The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-21
A HARD LETTER TO A ~sorr.-

ADlldu Dlau0 AsSo AshCAtO OCOA NIO Va sHS
most prominent leaders of the New York De-
mocracy. The base conduct of the "Soft"
Convention lately held at Syracuse has drawn
from him the following pupgent letter, which
we find in the columns of the New York EUe-
ming Post. 1t is beautiful exposition of po-
litical morality.-Ed. Era
LETTER FROM ABIJAH MANN
To the Hon. Nm. II. Ludlow, Democratic cGndi-
date for the office of Lieutenant Governor.
JAMAICA, QUEENS COUNTY, N. Y,
September 9, 1854.
SIR: In conversation with you at Syracuse,
after your nomination as candidate for the
office Of Lieutenant Governor, you were pleased
to say that if would address letter to you,
asking whether you disapproved distinctly and
upoualifiedly of the passage of the Nebraska
bill. extending slavery into that Territory, you
would favor me with reply in the affirmative,
and thus set yourself right before the electors J;
and that you held the same opinions and po-
sition on that question that you had expressed
to me before your nomination, to wit: that you
condemned that measure, with all those men
who had betrayed their constituents in the free
States by voting for it.
have now the honor to make the inquiry
suggested, and to aliude to some other matters
seeming to require explanation. This CONVEX
sation was sought on my part in consequence
of my surprise on finding that you, and all the
friends you could influence among the radical
or Bsrnburner portion of the Democracy, as
contra distinguished from the " Soft" and Pat
ronage Hunkers, voted for the resolutions
reported by the majority of the committee,
when they simply affirmed that the introduc-
ton Of the clause in the Nebraska and Kansas
bill repeating the Missouri Compromise was
inexpedient and unnecessary, and congratu-
lated the country that the results to grow out
of that measure are likely to prove beneficial
to the people of the Territories THE logic of
which seems to be that having committed an
offence against the honor of the nation and
the history of our times we rejoice in the pros
pective possession of the benefits to be expect
ed from such offence deprecating any agita-
ton Of the subject before the grand inquest of
the country, lest any opinions respecting the
power Ct Congress in the matter should become
tests of Democracy, and constitute standards
by which we might not be willing to be tried
before civilized tribunals for like offences.
which we expect hereafter to be obliged by
our league with the national party to commit
had also other reasons for seeking this ex-
PLANTATION from you of your course, inasmuch
as you had not only svowed to me your opin-
ions against the Nebraska bill, but on my in
yitation had visited my private room, and had
carefully criticised, considered, and agreed to
the resolutions | had hastily prepared that
morning, as they now appear in the published
of the Convention; and you may
we'll suppose that after you had expressed to
me your opinion-having first obtained the
views of members of the Convention in your
interoourse-that three-fourths, If not seven
eighths, Of the delegates were decidedly in
favor of firm and distinct disapproval of the
Nebraska bill, in language go clear and distinct
as to admit of no doubt-my surprise increased
to painful astonishment when found that the
Committee on Resolutions selected by you had
been packed to produce and report such
resolution in respect to the passage of the Ne
braska bill Including its logic) as it now stands
out in the political history of the "Sofs" De-
mocracy of our State. Ii has not within nv
recollection, but one example, and finds only
one justification, and that ia in the Baltimore
platform, sanctioned by the last inaugural as
contained in its tenth resolve, affirming that
the proposition contained il the ninth resolu-
ton covered and was intended to embrace the
whole subject of slavery agitation in Congress-
when in truth it aid not cover or embrace any
such thiDg-whstever was intended It was
simply false and delusive on its face, and has
inhaled not only the President, but all other
worshippers at its shrine. Such will probably
be the result of this "Softn resolution of the
Syracuse Convention which you voted for. The
constitution of this committee appeared to mo
remarkable in other respects, for il had d.
rector and vice president of the Central Rail
road from its western end, with some of its
hopeful benefciaries from it's eastern, filed up,
will not say with free tickets the efficacy of
which is felt in nearly all the departments of
the Government, in its CENTRE but with highly
honorable gentlemen, especial friends of the
State Administration wishing 10 be also con-
sidered defenders of the fsth,D SC. at
Washington. Some of these also profes.ed to
be in favor of resolutions which they voted
against. The surveyor of the port of New
York, who assured us he was a Bsrnburner in
1s48, and opposed then to the extension of
slavery into the Territories, and that he still
maintained the same opinions, acted very ably
and consistently under the friendly advice Of
the collector, his superior, who was in attend
ance and consultation in the adjoining room
during the long debate and sitting of the COM
mittee. The surveyor carries with him on
admiration for the doctrine of popular SOW
ereignty, which shows itself eloquently without
being "crushed out" In short, there were
but three members of the sixteen opposed to
the Nebraska bill
Finding the committee thus constituted un.
der your auspices, was led to seek for the
reasons which had governed you in the an
pointment, and for this purpose applied to you
directly. You kindly informed me that YOU
had met the editor of the Albany Atlas, who
was also delegate and member of the com
mittee, as we'll as 3 particular friend Of Gov
Seymour, and who had drawn up the resolu
ton, which he also submitted to you, anc
which was adopted by mai ority of the com
mittee, with q slight modification, as passed by
the Convention, and that he had assured you
that the condemnations and congratulationl
contained in it were strong enough to promote
the ends in view and the harmony of the par
ty; and to this assurance you had Welded
maintaining still your original opinions as ex
pressed to me, although you voted the Other
way. You may very well suppose that wa
not entirely satisfied by this explanation, from
the remark | made in reply, that you mus
allow me to judge of men by their action
rather than by their Language, since languag q,
has been said to be an invention of men L
conceal their thoughts, rather than the gift O
God to express and explain them. accord
ingly sought information in other quarters
and it is fair that you should be informed O
the result and have proper opportunity foi
defence if you deem it "expedient and neces
sary"
was informed that you had agreed in CON
sideration of q nomination for Lieutenant Gov
ernor, to change your first OpiniOns and adop
those of your new friends, and appoint sucl
committee as would report the absurd reso
lutions adopted by the Convention, and ait
their passage by your vote, under the opera
ton OF the previous question, to cut me anc
others off from the privilege of debate anG
amendment and thus assign US all over Tx,
&C hurnara nhaffals u To nd ha 4