Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-06-13

There have been, for some time, two divi-
sions. sections, clans or factions, as the case
NAV be, among the New York Democrats
Ilards and Softs. Both parties sent
to the Cincinnati Co INVENTION, and
to prevent dang arous disputes, both parties
were kept outside of the Convention till the
Platform was settled. The presumption was,
allowed to have a hand in mixing the pud.
ding, they would do their share in the eat
ing, like it or not, when they once found they
could not help themselves. And 50 1t turned
out. The practical question was, shall the
Hlrls alone, or the SOfts alone, or neither
Hlrds nor Softs, or part of one and part OF
the other, provided they swallow the dose
which tho rest of us have cooked without
them, be allowed to come in and help deter
mine who shall be the nominee, and
in that way have a claim to participate in
the spoils.
The report of the commit tee, adopted by
the Convention, shows how completely destl-
tute of all political honesty the whole con-
Germ was. 1t sets forth that the essential
cause Of the split in 1853 was to be found in
Il disagreement on the slavery question. The
votes of the two divisions were then so near
" equal that neither could claim to be con-
silered the real Simon Pure democracy, on
the score Of superior numbers. So far as
sound doctrine was concerned, the Hards,
the, say. were Justly entitled to belong to
the true Church. As for the SJfts, at their
Syrncnse Convention in August 1850, they
Put forth such monstrous doctrines as the
following
oResoiped, That, while the Democracy of this. State
will faithfully adhere to all the compromises OF
the Constitution, and maintain all the reserved
rights of tho States they deem this an appropriate oc-
cnsiou to declare their fixed hostility to the extern
sion Of Slavery into Free Territory.
RcSoirsd, That we regard the organization OF
bands of armed borderers, and their admission into
the Territory of Kansas not as bona tde settlers, but
for the forcible subversion Of the rights OF Its legal
electors, not only as a violation of the peace of the
Union and rights of the community assailed, but as
distinctly subyersiye of the intent Of Congresses de-
clared in the bill organizing the said Territories,
to have the people perfectly tree to form ana regu-
late their own domestic institutions In their own
way, subject only to the Constitution OF the United
States and that all power of the Federal and Ter
ritorial Government should be exerted to redress
these outrages, and vindicate the rights of the peo-
pie thereof
The committee 60 on to say that had the
Softs stuck to that creed, "the committee on
credentials must have unanimously rejected
their claim to seats in the National Conven-
ton" OF course they would. Allowing any
BODY there who had a word of fault to lind
with the ultra pro-slavery action OF the Ad-
lninistration, and the atrocious outrases
against the free settlers of Kansas, could not
be thought of for a moment IN a convention
whose whole aim was to give power to those
sworn to carry out those wrongs to the full.
But the committee 60 on to show that the
action of the aforesaid Softs IN August was
all a sham-that in reality they were Just as
ready to wade in the proslavery mire up to the
chin, as to walk on good anti slavery ground,
if they could find their account in it. Freedom
or Slavery was ali one to them if they could
ooly get the pay. In January last, the Softs
had "A special convention, at which they passed
resolutions which the committee admit " nc
cord fully and subStanti lily with the creed of
tle Democratic party throughout the union"
The purplrt of those resolutions all rcmem-
Der very we'll. They went to the extreme.
Atchison and Stringfellow could not with for
any thing more from them. Their sin was now
wholly cleared away-and they were all to be
reg trded good Democrats together. AS for
Honesty of principle, that does not seem to
have been thought worth speaking of. All
being equally hostile to freedom, and equally
ready to talk about the rights and liberties
Of the people while they were doing all they
could to tread them under foot, the commit
zee concluded they were all one party, and it
would he about right to take half of one set
and half of the other, and let them vote ac'
cordingly and SO they did.
OF course the New York delegates were
obliged to he satisfied. The insult of not be
ing allowed to speak in Convention, till the
occasion for talking was all gone by, they
gulped down as conteutedly a possible, anc
set to work for their Southern masters just a
willingly as if they had not been kicked b,
them.