The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-12

mated accompanied by proposal Of any method for us
and had it not been that there existed other
causes OF the division Of the party al that time than the
subject Of slavery in the Territories 1t Is highly probable
that this resolution would have been draughed or
ton Of party generally agreeing its principal PROPOSE
ton But when the barnburners assembled IN eohVeh.oh
at Utica, February le 1913 and nominated Marnn an
Buren, the presidency they went farther and called Tor
the Intervention OF Congress IN behalf OF freedom ih Tue
Territories that were free.
That this was not considered by them departure
from the political creed then held by the democratic
party of the State may be by the following resolution
adopted at the same convention;
Reolued, That while the democracy Of New ork feel
called by their regard for principle and conviction o.
reterae this emphatic declaration OF their senti
and wishes they have not have they erer aa
desire prescribe te IA he predenisot eonpass which
might the union OF all Who sustain the general pn
cpes the democratic creed that they deeply regret that
any southern brethren should have unwisey LAID
down platform inconsistent with that unon and inevitably
tending break up national party into sectional dsis
ions"
But whether considered departure not it is quite
certain that any difference Of opinion the subject
not regarded by them inconsistent with democratic
principles This disclaimer Of any intention TO prescribe
political test by asserting the power OF Congress to
restrain slavery from the Territories ana us 70
exact the power reiterated by the convention OF barn
burners held Utica June 90 ls4a If rejected Then from
the democratic creed political test how can It be sue
cessiuly claimed nou that not only denying thnt Con
gress should power slavery in the Terrific
res but il denying that slavery should DC restrained
from the Territories any member OF the democratic party
would stand condemned OF ponlca lnconSstehVy
while there question this subject entertained
by the banburners the hunker there essential
and ayowed difference between the mote democratic party
OF the State Of New York. and the democratic party OF sew
era of the southern States This difference thus
pressed in the address Of the Utica convention OF June ~
l84S:
These dogmas as forth in the resolutions Of the dem
ocrac convention Of Alabama and Of other States
and as the floor of Congress and in the pubic
prints in the interest of the slave power, are
That neither the Congress Of the United States nor the
people of the Territories question have the power
hbit the introduction OF slaves into such Territories
Thus while it appears that test proposed by
the banburners to the hunkers OF New York, II also APP
pears that the barnburners discovered nm essential differ
ence between their opinions and those OF their democratic
brethren of the South and in which difference the South
made by them TO maintain the ngace OF the PROPOSE
ton that the Congress of the United States the people
of the Territories have the power to prohibit the nodnc
ton of slaves into such Territories while they themselves
held the Affirmative Here then, is to be found distinct
ayowal by the barnburners of S48 that If Congress had
the power of restraining slavery in the Territories so,
ALSO have the people OF the Territories such power
think sir that it may be safely asserted as proved
that in 1913 the principles of the radical democracy did
not differ from the principle OF the Nebraska bill But
while they claimed that upon these subjects there was no
political difference between themselves and other demo-
Gratis Mt the North they found Of division from the
bunkers of this State in the Wimot provo the means
Of enforcing principle entertained in common BY both.
This provso Of general application to all Territories
After two trials il defeated in 1886 The barnburners
then abandoned method Of action and in the OF
the territorial bill of Oregon, in s47 resorted to pro-
hbition slavery in Territories by specific clause Again.
in 1850 when California applied for admission into the
Union as free State the barnburners advocated her ad
mission because the people Of California had for themselves
decided tho slavery question within Their own limits
[Applause Thus find their action at this period
strictly in accordance with their principles announced
three years previously.
1t would SEEM sir hardly necessary to pursue this theme
further yet that the final act may not be wanting, nor
the case be left incomplete will direct the attention Of
the convention the following series Of resolutions pre-
sented the authentic views OF the barnburners in
venon of the united democracy of the city Of New York
in Tammany Hail. June 20, 1850
ssolca That opposed to the extension of slavery
the Territories Of the United States and to all attempts
q Resoyred That the power which the constitution ha
delegated Congress slavery In the Territories
question: and creates among party
s"at rsorra congressional
executive approva from the ordinance Of 1887 to the
ent tme has sanctioned BY precedent the exercise of the
power but whether should be exercised by Congress-
BY the people of tho Territories questions whose
cicn should be referred to the circumstances which
Rcsole, That California should be Immediately admit
ted into the Union State with her present boundaries
and constitution IAppause.]
Sir the question this subject which at any time d
vded the party in the State of New York never arose
above the dignity Of question of eapeencya question
Of seey Upon this last point, may be allowed to in
among barnburnes; but STILL the confession of
accomplish, powerful auxiliary. read, sir, the follow
ing resolution adopted at an aggomerated mass
ton of black and white men, held at Buffalo the
9th day Of August, lS4s. Laughter.
Rcolped, That the and, in the judgment Of th.
convention the only safe means Of the extension o.
slavery into territory Is to prohibit its existence in
all such territory by an act OF Congress-"
Then, sir upon this question OF sqfety how stands The
history Of the Union from the ordinance of 1887 down
the present hour? Has it been aught but care preer-
yation by system of congressional balances and checks
OF the equilibrium of the slave States and the free States
Sir while Congress has been busily engaged in repelng
slavery with hand it has been active in encouraging
it With the other Political hucksterng and the aspira-
mt The NJ
mission Of every State The proportion found in the
free States to the six slave States of the original
thirteen is the proportion preserved at this day in the six
free States the fifteen States of the Union
The history Of the past will be the history of the future
and should Congress continue to this power the
twentieth century will dawn upon Union of increased
numbers and ndisturbed equilibrium of its free States
and its slave States On the other hand sir npprebcnsons
of danger freedom from the exercise by the people of
their inherent sovereignty too bnscess 10 be seriously
comhated The very excitement which pervades this large
assombage is the living evidence Of their groundlessnes
1t is because the rights Of the people have suffered that
generous and ecacous Indignation is aroused against the
invader from the North and The South And thus must il
always be- The faithful sentinels of the rights Of the
people the people themselves and sir you may rely
upon it, that when them is committed the charge Of their
interests wisely and benefcally will those
terests be conserved. Applause
But their charter sovereignty is derived from higher
than that whence such considerations How As
principle popular sovereignty is couval with political
munities. II is the true hgheraw OF political inter-
the quality of which supports the pillars of the
stituton. Ii wounded the whole political fabric su
fer if destroyed the fabric fall to decay. Whenever
aggregated numbers experience political wants the prn
ciple germnates, and tho republic is evolved by its