Daily American organ., 1856-04-24
THE Hards and Softs.

The New York News thus, defines the position
of the Hards and Softs Of that State:
II is charged that the National Or Hard Shell
Democrats Of New York are opponents of the
present administration while the Free-soilers or
Soft Shells are supporters of it. While the value
and efficacy of the support of the latter may well
be doubted--along with the motives for profess
ing tit is sufficient to reply, in vindication Of
the attitude of the former, that it is not thoy
who have warred on the administration, but the
administration that has warred upon them
When the'separation Of Hards and Softs occurred
in 1853, after the preliminary session of the Sy-
racuse Convention had been broken up by prize
fighters and bullies imported by the Soft leaders
from New York city, the administration at Wash
ington, influenced by Mr.. Marcy, took upon itself
to declare the Free-soilers and not the Nationals
to be the regular Democracy, and this in the
face of the most ample proofs of mere routine
regularity in favor Of the latter patent upon the
proceedings. The real offence for which Judge
Bronson was removed from ofice--whatever the
pretence might have been--was his refusal to
support the Soft ticket ornamented by Kelly, Gro
yer, Dryer Co.--all unchanged Free-solers-se
up by the Van Buren and Cochrane bogus con-
vention. ts
From that day to this, persecution has been
going on, of which the Hards have long since
ceased to complain. We can show, not single cases,
but hundreds Of instances where National Cass and
Butler Democrats have been removed that Van
Buren Free-soilers might be placed In Office. We
can show the open advocates of the Kansas ebras-
ka bill elected from place, and equally open eppo-
nenfs substituted. We can show the representa-
lives Of every political heresy known to our ism
ridden time, in the enjoyment of favors from this
administrations; while we defy any man TO name,
among the four thousand incumbents of federal
Office dozen avowed Hard Shells in the State !!
The war has been waged BY the administration as
bitterly, it was initiated promptly when the Old
Line Democracy was found to have resisted the eff
fort to dragoon them into submission TO the Van
Buren, clique, in 1853. OF this no complaint is
made by the [" Hard Democracy. If the admin
istration has laid upon them its hand in wrath the
Hards feel that they have returned blow for blow !;
and they consider the fact past doubt that the fail
,ire of Franklin Pierce to hold second term Of
office win be traced by the impartial historian to
his unfortunate and delusiye reliance on the "pol-
cyp OF William l.. Marcy, the policy Of abandon
ing friends and rewsrdiDg enemies. go 49,,
This much accomplished, they have but one fur
ther duty to their party and their country to per-
form, and that viii be accomplished when, by the
action of the Cincinnati Convention the masses of
the New York Democracy shall be assured that
the Augean stables Of Federal patronage in thk
State viii be purified and ceansed under better
regime. This result viii have repaid the ostracism
from Office and the minority of votes which the
Hard Shells have patiently and uncomplainingly
endured for three long years.
We can show that the mass of the present Softs
were anti-Texas men in 1874, Wilmot Provisoists
in 1851 Buffalo platformers in 1S4S, anti-Fugi-
tive Slave law men In 1850, repudiators Of the
Baltimore platform in 1852, antiNebraska men in
1854, no more slave States men in 1855. In 1856
they profess to be National Democrats, and ask a
National Convention of National Democrats to re.
ceive them In communion, in place of men whose
record is consistently in favor Of National Demo-
cratic doctrines throughout
We can show the remainder Of the Softs, the
Marcy and Seymour men, (the Sofs proper) -
true men up TO ls49 falling under temptation
then; bargaining with the Van Buren, wing for
support for themselves and for the betrayal Of
Senator Dickinson; agreeing to Free-soil resolu-
tions; setting up Marcy for President and de-
nouncing, even more bitterly than the Free-solers
do, their old associates and allies whs remained
Hard - n8t tp
Finally, we can show the "Hardsn 70 be the
Texas men of 1914; the opponents Of the Provi-
so in l846-T; the Cass Democrats of lS48; the
supporters Of the Compromise Of 1880; the ad-
vocstes Of the Baltimore platform Of 1882 the
Kansas, Nebraska men Of Is54-'5 and g.
II with these facts In view, our Democratic
friends in other States still hesitate-stI demand
Of us a coalition with these traitors and ingrates
which we will not submit to-then, indeed is the
case OF New York hopeless and the last barrier
against the Absiifionising Of the No- York De
mocrncy s forever broken down.
The Mississippi river Is open and free from ice