The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-02
The Two Conventions at syraeuse-rnc Sal
or the Wings To the Aboiitionists.

poHtical frauds. For twenty-elgnt years, siuce
the organization of parties in 1927 under the
management and leadership of Martin Van
Buren,, on the spoils maxims and morals OF
William L. Marcy, subsequently fully adopted
and carried out by William II. Seward, New
York has been the focus of a system of poll
teal stockjobbing which has done more to
degrade American policy, to weaken the
bonds Of union between the States, and to foster
sectional bitterness and local aDimoslties than
all other causes combined. The work Of poll
tfcal decentralization has now reached its cul-
mination in the organization of an abolition
party at Syracuse, based upon avowed hosti-
lily to the constitution of the United States,
and pledging its iercest and most tireless labors
to produce dissolution Of the American
Union. The citadel of our institutions has
been invested and besieged by the anarchists,
and we congratulate the country that at length,
by the issues made, we at least understand who
are enemies and who are friends
For more than year, in all private con-
versations with what has been known as re-
pubiicans and free sellers, they have avowed
utter hostility to the institution of slavery
These avowals have been made by leading
men of the old wing and democratic parties
by Seward, King, Greeley, Hale, Wade, Wilson,
Giddngs, Banks, Butler Van Buren, and
others. They have as often declared, in the
language Of Chase, that the constitution ives a
nullity so far as it recognized human slavery;
that majorities were omnipotent, and that the
Nort1 ba1 MI 70 ka Of hnr Tn
throw slavery everywhere in the States. They
have denounced the partnership between the
North and the South, and they have now Or
ganized party with view to effect its dis
solution. To this end they have formed a
league with the abolitionists, agreeing to take
the articles of faith and the rituals of service
OF the latter, and to combine the united forces
under the republican name.
There were two conventions, it will be re-
membered-one calling itself republican and
the other whig-their objects, purposes, plans
and opinions being identical. The two calls
were gotten up by the same men. 1t was be-
lieved by some of the republicans that it was
necessary to have a formal wing convention,
for the purpose Of releasing thousands of the
old wing party from their allegiance thereto,
and to bind them to the abolitionists by an
authoritative declaration of their own chosen
representatives. The farce was both weak and
ridiculous, as it was played out.
There were two bodies of men, presumed to
have been chosen from and by two distinct
parties and constituencies. They met in sepa-
rate council at Syracuse. They had no sooner
organized than their speakers respectively an
nounced the sitting Of the other, and moved
committee Of conference upon resolutions and
nominations. The joint committee came to-
gether, concurred at once upon a rank aboli-
ton platform, excluding every other issue,
and upon candidates to be supported by the
coalition. Was there ever before known such
wonderful harmony?
There was exhibited fidelity only to one in
terest, one party, one set of men, The two
conventions were true in deed to the abolition
lists. The formal surrender of the wings of the
great State of New York by such an act to such
men and in such cause is commentary upon
that old party more pregnant with bitter reilec-
tons upon its integrity, upon the patriotism of
its members, upon the folly Of political con-
ventions--and if submitted to, upon the inde
pendence of the people-than has ever before
been made by its worst enemies.
Is there voter in the State that does not
know that the meeting of this wing conven-
ton at Syracuse, and its easy absorption into
the abolition party, was intended as whole
sale transfer of the wings Of New York to the
mt -c1a RI Jc fharn ali, n 4
evidence of the truth Of this in the very man.
ner in which the two bodies conducted their
proceedings? If it is answered that there was
real concurrence of opinion, and that the
two representative bodies came together by
virtue Of the laws of attraction-by the force
ofpolitical affnities-then we have to ask how it
happened that the two constituencies did not
thus unite in primary meetings, and there de-
termine upon one convention? In this coun-
try the opinions Of men are easily under
stood. II is quite impossible that two months
ago it was not known that every man attend
ing the wing convention, so called, was not
thoroughly an abolitionist. The truth is.
that convention was decoy for the other-a
stool pigeon used to call in the wing flock to
be caught in the abolition net. 1t was po-
litical fraud-a trick of Thurlow Weed and
William II. Seward. Having not only aban-
doned the old wing party, but sold themselves
to the abolitionists, they first provided for
convention Of traitors voluntary, and then,
for traitors involuntary. The abolition,
(SewarD convention proper we have some re-
spect for. Its members are open traitors to the
constitution. They seek the overthrow of that
great compact of union between the States, be-
cause-as they term-it-it recognizes human
slavery. They make themselves parties to sla-
very, by being members of a government whose
organic laws distinctly admit the legal exist
ence Of that relation-thus estimating the alb
stract as superior to the practical--thus re-
garding themselves as responsible for what they
declare to be positive wrong and heinous
moral stain upon the republic-and finding no
other adequate remedy, they propose the dis