The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-06

officers, with bankruptcy staring them in the face.
The Hards, the softs, the Know NOthings
and the AboIitionists-The Hypocrisy o 4
Politicians.
Three prominent political sections in the
State of New York have had their general con-
ventions and published the usual series ofreso-
lutions upon which they respectively base their
claims to popular support. Without going
into an analysis of their peculiar tenets, it is
enough to say that between the national de-
mocracy and the Know Nothings there is but
one shade of we'll grounded difference-the
former approving and the latter condemning
the repeal of the Missouri compromise. This
difference smorc imaginary than real, as both
propose to resist all efforts at its restoration.
In regard to the questions of religious tole-
rance and the repeal OF modification Of the
naturalization laws, they are evidently mere
make wei ghts-no considerable portion OF the
American people regarding such matters as of
very serious consequence, and practically OF
no public interest at the present time.
The soft she'll or administration branch Of
the democracy bave succeeded in occupying
narrow middle grJund-a kind of half way
station between the aboltionists and their
national brethren. They denounce the repeal
Of the Missouri compromise, and about half of
their State delegates regard its restoration as
the . corner stone" of their organization. Ii
is impossible not to see that the administration
democracy are in n state Of armed neutrality
on this question. Even Mr.. Van Buren,, who
seems to have largely controlled the conyen-
ton, was unwilling to go for restoration, be-
cause in doing so they would only be playing
into the hands Of the Seward republicans! His
way Of avoiding such dilema will hereafter
be referred to as q species of political mo-
rality far better suited to a regency caucus
than to an open convention of freemen. He
is willing to denounce the repeal Of the COM
promise as an outrage, and to clear the skirts
of his party OF The whole kansas perfdy,"
and there stop, lest by going another step he
may play into the hands Of the abolitionists.
He is ready to feed the public enemy-to ad-
wise him Of the weak points Of his fortrcsscs-
to supply him with arms and ammunition, and
to testify TO the goodness Of his cause: but he
will not become his soldier and fight his bat
Ties. In addition to all this, Mr.. Van Buren,
and his convention, with certain mental reseI
vatiops, individual protests and denunciatons,
consented to endorse the administration Of
Franklin Pierce. Thus we have tic charts Of
three Of tho many parties into which the State
OF New York is divided.
The fourth-the abolitionists or Seward re-
publieans, the Simon Pure negro worshippers-
hold their State Convention on the Goth inst.
We need not wait for their proceedings to be
able TO understand their position; and as they
are destined to shape the politics Of the State,
we shall anticipate their action with 0 view of
presenting at once the great question which is
now for the first time in our history brought
before the people Of New York for their ap-
prevail or rejection.
The call for The negro convention sets ont
Ivy declaring that the repeal Of the Missouri
compromise was an outrage perpetrated by
the last Congress- which they resolve to res
tore and "resoluteiy to enforce the legitimate
powers Of the United States government over
the Territories This places in issue the rights
of the people Of Kansas to legislate for them
selves. To leave no doubt Of the intention Of
the !. republicans to make this the only issue
Of the canvass, The call concludes, /" that the
entire absence Of all other political issues is
most propitious 70 the expression Of the opinion
Of the State upon this important question:
We may understand better the Interior pur
poses Of the negro worshippers by consult
ing the character Of their leaders, the resc-
lutions Of their local conventions and the COM
ments Of their organs. The Kansas question j.
of no practical consequence--it is a mere war
cry, n signal station. The issue involved is
the constitution of the United States--the COM
pact of union, which recognizes The existence
of slavery, and which il sought TO be exter-
minated. All other political questions are
thrust aside, for the expression Of the opinion
Of this State upon this important matter. Mr.
Chase. Of Ohio, more than five years ago de-
clared that the constitution was nullity in
regard to slavery. Mr.. John Quincy Adams
said there were twenty provisions Of that in
strument which, under certain circumstances,
would give Congress the power to abolish sla
very in the States. That Is the question pre-
sented TO the people Of New York, and it must
be decided
Just as far az either OF the political sections
to which we have referred have gone in the
way of sustaining the Missouri compromise
and in denouncing popular sovereignty in
Kansas, and in hypocritically deprecating
the extension Of slavery into free territory
Just so far they have become practically auxi-
liary to the abolition movement. The soft adj
ministraton programme is essentially the same
as that Of the epublieans-arguments to con-
Wet the one viii convict the other. II is an
attempt either to deceive the people or to lead
them to coalition with the negro worshippers.
u i Idle to pretend otherwise. There arc buI
two parties, in fact, in the state Of New York:
hose who assail and those who sustain the
union Of the states on the bases Of The federal
constitution. Those who are for Us cannot be