Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-08-05
Letter from the Hon. ID. ID. Barnard.

The Albany Statesman contains letter from the
Hon. ID. ID. Barnard, of Albany, in which that gem
tleman takes an elaborate survey of the present
position of political parties in the Union and
points out the duty of Wings, who intend to con-
tnue steadfast to their party principles and organ
ization, with respect to their votes at the Presi-
dental election in November next The letter is
addressed to the Hon. James A. Hamilton. Mr..
Barnard earnestly expresses his concern at the
agiated condition of the country; regrets the su-
pineness which too many evince in the present
state of affairs audes to the Compromise meas
ures OF 1850 as having given peace to the Repub-
lie; condemns the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise and the policy subsequently pursued by the
Democratic party and the present administration ;
and recapitulates the history of events in the Ter
ritory of Kansas, which he describes as province
conquered from the people of the Territory and
the people Of the United States"
Mr. Barnard predicates of these Gscts that the
Democratic party has become a sectional party
and that this character was stamped upon it by
the platform and proceedings of the late Cincinnati
Convention That platform Mr. Douglas had
specially approved. II was formed in advance of
the nomination; and so erect does Mr.. Blu
chanan stand upon it that he has thought fit to
dscaim his own individuality, and to proclaim
himself political entity created for the occasion
by the Convention which nominated him, and sig.
nifyng just what the party has proper to make
him signify-nothng more and nothing less"
Mr.. Barnard argues that the election of the
Democratic candidate, and the consequent eleva
ton OF the Democracy into power. would not tend
to the amcable settlement Of the Kansas question,
that party being the cause of the present frghtfu
state of things and manifesting no disposition to
relent in its policy. The 0stend manifesto, signed
by Mr.. Buchanan, also shadows forth other pro-
jects which, if pursued, cannot fail TO renew the
like agitations, complicated with other difficulties,
,,1,,4l u ~
by the Kansas question" These considerations
Mr.. Barnard justly says must prevent him from
supporting the nominee of the Democratic party
for the Presidency. But equally clear is it that he
cannot support the Republican candidate On
this point Mr.. Barnard thus forcibly reasons
While our judgment and sense of public duty
utterly forbid our taking sides with that (the Dem
ocratic) party, we see causes which place us at q
still greater dstance--at an immeasurabe distance
indeed-from that other party, calling itself some
times at least, calling itself "Reprblican'' which
dates its existence from the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise; which stands on no natl onal ground
which begins its existence by a severance of the
Union, so far as it is in the power Of political
party to sever the Union, by drawing an exact
geographical line of division between the slave
holding and non-slaveholding States; Northern
party and nothing else, wsging undistiDguishing
war OF lmplacable hate against the entire South
party based on the sentiment of burning and
deadly hostility to saveholdng, while slaveholding
Is practised and maintained by fifteen out of thirty
one of the coequal States of the Union, with just
as much right to maintain it If they see ht TO do
so, under the constitution and the Union, as the
rest have to reject and repudiate it. Whatever
we may think of slavery, or of the efforts of the
slave power through tho agency of the Democrat
c party, to give unwarrantabe xtension to that
interest, IL is quite impossible for us to give our
support or countenance 70 such party as this.
This party, in great rati6cation1meeting lately
held at the capital Of the State Of New York dis
closed in the leading resolution of the occasion. the
article of faith which lies at the basis of ts orpan
zation. Il was this That slavery in Republic
is discordant relic Of feudal bsrparism aud that