The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-06
SPEECH OF HON. ID. Il. SiCkLEs,


In favor Of the Union Of the Democratic Party Of New
York and 10 review of the Address and Resolutions re-
ported by the Committee 10 the Democratic lizard
Convention, on the I'D day of August, 1852
Mr. SioKLEs had listened with pleasure TO some of the
resolutions OF the committee and had only to regret that
platform constructed in part SO WELL had not been COM
pleed in the admirable manner. The resolutions
presented by the committee were quite as remarkable Tor
they omit for what they contain The eonyen-
ton must have observed with surprise the absence OF any
reference 10 the ebrska actte great question
OF the day~ The third resolution which he supposed
intended express whatever might have to say upon
subject was in his Judgment unsatisfactory expo
son of the views of the democratic party OF New York
upon this lie (Mr 81 came here resolved to ad-
here sleadasy every article of the democratic creed
protested and contended for in past years The Kan
sas-Nebaska based upon the very principles
asserted in this State in ls4T, when the Wmo provso
brought the question OF slavery into northern politics
stands upon the principles Embodied in The compromise
OF $780, TO which the whole Union--North,
South, East and West-were parties Surely, the national
democracy OF New York. who foremost IN their de
nunciation OF the Wmo proviso, and who contributed
SO much swell that irresistible current of public opn
ion which passed aud sustained the compromise measures
will be last aler in the support of the Nebraska act
which just identical in principle with the compro-
mise it had been them, passed at the
same session.
Gentlemen have remarked with wonder the silence
resolutions with reference to the great northern sec
tona party which Mr. Seward is forming upon the ruins
aud remains of the wing organization This formidable
uoysmcntactivey prosecuted in all the northern States
Mr. Stewards recollection the Senate by egsa-
tne wniers certainly the most alarming and con-
spepons 81 the strange and startling political phenomena
Of the and yet its existence It's banefai Objects It's
formidable strength aud the fearful dangers potends
all completely Ignored in the commonplace trusms
and vague generales which form the staple of the plat
form submitted for our adoption.
There be sure resolution in some respects quite
explicit in opposition to the know-notbing order But
whether from nadvertence not is unfortunately open
several obvious criticisms, which must put at
upon The defensive aud subject opinions upon the vi
tai subjects embraced ia the resolution to unavoidable and
fatal misrepresentation 1t declares, among other things
rtnhty 1ttf,y
full and equal participation in government affairs as
defined by the constitution ought to be resisted anago-
MYSTICAL to the genius Of republican institutions and that
democrats recognise evidence of fidelity or merit
distinction of birth or religious creed
Now sir this part of the resolution is unfortunately
phrased whether from lack of precision in the Of Ian
guage for what other undertake say
that any subscribe to all of it, and then, without
Inconsistency, go to the polls and refuse to vote for
ddste for public Office the ground that he is adopted
citizen Catholic The resolution speaks of he rights
of adopted citizens to full and equal participation in gov
tai affairs, defined by the constitution What
constitutional The constitution of the State of New York
Of the United States The provisions of these two in
widely different upon the rights of adopted
ci1ens The constitution OF the United States does
adopted citizens "a full and equal participation in
governmental affairs any participation whatever in
the governmental affairs Of the State of New York The
constitution Of New York defines the qualification of
and the eligibility of citizens certain Offices Nobody
proposes alter these provisions of the State constitution
The object of the knownothngs is attained in much
easier They say, will not vote for any candidate
who is Of foreign birth Catholic and while any
who subscrbes to your resolution is bound in good faith
to abstain from interfering with any rights to participate
in governmental affairs that may be defined in "the
stuton yet il he chooses to leave these rights alone there
is nothing in the resolution which commits him against
prescribing either in nominating convention or at the
polls any because he born the soil from which
Lafayette sprung because he cngs to the altar at which
the Virgin Mary offered up her prayers
1t may be sad however, that this ambiguity is removed
by the concluding sentence in which it is declared that
"we, democrats recognise evidence OF fidelity
merit distinction of birth religious creed' Unfortu-
difficulty. Notwithstanding anything contained in the
resolution anybody who voted for it still liberty
insist upon distinctions of birth religious creed"
in nominating conventions and at the polls. The
high priest of the knownothng order might agree with
you in declaring that evidence of fidelity and merit"
he did recognise distinctions of birth religious
creed The resolution does not contain what is needed
broad and explicit condemnation of the know-nohing
doctrine, that of foreign birth protesting the
Catholic religion ought to be elected to any office, legsla
tive executive, judicial This is the great distinctive
feature Of the know-nothng patformhis is the issue
presented to by that party and the resolution reported
by the committee regret to discover wholly fails to meet
that issue.
The committee have not it seems discovered anything
in the management OF the State administration calling for
the of the democratic party With the single
ception of the Maineiquor law Of the series of
corrupt, impotc and unconstitutional acts of the last
legislature is noticed The financial policy, the canal
policy the protgate concessions of jobs to the lobby
the reckless extravaganza and the oppressive tax laws of
present whg State administration all approved
effect it were by default through the unacconntable 81
ence Of the committee upon the whole subject The wings
take the platform reported by the committee and
20 the people claiming that have been unable with
the exception Of the prohbitory law to take issue with
them upon any act Of their administration. Why Mr..
President II unacguaiuted with politics. coming
into New York from distant place. should take up
these resolutions to what if any, questions of great
and paramount importance stimulated the zeal of par
ties, could he imagine that about upon
the important elections which have taken
place in this State? Would such impartial OBJ
rather excaim What unfortunate party Their
opponents have administered the government wisely
and WELL that pretext be found to them OUT
Mr. President do not merely complain of the unsatis
factory character of these resolutions exposition of
political principles and issuesI reluctantly compelled
go further It seems to that looking to the situa
ton of State and the importance of this election in
reference the next presidential contest the committee
bound to mature and report mode by which, if
possible the democracy OF this State could be united upon
PLATFORM and in the support of ticket for State
county officers. believe SIR that there exists among
the democratic voters of this State in both wings of
party, almost entire unaDmity of opinion upon the
questions which will enter into the ensuing election We
united in opposition to the Maine liquor law;
united in hostility TO the principles and purposes Of
the know-nohings; all dissatisfied with the admin
is,raton Of the State government by the wing party
in power and all deplore and prepared defeat
the of Mr. Seward and his parsans organize
OF the anatical clements of the day great northern
sectional party, which threatens array portion of
the Union against the other in parricidal conflict
If he right in hisand those who had taken pains
he hnd DONE ascertain the sentiments of the
upon these topics would, he confident with
hthen they in condition to bring about union
upon principle. This is the only basis Of union he would
He had given proofs Of his hatred of coa
tons He denounced the coalition of s4o He claimed