The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-08-09

that doubt was certainly settled at Syracust
on the Oath ult. On that day, delegates
from that branch of the Democracy of ths
Empire State heretofore known as Barn
burners" i" assembled in goodly numbers, and
resolved to support Fremont and Dayton
Persons acquainted with New York politics
and New York politicians, will see the char.
acter of this important move when we state
that prominent among the participants in the
convention, we find the names of James s.
Wadsworth, David Dudley Field, benjamin
Welch, jr.; Nathaniel Jones, Judge e. P.
Hurlbut, Ariel Thurston, Judge Hogeboon,
Mayor Stevens, of Buffalo, William G. Far
60 of the American Express Company; Platt
Potter, H. H. Van Dyck, Timothy Jenkins,
&c. AL these gentlemen were supporters OF
the "Soft" Democratic ticket only last year.
James S. Wadsworth, whom the Wings 'of
Western New York in olden times feared
more as an opponent than any other man in
the State, on account of his immense wealth
and influence, presided at this Syaracdse
Convention. On taking the chair, the Pres
ldent addressed his fellow-Democrats a.
follows - = :
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION II
thank you for the distinguished honor you
haue done me by calling me to preside over
your deliberations. The cause that brought
us heretogether to-day is one of great and
abiding interest," If the result of our delib-
erations is to separate usfrom sny portion of
that great party with which we have hither-
to acted, and whose real principles have been
dear to us, we cannot weigh too cautiously
every step we take. Butif we are only to
60 back to the early days of the Republic
to the days of the infancy of the great Re-
publican narty-to the days of Thomas JEFF
ferson, the man whose memory is not less
dear to us, because if he lived to-day he
would be driven out and compelled to return
to his own State as fugitive, should he at
tempt to emigrate to that Territory he &C
quired for US West of the Mississippi-if we
are only to return to those days, it will be
our own fault if we go far astray. Coming
down, gentlemen, to more recent days, to
the days of Wright, Hoffman and Young,
men who are no longer with us, but who
are of our own times; men who never be-
trayed us and who we never deserted; if we
plant ourselves where these men were; if
we hearken to their freedom breathing and
eloquent exhortations, then indeed can we
we'll afford to abide the result fearlessly and
confidently. These men; gentlemen of the
Convention, were Democrats because they
believed in Democracy, and not because they
adopted the narse as the symbol of plat
form laid down for them and over them by a
Convention of ofice-seekers. They gathered
their instructions from the opular will, and
did not look to Washington for instructions,
lor to Cincinnati for principles. 1--we fol-
low their examples we shall not regret the
course we have taken. had the honor to
be a Delegate to the Convention which as
sembled in this city, prior to the Convention
of the National Democracy in l848. That
Convention then laid down ias it's corner
stone, a stone of Jeffersonian granite, oppo-
sition to the further extension of Slave ter
ritory. see men around me here who were
Delegates to the Baltimore Convention of
that year. claim that as representatives of
the Democracy Of New York, we proved
true to our constituencies and our principles
when we came out Of that Convention
When these principles were trampled in the
dust we came home, AND our course was sus-
tanned by those we reptesppted by vote of
10000. We stand now, gentlemen, where
we stood then. There are a few men, it is
true, who have been seduced from our ranks
by the corruption Of office and flattery of
power-bdt- the people stand now where
they stood then-they are now what they
were then-if may be allowed the express
sion, only a little more so. We may await,
then, in confidence the day when they will
again record their verdict in our favor upon
the issues before US.
The address to the people and resolutions
were reported by D. D. Field froma commit
tee Of two from each judicial district. The
address is terse and pointed, meeting the
great issue fairly, and the resolutions are di-
rect and forcible, We sutjoin specimens:
Resolped, That the chief practical dItestion
in the Presidential election, is the question
of Freedom or Slavery in Kansas. The cleo
tion of Mr.. Buchanan would make Kansas q
Slave State, and give courage to the slave
element in our national government, while
the election of Mr.. Fremont will makeNKah-
sas Free State, and reduce Slavery to what
it was in the better days of the Republic,
and ought ever to have been-a purely State
institution, determinable by the States, each.
for itself, over which the other States have
no control, and forit no responsibility.
Resolued, That, as respects other questions
of National and State policy; though the Ad-
and the Cincinnati Convention
have made them to be all swallowed up in
this one question of Slavery Extension, yet
we are none the less attached to Democratic
principles and measures, and none the less
ready to labor for them on all necessary oc-
casions. siS&sHs
The address and resolutions were then
adopted unanimously. as
Benjamin ,Welch, jr., yas not satisfied
with this mode of adopting the first platform
they bad laid down since the hsdisenthzlment
from pro-Slavery companions, and moved
they be re-adopted standing with three
cheers. aei8 81 ~ ise
This motion was adopted, and the Can-
vention rose and gave three hearty cheers, j
Mr.. Potter moved the appointment Of q
Committee Of Five to announce to Mr.. FREE
mont and Mr.. Dayton their nomination BY
the Convention. Carried.
The Chair announced the following Is the
Committee: PIstt Potter, A. s. Thurstcn,
h. h. Van Dyke, Timothy Jenkins and W.
q. Fargo. $40 - .4sa sf Il. Z
:, Mr.. Hilton moved that 10000 copies Of
the address and resolutions in English, and