The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-20
The Hnrd Shell State ConvoEdOn-ObJcc
and Prospects OF this New Movement.

wolves contingencies, issues and party projects
Of the highest Importance to the universal de-
mocracy. In changing their day from week
after the time appointed for the soft shells to
an appointment six days in advance of them,
the hards have secured the initiative in the
delicate diplomacy upon which reunion or
final divorce Of the two factions, is soon to
be decided. Between Thursday of this week
and the list Of September, upon the action of
these New York hards and softs, the important
question will probably be settled whether the
democrats, North and South, shall be com
bned upon Union ticket in 1856, or divided
among the various other parties and factions
preparing to take the field.
A sine qua non of the hard shells, and the
hrst condition to reunion with the Marcy
Van Buren, faction, will be the reputation or
abandonment of the administration. The free
soil and secession spoils coalition which Mr..
Pierce has persisted in attempting to fasten
upon the country, as the genuine democratic
party, must now be definitely adopted or set
aside. The dodge of that "artful dodger,"
W. L. Marcy, of whipping round the sharp
corners Of the Nebraska bill, must be put to
the test. 1t has become eminently proper and
expedient to know whether the administration
faction in this State is for the law or against
it-for adhering to it or for repeating it-and
in taking the initiative at Syracuse, the hards
we presume, intend to solve this mystery at all
hazards.
But why should the soft shells demur to an
endorsement of the Nebraska bill? Is it not
an administration measure, and adopted as
desperate expedient for restoring the sinking
cause Of Mr.. Pierce, his ministry, and his spols-
men? II was but a trick Of thimble-rigging
upon the South; and Marcy who would talk
Nebraska in Virginia by the hour, is under
stood as having advised the softs Of our Custom
house to give Kansas and Nebraska the go-by,
and to give even Mr.. Pierce the cold shoulder,
go that there may be left an opening for his
Premier at the Cincinnati Convention. One at
least, Of the Marcy organs Of the interior, has
been bold and frank enough to plead that Mr..
Pierce is responsible for, and that Marcy is in
nocent as the new born babe, Of this dreadful
Nebraska bill, and Of the troubles among the
"border ruftans" of Kansas The hards, we
apprehend, will have no difficulty in determin-
ing whether the President shall be sacrificed
for the Premier or whether both, and all
concerned, shall be turned adrift as having
been weighed in the balances and found
wanting
Our Albany correspondent, in his solution OF
has clearly indicated their course and their
prospects. Let them take hold Of the doctrine
Of popular sovereignty as applied to Kansas
and Nebraska, and upon which, as thus applied,
the administration has had neither the courage
nor the strength to stand and let them make it
the basis of the reunion of the New York de-
mocracy, and they may safely abide the con-
sequences If the administration faction
shirk the issue, and prefer to stand
aloof, the hards will be free to de-
nounce them as free soil disorganizers, I'M
worthy the association or confidence of the
democracy Of the country; and thus they must
be regarded, as there can be no reconstruction
Of the party as national organization.
The exact policy of the administration free
sellers is by no means definitely ascertained.
The Van Burenites par excellence, wish TO set up
the Seward platform of the restoration Of the
Missouri black line, and the denunciation of
Mr.. Pierce and all concerned in The bunglng
and imbecilc management of the government
Of kansas. They are tired Of milk and water,
and are hankerng for another anti-slavery
carnival like that Of '4S. The organs and
disciples of Marcy are urging a regimen of
milk and water, well sweetened with brown
sugar, az the only prescription for union,
harmony and the spoils. Between these con-
fiic.ing cliqucs Mr.. Pierce appears to have been
overlooked, and his claims are evidently re-
garded as of mo consequence In the conven-
ton of these diverse elements Of the Tammany
faction, the result will probably be PROPOSE
ton to the hards TO divide the spells in Novem-
ber to give Kansas Nebraska and the admins
tration the slip for the present. and to limit the
fall campaign to tilt against the Know No
things and the new liquor law.
The policy and the position Of the hard de-
mocracy admit of no such temporizng. Since
1853 they have stood out against this Pierce
administration, and refused all overtures Of as
ISOLATION with it or its partizans, on the ground
that il has been fathless and treacherous to the
principles upon which it was elected. This
position cuts off q reunion with the adverse
faction now upon the administration as clearly
as in SO, for Mr. Pierce has done nothing since
TO atone for the dismissal Of Judge Bronson
bu, everything to aggravate that indignity to
the party concerned. In fact, any basis of re-
union with the softs, except upon the primary
condition of the abandonment of the admins
tration, will be disgraceful capitula;ion Of
the hards.
We shall await the issues Of this hard con-
vcntion Of Thursday with that interest which
the subject commands. The initiative Of the
reorganization of the democratic party for
1856 rests with this convention. If it cannot
be reunited upon the doctrine Of popular
sovereignty" reunion is hopeless task. And