Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-05
WASHINGTON, D. G.
New York Senatorship--violat of
Pledges. rs
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 5, 1856
vESPASIAN ELLIS, Editor.
r. M. HEATH, Assistant.

We have two or three times referred TO the
probability that, through frauds, coalitions, and
treachery, William ii. Seward was likely to be
reelected to the United States Senate.
A discussion during tho last week, in the
Assembly Of New York, has developed the
startling fact that .Gfty members Of the Legis-
lature Of that State, who were pledged to vote
against Mr.. Seward were about to falsify the
pledges made to their constituents 1t seems
that Mr.. Leigh, of the Assembly, protesting
to be "national' man. had induced Mr.. Petty,
of the same House, to offer resolutions laying
Gown the principles by which the Legislature
should be guided in selecting Senator and,
in their discussion, Mr.. Leigh unexpectedly,
and to the establishment Of the American party,
made very labored defence Of Mr.. Stewards
claims to tho honor of reelection.
Great excitement was produced by this con-
duct Of Mr.. Leigh, and the amazement only
reached its zenith when it was found that near
ly or quito .ftty members, elected by constit-
uencies adverse to Mr.. Seward, and under
pledges to vote against him, had become trail
tors to the people and to the cause they pro-
fessed to sustain. In the progress of these
developments, Mr.. Petty made denunciatory
and effective speech, brief synopsis Of which
we find in the New York Herald Of the Sd inst,
as follows:
"Mr. Petty followed, referring to what he termed
the most contemplate conduct on the part OF Mr.
Leigh in getting him to offer the resolution before
the House. Mr.. P. passed in review the public
course of VIM. II. Seward, whom he considered a
political gambler, an enemy to our Union, an enc
my to our common schools, propagation OF anar-
chy through the "higher law" doctrine. Mr. +.
also reviewed the speeches of Messrs. Leigh, Steb-
bins, Littlejohn, and others. He said there were
fifty members OF this House who were pledged to
vote against certain man for United States SEN
ator but who had shamefuly violated their pledges.
He could never believe these men in a court OF
Justice even under oath. Let their names, said
Mr.. p, be shrouded in black and take their places
beside that of Benedict Arnold. What influences
have operated upon these men? The governor
has certain appointments to make, but they are
kept back until it was known how certain ones
voted. More than this, even the passage OF bills
depended upon the votes of members on the Sena,
torial question. A colleague of his, having several
bills here, was told that unless he voted for the
prominent candidate his bills could not pass de
notified his constituents Of the condition OF affairs
A meeting was held by his constituents, who in
structed him to let his bills go to the Tombs OF
the Capuets--but not vote for Senator Seward
last night Mr.. p. also related case in which his
brother was Imprisoned In foreign country. He
had called upon Senator Seward to obtain his in
tercession, and received no encouragement. But
since then, while in New York, 1t was intimated to
him-indeed, he was told directly, II he would vote
for Mr. Seward, that gentleman would intercede
for his brother"
We ask our friends and readers to carefully
note the charges here publicly made in the hall
Of the New York Assembly, and not one of
which was denied in the debate Read them
once twice, ard again, and observe their full
import These fifty members were elected by
the american party under solemn pledges
against Seward and yet they had manifested
their purpose to give him their support One
and was told they should not pass unless
he voted for Seward. He notified his constit-
uents of tho condition Of their bills--was in
structed by them to lot the bills 60 to the Tomb
Of the Capulets rather than vote for Seward !;
and yet the treacherous knaye, reckless Of duty,
obligation, and honor, went into the Seward
caucus, and ratified its proceedings
Friends and countrymen, what think you Of
such treacheryf By thisvcry treachery, aided
by coalitions with the Forney and Pierce tribe of
pretended Democrats, the American party"
is to be defeated in New York by the "higher
law advocates
That William IL. Seward will DO reelected
Senator, on tomorrow, and by the means a6ore
indicated, seems now to be placed beyond
question, and we already hear in advance, the
Jesuitcal lamentations ofthose men and presses
who have contributed to bring about this re-
suit, and who win now hypocritically raise the
cry that the "Know-N othings" Of New York
are the allies Of Seward
The American party" in New York are
sound, conservative, national Union men, but
they have been cheated and betrayed by the
false-hearted bogus "Know- Nothings," who,
under the lead of Clark, the tool of Seward
have falsified their promises and sacrificed their
honor, in the service Of this "kigher law"
Senator.
These same men defeated Ullman for Cover
nor Of New York last October, pretending that
in voting for Clark, they sustained a " Know
Nothing" and therefore they still claimed to
be genuine Americans, but what will these
Benedict Arnolds" say for themselves now
when they shall have elected TO the Senate
devoted ally Of Bishop Hughes, and a professed
enemy Of our doctrinesp Their Jesuitism
will be transparent but the mischief will have
been accomplished.
1t has been prophesied that the reelection
Of Seward would operate to the prejudice of
Nour party at the South By no means, when
il is known, as it win be, and is even no,o, at
all points Immediately accessible, that the main
body Of the american party in New York,
are conservative: that they have made honor
able exertions TO defeat Mr.. Seward; that
majority Of thirty or forty members of the As
sembly were elected by the people under
pledges to vote against Seward; and that the