The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-11-06
From The New YORK Journsl Of Commerce.
THE HARDS AND THE SOFTS.

Our sympaihies with the hards in past years, ia oppos
ton TO the sofs national Issues have not been dis
gused They are With theih still far the hards are
al this moment more conservative and national than the
sofs We have backed down inch from the strong
national ground which have heretofore occupied and
not likely TO do position not being The result
Of feeling, but Of principle, deliberately weighed and
maturey considered. Nay more, it is love of the
uhion aud Of all that promotes and strengthens it. which
leads at this time TO hope and desire that the soft ticket
may be successful lit be asked how srhs here is the
answer
j. The softs are the more body Of the two.
This shown by the results Of the election year ago
when the hard candidate for goyernora very excellent
and talented man. every way worthy Of the statonre-
ceved 1880 votes and the soft candidate l50f9B We
freely admit that this expression OF the rea-
tive strength Of the parties Yet II showed With sufficient
clearnesa which was The stronger of the two.
2 The course Of the two sections within the past year
has been such increase the relative strength Of the
sofs and diminish that OF the hards On the question Of
popular sovereignty involved in the Nebraska law the
hards were originally right aud the softs Lac body
wrong But the hards eyinced lack of sound principle
in the ntatteror rather, of firm prncplc-by abandon
ing their position ceasing defend it, when they found
that President Pierce whom iey hated, had made said
law test question, and based upon H. II measure the
success of his administration For like reasons the sos
began to look upon and its principle with favor
stronger and stronger in the direction until
we do not hesitate say that State convention truly
pressing their views would adopt resolutions sustaining
both the law and its principle and taking broad national
gcound in opposition all the isp The formation of
that mongrel combination Of extremists mscaled repub
has been Of great service to tile sots in this pareu
or by Kidding them Of OF their most violent and m-
practicable men Everything, in short has of late tended
and still tends to harden the soft5 into true national
,vhi ron bnrr he lied M a
against seconalism and firm supporter OF the cons
ton as il u.s.
3. We regard the sots reinforced by national men Of
every name who are not committed beyond redemption
other parties the only available of defeating that
dangerous if not reasonable combnaton miscollcd
pubcans. No intelligent man believes that either the
hards the wings proper carry the State against that
powerful combination, headed it is by Seward the
one hand, and Preston King and Abjah Mann on the
.other with troops of i$mahts at their heels-i by the
anacal portion Of the old wing and old democrats party
united with the abolitioniss and reesoilcrs Tie know
nothngs are stronger than either the hards the wings
proper but in our opniot they are not SO strong
either the softs or republicans. Therefore we conclude
that to for the sofs is vote against the republican
fanatics while vote for the hards, the know
no,hngs, is to throw away votes, which urgently
needed to save the State from falling into the hands of the
most dangerous party in proportion u prevails, that
ever afflicted and disgraced the country Think too how
generous support from conservative men Of different
names will aid the softs in their hardening process and
make them part and parcel of the great national demo-
cratic party Of the country.
A. Because the sofs have shown willingness to reunite
with the hards on equal terme which has not been fully
ecprocated The masses among the hards have this
and are going over to the sofs In considerable numbers
not being willing be held IN perpetual minority to
CRAFTY the personal preudices OF few leading men There
is no good why reunion should not take place.
the principles of the two sections being now ON most ques
TONS Identical nearly On many county officers and
members of the legislature the hards and sos have emitted
g. Even if it possible by strong pull altogether
10 defeat the republicans by walking the knownothings
into power would accomplish all the objects which
tie success of the soft ticket would accomplish True it
would defeat the Seward King combination in this State
but il would afford support to the only party q the nd
ton that is competent to crush The monster which has lifted
up its hydra heads against the constitution as constltn
onalv interpreted and against the Union in the only
shape iii Which possibly continue to exist is well
known that the delegates from all the northern States
cent New York bolted from the know-nohing national
convention because that convention, by small majority
adopted conservative platform 1t was the know-noth-
ngs of Massachusetts who passed the dsgracetnl nuca
ton law of that State and in nearly all the northern
States except New York; the know-nothings have rater
nzed cordially with the abolitionss and other repub
cans For national purposes what object there be in
rer against seconalsm not only in the State OF New
York but in the nation at large The democratic party
and no other promises 10 afford such barrier at the pres
ent time The whg party is temporarily disorganzed
and the know-nothngs will not the purpose, for
the reasons above stated, and Others which might be
added
In conclusion let it be remembered that we have never
before supported the soft cket and those of our readers
who know us well need not be told that would have
nothing do with that party now, except to oppose IT. II
we had reasons satisfactory TO own minds for be-
evnc that its success at this time will rebound to the
promotion of conservative principles both In the State and
nation We know the views of many distinguished and
influential ss and cannot be deceived 10 their honest
purpose to resist sectionasm in all lis branches now and
forever Should be disappointed in this expectation
should tile sofs relapse into the hereses of the Buffalo
platform and find their highest happiness in stirring mp
strife between different sections of common and glori-
Gus country-we soenly declare that in such case we
will turn our batteries against them charged to the muze
and never rest until have driven them into the sea-
We care nothing for any party as such, but only as
means of promoting the public welfare. And we hold
that no party can promote the public welfare which does
not look to the interests OF the whole country and hon
esy seek TO have the government administered impair
tally without fear or favor according to the principles OF
the constitution and the spirit of its usrous founders
In the above remarks have confined our view chiefly
to the national bearing Of the approaching contest we
win ony add that all State issues fur as we know,
particularly the finances and public debt there is no
ticket before the people which, elected is more likely to
pursne safe steady economical of policy, and in
general the public interests better than that Of the