Washington sentinel., 1855-04-03
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO UNITE THE
NEW YORK DEMOCRACY

another effort to effect uni0n between the
two sections Of the New York Democracy.
The prospects of success are not vouchsafed to
us in the programme. The bans may be pub
| lished, the marriage may be consummated, the
| witnesses may subscribe their solemn attesta-
ton, but we apprehend that little confidence
| will follow the incongruous nuptials.
| There icas time when the united Demr
cracy Of the Empire State stood bright exam
pie for the emulation of her sister States
when she gave out to them, in thunder tones,
the genuine principles Of the great Republican
party of the Unon-when looking, with a sin
| gle eye, to the permanency Of our institutions,
it conferred upon our national councils the
virtue and wisdom of her truest and best men
then true to the Constitution, true to their
party, and true to themselyesl
There was time, too, Of late date, when a
| large portion Of this great party-known as the
!Softs" (no misnomer) allured by the hope of
spoils-and diseased by lust for place, re-
gardless Of sacred pledges-of lifetime associa-
| tions-ofeven the commonest respect for prin-
ciple or honesty-broke away in a stampede to
their long cherished principles, and against the
vitality of our institutions. Their treachery
met nations reprobation, which has not the
least abated, because it had the endorsement
of the Union to the other-North, South, East,
and West-burst forth an indignant camor at
the unholy desertion.
All felt the blow to our party organization
not only in New York, but throughout every
State in the confederacy. We felt for it sin.
cere sorrow, and at the time sorrow without
hope. But when the smoke from the field of
Syracuse cleared away, and all eyes were turn
ed to the firm and unshaken phalanx that
stood by their colors-when the resolve to do
or die" was written upon every face-'twas then
a hope, q cheering hope, inspired nations
heart that all was not lost. Everywhere, in
every State, in every county, their valor was
greeted with the cheers and encouragement of
distant friends, who, because they were far re-
moved from the scene Of active conflict, were
not less warm and true-friends not less sacri.
6cing and devoted friends not less useful and
necessary-friends not less exposed to the
tyranny and oppression of the great federal
captain and his staff, or less injured and abused
by the willy arts of their sleepless intriguers
from without.
No, from the waters of the st. Lawrence to
the Gulf of Mexico-from the familiar shores
of the Atlantic to the golden banks of the Pa.
cifc, not man, humble or exalted, who dared
to raise gallant head or stalwart arm in de-
tense of the constitutional principles in which
the National Democracy was contending, es-
capped the ruthless but unerring shaft of Exc
cutive prescription.
Never was party so sustained-never was
a triumph more complete-never did men
one hundred and ten thousand men-as their
reckoning showed after their great State con-
fict in lS53-bear themselves more galantly.
A national rejoicing of the truehearted Demo
cracy ensued. Booming cannon and merry
drums announced this brilliant victory over the
followers Of Van Buren and his Buffalo Plat.
FORM" The watchman's cry of calls well"
gladdened the hearts of millions
Alasl for human hopes-we drop the curtain
here! Our readers know the restl
The rery first practical test of the principles
for which they fought and so successfully vindi.
Gated, with few honorable exceptions, was
resisted for place or spite, and, merged with
| their treacherous allies, they have become
| themselves little better than the wicked At a
subsequent election, GREENE c. Bronson, the
eminent martyr Of Guthrie and the ".Sofis,"
and their otcn dearly belored candidate in phom
they mere pel pleased, was run as Governor
and received less than ONE-TENTH of their
own votes, and that, too, in op DGtion to
"Softs," Wings, Freesoiiers, Abolitionists and
Know-nothingsl! Under these circumstances.
is it TO be wondered that the "Hards" seek to
coalesce with the "Scfts" whom they con-
quered, and for conflict wih phom the Id.
mnistration have whipped them like ours
Hence they kiss the rod
Now, we say that any attempt to engrafi
this repudiated political fungus upon what was
esteemed the true National Democratic party
in New York, is simply rotten fraud, which
we will never countenance or cease so to char.
acterize-a violation of good faith, of honesty
and of every hitherto expressed political prin
ciple.
We repeat, we have no confidence in any
such union. If the schism was good then, it Is
good nop. If the "Softs" we're false then
they cannot be trusted now; and we say open
ly and frankly, that we would sooner see score
only OF the 100000 National Democratic voters
stand to their arms and suffer victory to pas:
into other hands, than such union should
carry with it victory, which, il not spurious
would at least be unprincipled Is there moi
such score Of genuine National Democrats
left in the Empire State?
i ---~~~~~-----
Board Of Visitors 10 West Point.