, 1856-02-08

iHO nuIuN uhu tHO cOllNs
"A subscriber" wishes to know the rea-
son that indnccs US to support the soft can
didates for state Offices, on the present occa-
sion, instead Of the hards We will answer
the question in all fraukness.
Our sympathies with the hards in past
years, in opposition to the softs, on nation
al issues, have not been disguised They
are with them still so far as the hards are
at this moment more conservative and ma
tional than the softs. We have not back
cd down an inch from the strong national
ground which We have heretofore occupied,
and are not likely to do SO; our position
not being one of feeling, but of principle,
deliberately weighed, and maturcly consid
cred. Nay more, it is our love of the Un-
ion, and of all that promotes and strength
ems it, which leads us at this ting to hope
and desire that the soft ticket may be sue
cessful If it be asked how this is, here is
the answer.
l. The softs are the more numerous
body of the two. This was shown by the
results Of the election year ago, when the
hard candidate for governor-a very excel
lent and talented man, every way worthy
of the station-receiyed 1880 votes, and
the soft candidate l56,495. We freely
admit that this was not true expression
Of the relative strength Of the parties Yet
it showed with sufficient clearncss which
was the stronger Of the two
2. The course Of the two sections within
the past year has been such as TO increase
the relative strength Of the softs and di-
minish that Of the hards. On the question of
popular sovereignty involved in the Nebras-
ka law, the hards were originally right and
the softs Gas body wrong. But the
hards cyinced lack of sound principles in
tho matter-or, rather of firm principle
by abandoning their position, or ceasing to
defend it, when they found that President
Pierce, whom they hated, had made said
law q test question, aud based upon it, in
o measure, the success of the administra-
ton. For like reasons, the softs began to
look upon it and its principle with more fa-
vor, and the tide of sentiment among them
has continued to run stronger and stronger
in the same direction, until now we do not
hesitate TO say that state convention tru-
ly expressing their views would adopt res
olutions sustaining both the law and It's
principle, and taking broad national ground
in opposition to all the isms The forma-
ton Of the mongrel combination of extrem-
lists nniscalIcd republicans has been Of great
service to the softs in this particular by
ridding them Of some Of their most violent
and impracticable men. Everything, in
short, has of late tended, and still tends, to
harden the softs into true national party,
which eau henccforth be relied on as bar
rier against sectionaliSm, and q firm sup
porter Of the constitution as IL is.
8. We regard the softs, reinforced by
national men Of every name who are not
committed beyond redemption to other
parties, as the only available means of de-
feating that dangerous, il not reasonable
combination, miscalled republicans. No
intelligent man believes that either the
hards or the wings proper can carry the
state against that powerful combination,
headed by Seward on the one hand, and
Preston King and AbJah Mann on the
other, with troops OF isnldties at their heels
II G. by the fanatical portion Of tho old
whig and old democratic party, united with
the abolitionists and free-soilers. The
know-nothings are stronger than either the
hards or wings proper; but, in our opinion,
they are not so stroRg as either the softs OF
republicans. Therefore, We conclude that
to vote for the softs is to vote against the
republican fanatics, while to vote for the
hardssor even tho know-nothings, is to
throw away votes, Which are urgently need
ed to save the state from falling into the
hands of the most dangerous party, in pro
portion as it prevails, that ever afflicted
and dsgraced the country. Think, too
how generous support from conservative
men Of different names will aid the softs in
.gtheir hardening process, and make them a
part and parcel of the great national dem
ocratic party of the country. ..f
4. Because the softs have shown a viii
lingness to reunite with the hards on equa
terms, which has not been fully reciproca
ted. The masses among the hards have
} seen this, and are going over to the softs il
: considerable numbers, not being willing tc