The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-15
Address or the Soft Shell Democratic State
Convention, at Syracuse, Jan. 10, 1856.


nttee appointed for that purpose reported the following
address, which was adopted by the Conveution-
FELLOW C1zEss-We address You In the name OF the
democratic party Our reflections uniting with the
perence Of the past have satisfied that the prosper
~ the country depends upon the
cy Of democratic principles Whether right in
the wsest patriots and Statesmen that ever lived We
far from claiming that the democratic party has
yer gone asrsy, or that all good have adoPed its
iath Good men have sometimes opposed it, but we
think from mistaken views; and bad have sometimes
Joined under like oelusion. What claim for it Is
that it's political creed harmony with the true spirit
institutions and that it fail in uphoding
them while it keeps the light Of its principles
We invite your attention to some on this
| subject.
The democratic party was designed merely as means
s
leaving all other matters to the free and unbiased
Of the citizen was not organized as some Of its former
proessed friends 10 have assumed, keep watch
and ward the entire domain of taste and sentiment
thought and duty; or to act spy upon the private
their conscences control their outward conduct
except through the ghtful action of government These
heresies of modern growth entirely alien to the prn
cplss for which the lus.rious defenders Of faith,
with Jefferson at their head, steadasty commended in
enough to reach every subject OF tai concern
extended further Ga other subjects where govern
ment could not should not act, their creed either
torbearsnce and the danger Of interfering 1t
cautious reverence to the true principles Of re-
gulated liberty prescribing one for the opin-
place where he born and countenancing tyranny
him in any Of his private reations for it the
creed Of men who with arms In their hands had iast
rebuked the unrghteous inermeddling one usurper
and feared that another might succeed-men who had
read history and knew how surely this evil spirit Of ty
rannical chment turks in the shadow of DO
and how destroys the energy Of the citizen wastes the
springs OF public action and Graduates from whole
muniiies the Virtues of sedependenne courage and
triotisu II the past has left any admonion for
which should be needed by every aud
States nations been pressed beyond due lime
and that the business Of governing by organic pub
lie force has been overdone The truth Of this admoni
ton is illustrated the condition of every people who
have been compelled to submit for centuries to minute
police regulations until they ceased rely only
themselves, bat almost on Providence, and looked
listlessly to government the fountain of MORALS
religion, right and duty. Its importance is at
action carefully prescribed in written constisu-
tions and the democratic creed, in view of the
ceasrg tendencies Of power to enlarge ITSELF
that unsumbering, nay, seerna vigilance is the price
The disregard of these admopitory lessons CLEANED
from the bitter experience of the past has betrayed
many into erroneous views of the true objects of political
association the appropriate functions of govern
ment; views harmless enough while they remain
specua,ions OF the closet, but which found
nently mischievous in practice Without advertiug at
present to other illustrations let turn for
to the which invite to take with
gard to the subject of domestic slavery More than
forts of men protesting unbounded sympathy for the
slave to inouce government to act in furherance Of
their theories, fogetful of every other object Of po
Hica association, have given just for serious
alarm. And recently-nay within the last few
montbs-o'her men with loud professions of de-
from it, have banded themselves for renewed re
formidable efforts to evoke the spirit of with
all the gloomy passions which wait on it. This last
ganzaton deemed important by its authors and
abetor to call for the instant ab andonment of every
other political creed, and its advent accordingly
ushered In by formal resolution announcing that the
whig and democratic parties were to exist longer;
that henceiorward there we're to be wings
III
Nor the surprise excited by this
ment at all diminished when told in effect after
tered against the peace Of the Union that the
slaves were to be treated odious arisocracy"
snSa lin case and al
the North and South were therefore, directly and ire
concaby antsgonistic that the citizens of these differ
ent sections Of our common country could no
longer dwell together in unity; that the compromises
Al the constitution were hollow truce which
had been kept too long; that Congress must be
urged to set them at desance. and assume unoom
promisng. aggressive ansi-slavery ground; and tina
% o az
abandoned. And TO remove all doubt from minds
to the temper and resolution with which the
to be wsged, told little later, through the
columns Of leading paper devoted the cause, that
the South about to be csaed into fearful count
not sfor commerce, 7" but for veogesn,e
When consider that these avowas made 10 the
name Of what claims to be great party and that
for The public eye after consultation and elaboration
they invest the subject with solemn and startling in
tees and may we'll excite gloomy fsrsbodnss as to the
ground on which stand should he carefully examined
and the course we to take in the coming struggle
clearly delineated and understood.
Without pausng to inquire here whether Congress has
power to act in accordance with the views of this
stating negative II we rightly appreciate ths ten iency
Of their dOctrines-we pass to the practical and
broader inquiry whether it ought to adopt them
give these men the benefit of their disclaimers Let
admit that they do not propose TO interfere with slavery
In either Of the old thirteen Sates they
ing them objects Of governmental dstrust abhor
renee that they athrst for peace and tranquility
they the Union while denouncing the wisdom
which framed it "tresson against human rights" AMI
that they hope perpetuae t blessings by joining hands
with those who hate and it, pray for its
throw Grant that all Of them do not the tendency Of
their actions, the inevitable end of their career,
and that they - doing this evil with vague
expectation that some possible good may come
At ast-still, the question IL not wat they in
tend ultimately expect but what should others
take duty yet unsubdued by the frenzy
OF fanacsm the lust OF power Is II wise Is 1t just
IL 1t right in conceivable vev-nay, is 1t not 18th
absurd and crimnsto counenance the theories which
now, for the first time in national history this mot
Icy throng of politicians Slain shall be enforcei ain
every case ana throughout all hazards BY direct gov
erpmental acti0n2
We have assumed that they are not yet far gone in
in the old thirteen states though even this is but an
inference perhaps unwSrranted one, from their ST.
nce In the strange document called their plaorm of
principles, drawn up by professed aootionist, and
unanimously adopted the permanent of their
ganzation, find the following distinct avowals which
show how wide field of agitation they ultimately
to occupy and little they disposed restrict
out OF Difference to the constitution
Resolved, That the federal government being defined
ana limited powers &C. earnestly deny right
esiablsh uphold or tolerate slavery in portion of
he domain TO connve its the federal territory
by any means Whatever.
Th. aimee here can be no legal slavery he
formed out OF such Territories, &c.
The powers Of the general government Ia respect to
slavery the to-day that they were when the
Union formed and II they have not been exceeded
heretofore by the admission OF slave States they
BE- hereafter In other words If Congress has power
To admit slave States these theorists broadly
affirm has had at any tme and every act Of that
nature whether past or future be treated
cardinal doctrines by the resolutions We have
quoted to be adopted elemental portion Of
tonal policy, and to have become what their authors
they ahall be, "the creed OF political faith the
text Of civic instruction, the touchstone by which
IL Al..a.