Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-13
aARsTRACTn FOG.

ABSTRACT FOG.
The Tammany General Committee of the city
of New York, have, recently, since the adjourn
ment Of the State Soft Convention, adopted GER
tain resolutions.
The tenth resolution is unexceptionable, 1t is
SO manlitstly true, that no unprecedented mind
can gainsay il. 1t would have been well if the
Soft State Convention had held similar langua &c
in its resolutions. Ii would have shown dispo.
ston on the part Of that section to return to
wise counscls and pure faith. The ninth reso-
luton is lCt so unexceptionable While il asserts
an opposition TO the repeal of the Kansas
Nebraska act, il attempts to screen from de-
served reproash the parties who are responsible
for the Frccsol heresies contained in tue resolu-
tons of tie Soft Convention. Ii is an i'll policy
10 defend the traitor who revles the doctrines
which we announce. The attempt TO do, if il
does not cover us with confusion, will at least
involve us in ridiculous obscurty. The principal
portion Of his ninth resolution, il a singular in
stance Of this fact. Here it is: We have
perceived with deep regret that an Interpretation
has been Given TO tho amendment by Mr. Van
Buren, of Mr. Cassidy's resolution as though it
Were al variance with the known appreciation by
all sound Democrats Of the principles of popular
sovereignty; trheras /! ,raS, The contrary as icas
at he time expressly understood, the expression OF
AN ABSTRACT OPINION, BASED uroN the ALSO
Lutte NECESSITY OF CARRYING out tuIlu The prin-
eip!fs 81 ne Eansas-.NtbTaSka act, piihout inter
ference from any quarter achdieuer." In reading
this we are really conscious of but one thing,
and that is, that Mr.. Van Buren, as usual has in
yolVed the Tammany Committee in a fog. Will
Mr.. Lorenzo Il. Sheppard, the author, inform US
poor bcnighted mortals what is the meaning Of
& the expression of an abstract opinion, based
upon the absolute necessity" of anything 1t
seems that Mr.. Van Buren, was obscure in his
amendment to Mr.. Cassidy's resolution, and
thereupon my Lord Coke Sheppard explains Lyt-
lleton Var Buren, by styling his text, the ex-
preston Of an abstract opinion based upon the
absolute necessity" of something Oh New,
ioundland was ever any bank Of thine as foggy
They say that in Tammany once, when the room
was involved in utter darkness by the extinguish-
mcnt Of lis lights, some patriot saved scene OF
confusion by producing Locofoco match, BY
means Of which the "old hall was re-lighted.
cumstaDce wa, the - unde deriuatur'' of the
name of the party. What glorious opportunity
was here again afforded in old Tammany for a
similar achievement when Lorenzo Shepard SET
tied, confoundng darkness upon the wigwam. II
the match had served no other purpose than 10
have burnt the ninth resolution by purifying fire
10 its proper limits, so that it should have begun
we are opposed to the repeal of the Kansas
Nebraska act" and ended there, it would have
performed act more glorious even than the
one before chronicled.
There has ever been proncness to sacrifice
political truth to ''orthography, etymology, syn
tax and plosody." ave, the people," in the
preamble Of the Constitution, figured conspicu.
Ously in the political arena for a long time, and
did ignobs battle for consolidation. ''To pro.
vide for tie common deFeiice and general vel
fare" By being dislocated from its proper con
necton, was turned from a limitation into q
distant grant. Northern publishers poured forth
their editions with this fishtful dislocatiou
The tactics now are changed. The plan now is
TO use vague goneralties which mean nothing OF
anything; 10 cover up every serious question
with mountain Of meaningless words OF most
infinite service TO all parties in this most disre.
putable game, as our neighbor Of the Union well
knows, is the word abstract found in Mr.
Shephard's luminous ninth resolution. # is do.
ing more real harm to the South now than CARR.
son and all his cohorts Whenever you see il in
any political resolutions, and often in political
articles, may be taken for granted that there is
either "cheat" or dodge" II means any
thing, everything, or nothing. II can contract
itself into the smallest space, or cover universe
II can loom ont upon the public gaze like vast
something, 81 abstract" itself into nothing
Tie man who faithfully goes searching after il,
meaning u soon find himself in the "limbo oil
vanity and paradise Of fools"
1t seems hat Air. Van Burcn's depression d
en- abstract opinion" was 50 abstract, that differ
ent interpretations had been given oft, much ia
the regret Of Mr.. Lorenzo Is. Shepard. Some
blind morta!s thought that the abstract opinion
expressed b. Mr.. Van Buren, vas Eat variance
with the known appreciation, by all sound Dem
ocrats, Of the principles Of popular sovereignty
BhDd mouals, indeed, they must have been to
suppose that Mr. Van Buren, prince john could
offer any amendment at variance with the opin.
ion, Of "syund democrats" Mr. Lorenzo 3
Sheppard kindly steps forward and, backed BY
Tdmmany, certifes that Mr. Van Buren, : CAB
stract opinion" is not at variance with those
Of "sound democrats" The blind mortals, not
entirely satisfied, point 70 Prince Johns cele-
brated declaration with uplifte9 right hand
against the extension Of slavery, whereupon
Tammany, in a whisper, hints that il makes no
difference what Prince Johns eoHersi, opinion i,
II his aJ,tract opinion is fit TO be published
Isr Our especial friend, II. c. Williams. will