
Congress Of the power il has heretofore exer-
cised over the subjects as the practical nr7en-
der Of a formidable function on tie part Of The
federal government, and as the accession Of a
right on the part Of The Iacipieft sOrereignties
that are 10 constitute the States Of the Union !;
the exercise Of which can, in all probability,
result only duspicio,lSly 10 the people Of the
Territories and Uie peace Of the Union"
This resolution amphibious and ambidex-
trous as it was, was only passed by the vote
of yeas 245, nays l49. The antislavery reso.
lutions of Mr. Mann commanded lo6 votes in
the convention, and only 222 voted against
them.
1t thus appears that the convention OF the
Softs was afraid either to pass resolutions posi-
lively for, or positively against the Nebraska
measure. The resolution adopted may be thus
described:
I" | will and wont,
/ shall and shani.r
As this party is the peculiar rival of the
Hard organization, it is but fair that we should
refer back TO the Hard convention held at
Syracuse on the 18th Of July last and repro
duce their resolutions on the same subject.
Those resolutions are as follows:
+" Resolved, That the doctrine of non.inter-
vention by Congress, the right Of the people
ofthe Territories TO make their own local regu-
lations and temporary laws, subject only TO the
power relinquished by the States to the gene
raj government, including all regulations re-
latiDg 10 domestic seryitude, have long been
permanent and leading features in the creed OF
the national democracy"
ResolUed," ION account Of its length we
omit all but the concusion,) and that we up.
prove of the recent act Of Congress for the ter
ritorial organization Of Nebraska and Kanzas.
80 Ear as il establishes the principle that the
people Of the Territories have the same inherent
rights to legislate for their own welfare as is
exercised by the people Of the States"
These resolutions ofthe IIards are as pointed,
explicit, and ineligible as those of the Softs
are evasiye, non-committal, and obscure. The
first have honest directness; the last are char
ncterized by duplicity
The reluctant resolution of the Softs asserts,
however, one fact with something Of distinct
ness, and that is that those comnos;,,, az oo.-