Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-27
NUMBER 242.
Address OF the New York National Demo-
OcTals.

following address and resolutions to the Nation,
Democracy:
IN obedience TO the requirements Of a yenerat, I,
usage aud prompted by the anomalous condition al
political affairs the undersigned National Demc
cratic delegates from the several assembly district
OF the State of New York, in State convention
day convened, beg leave to address you upon sub.
jects of public import.
The question Of banks tariffs and independent
treasures, which few years since divided th,,
people, and upon which two great and powerful
parties 20 long and 80 manfuly rallied, has bean
settled, as we trust forever in accordance with the
Democratic principle, by tho deliberate sanctions
of the popular Judgment and our ancient and he.
red'tary opponents, tho Wings, have pad high
tribute to Democratic integrity by acquicscing Ia
TINS pohcy upon nearly every ISSUE and retiring
from the field to rally their broken and discomf
ca forces upon some new question which gives
hope if not promise, of success in the future
But while most Of the exciting issues of the past
have been suffered TO so to their repose, il is OBJ
vious that other questions, which in truth more
deeply interest our people, which more seriously
concern the well being of the confederacy, and
threaten to disturb its integrity are presented for
popular consideration, and issues are made up
which reach In their influences the foundation Of
our social and political structure These issues are
II we have rightly understood the signs and tem.
per OF the times, politically speaking the issues of
| iiiS ohu dtulHi liiey must ne met again Mt the
| threshold without evasion, and fully and fairly
tried, and that Mt no distant day. before that tribu
nal OF dernier resort the American people. The
advancing columns of error and delusion. with
their motley lcgons with their artillery Of fanati-
cism, and their sappers and miners of corruption.
have already invested the citadel of the nation. IL
| can only be rescued from their communicating prasp
by meeting them upon the battle field of opinion
armed with the sword and defended by the shield
| Of our country's constitution
we are admonished, fellow citizens, that we have
fallen upon evil and alarming times Profession
in high places has been substituted for practice
detection has been encouraged fidelity proscribed
ana shallow and temporizing xpedency, based
upon the execrable doctrine of official rewards for
snbserViency, has been incucated in place of the
principles OF Jefferson and Jackson. The stern
wholesome truths taught and enforced by our a.
thers have been ignored and repudiatcd and the
debasng system of spos held out in their stead
to tempt the necessities Of the longing, and cor.
rupt the easy virtue of the vena. The national
democratic party of this State, which has stood
hrm and unwaycrng during every vicissitude that
mas visited the country, and which formed the
sheet anchor Of hope when treason rose nm Ike
hydras, has been pursued and prosecuted and hunt.
ca dowh ny the nnnons OF executive power be.
cause its members refused to iorsake the worshin
OF their fathers and fall down before the images Of
modern creation ; because they continued to adj
here to the principles Of the constitution, and re.
fused to unite with the worst enemies of democra
cy in degrading miscellaneous scramble 70,
spoils. SO long and so vindictvely have VIC been
aspcrsed our acton iaIslied, and our character as
an organization illuminated, that it becomes us to
review the history Of the tmes--to unmask and
expose TIE pretensions of our accusers, and to ar
ragn them for trial and condemnation at the bar
Of public opinion-to proclaim afresh the princi-
pies by which we have been governed, from which
ha Inv swnfypl which future
hope rcposes, aud upon which we propose to stand
hereafter, whether good or evil report awaits us.
From the adoption Of the Federal Constitution to
about 1874, with occasional and temporary inter
ruptions, the country had been exempt from sec
tonalsgtations. The several States Of the confed.
cracy had erected modified and abolished their do
mcstic institutions in their own good time, without
the oficious Intervention offensive dctation Of
other members Of the confaderacy; and although
fanatcisin had previously banded together her vo
taries, and political opponents in portion of the
States had trimmed their annual sails to catch the
abolition breeze the democratic party, in obedience
to the purposes of its benign mission, had remain
ed true TO the constitution, faithful to the doctrine
Of non-intervention, in spirit well in lettct,
and above ALL to its own integrity, and the honest
masses had trumphanty sustained it, But the
year s44 formed not only new but most me
morablc era in our political history. IL rent ~.
sundcr the veil which had before concealed politi.
cal pretenders from the public view, and exposed
the difference between sinister calculating cxpe
dency and heartfelt devotion to the genial spirit
Of democracy between those who opposed spur.
Gus aud insncerc aholitonism, because at war with
the genius OF our government and destructive o!
the best interests Of ALL ON the one hand, and on
the other those who would foster its yiperous IN.
iucnccs whenever ii should promise to renew their
lease Of power and patronage, should license thtm
TO practice further upon the public treasury,
plnDi nnui.la thnnn IN uiut n linz
revenge upon tho democratic party and the coun.
try.
\ conspicuous aspirant for the Presidency who
for a long period had been the willing recipient Of
the choicest honots and enoluments which polti al
partiality could bestow and who had, so long ~
they were extended, prGfrsscd and practised De.
inocratc principles, trusted himself 10 expcdieut1
which had 40 long served him successfully, TO guide
him again in all important emergency. But eX.
pedients failed to teach the great principles which
surI Iounded the questions presented, and in n mo.
ment Of suicidal weakness he declared against the
annexation Of the then Republic Of Texas, now
Que Of the brightest stars 10 the Federal censtel
latinn 20 the United States because she tolerated
within her borders the institution Of domestic sei'
yitude. For the deliberate expression Of mn opn
! ion so narrow and unstltesmanlikc, illibera,.
bigoted and intolerant, and withal so radically at
war with domestic theories, with the tone, temper,
aud iuterca.s Of our people, this candidate was re.
jccied, az he ought TO have ben; his Illuminating
! and craven policy was scornfully repudiated, and
here was planted the germ Of Free soil Abolition.
| ism IN the State Of New York; this gave the key
note 10 the numerous anthems which have since
! barn chantcd iom Buffalo 10 Washington, Of Tire
slor;ca and graccs Of Frce.soi and It's attending
! beautes
| This embodied the followers OF that eminent ia
diviiual, at the time, in feeling and sympathy Snd
in concert against the principles and candidates OF
the Democratic party; and in lsi7 they took the
field openly, under n new and separate organiR-
ton, with the "Wilmot Proyso' for their corner
stone; and here commenced openly what has been
termed by those who have manif sted more zeal
| than knowledge in our domestic affairs, IN unior-
| tunata division in tho Democratic party, when IL
was at that time, has since been, through all its
phases, and now IL, no more and no less than
wantOn, palpable detection Of those who had pre-
yiously acted with the Democratic pa,ty---a deser
ton from the Democratic organization and its
principles to the hostile ranks Of Free.soil aboli-
touisu: a descrtion, too, because the Democratic
party would not, IN imitation Of the lIindoo widow,