The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-31

The fortress which parleys or woman who lis
tens Is not more certainly lost, according to the
French provcrb, than is the American party in the
State of New York after its determination to meet
the Republicans at Syracuse on the Sth of Sep
tember Such step can tend but in one direction
and lead to but result 1t is the first difficult
step taken in a dangerous path, after which all the
rest becomes easy. The decisive move, to which
we attach so much consequence, more by reason of
its prospective influence upon the politics of the
UNION, than of any possible interest we can have
in the local politics of the State of New York was
made, as our readers will remember. at n recent as
semblage OF party-leaders and managers at Albany.
The Council, for such was the dignifed character
OF the assemblage, was numerouslv attended bv
delegates from all parts of the State, including
many of the notabilites ofthe party such as ERAs-
TUs BROOKS, DANIEL ULLMANN, the Hon. JOEL T
HEADLEY, and General CUsTAvUs ApoLpurs
SCRoGGs. The object of the meeting was the an
parently trivial one of fixing a time and place
for holding State Convention, but the inte-
rest manifested in the decision of the Council.
shows that we are not mistaken in our esti-
mate of its Importance, while the language of the
speakers who participated in the discussion proves
that we have rightly interpreted its significance.
The debate turned upon the single point whether
the Convention should be held in the city of
Syracuse on the 8th of September, being the time
and place already chosen by the Republicans for
same purpose. Upon this point there was n
division of opinion. One gentleman, with lively
prescience of the inevitable result of going TO
ba
''the same city with the Repubicans-they in one
room, the Americans in another, and the wire
'pullers overhead" Another nervous individual
evidently anxious TO avoid temptation and TO keen
out Of the dangerous neighborhood of the Repub-
llcans theoretically declared his opposition ''to
going into the infected district while a third
oblivous of the fact that if the mountain will not
come to MHoMET, MAHoMET must needs 90 to the
mountain, Indignantly secuted the idea of
Cooking after the Republicans at all. General
PRESCOTT, Of Herkmer fatty declared that
rather than join with The Republicans. he would
go over to the democracy at once He, too
opposed the proposition to meet at Syracuse. On
the other hand, Mr.. DANIEL ULIMANN. favored the
proposition and asked contcmptuously if gentle
men were ''afrad to meet at Syracuse on the Sth
OF September Mr.. ERASTUs Brooks said that
'lnasmuch as Americans hold principles in COM
mon with the Republicans-to wit opposition TO
'he extension OF slavery, and opposition to the
present national administration, and to its odious
kansas policy he was willing TO strike fellow
ship with them or any other party that would
JON and stand by that opposition TO the end -
lie therefore voted yea, and so did General Gus-
TAVUs ADOLPHUs ScEOGGs, who Fidid not hesitate
ito say that he was strongly in favor of co-opera-
'uon with the Republicans, if the basis be hon
'orable and not resulting in the sacrifice of any
lot our principles Finally tho Council Itself
voted yea, by vote of 1853 to 90, and then
adjourned, after solcmnly re-affrming all the
principles of the Party, embraced in any of the
numerous ''platforms' or fragments of s.plat-
FORMS" upon which it has at any time stood
This, we presume, was nothing more than n
prudent precaution on the part of the Council,
meant TO prevent that Sacrifice of our PRINCIPLES"
so eloquently deprecated by General ScRoGGs.
Unwilling that their "principles' should bring
less III the market, than they arc really worth
the Council has taken an inventory of them pre-
vlous TO negotiating with the Republicans for
their surrender. In assuming an air of entire in
difference upon the subject it has wisely initiated
the Judicious puffery of tradeSman, who feigns
reluctance to sell only when he is most anxious
to induce Others to buy. BY way of more effec-
tually smoothing down all difficulties in the way
OF fusion, we find some of the delegates pointedly
abiding to ''the favorable disposition of the Re
pubhcans' in their several districts while in order
to satisfy the tender consciences of the weaker
brethren, Others adroitly seek to bridge over the
supposed impossible gulf between the two parties
by congratuating the Council on the rapid spread
of American principles in the Republican ranks
Indeed, in reading their speeches. we hardly
know which most to admire. the natural and
commendable solicitude shown by these gentle
men for the preservation of their own Principles.
or the willingness they manifest to adopt those
of their political opponents. One thing is GER
tain, that if any obstacle occurs to prevent n
fusion at Syracuse, that obstacle will not be on
the side of the Americans. To those who NAV,
in answer to our forcbodings suggest that
hey ond choosing the same day and place for the
meeting of the two Conventions, nothing has been
done towards elfecting a fusion-we reply that
enough has been done to justify our authorizations
American party in the State of New York, the in
nocence and simplicity of our first parent was
nothing done when grandmother Eve paused TO
listen to the voice of the tempter? Was nothing
done, when the mariner in Grecian fable STONED
his bark in its course to harken to the song of the
Siren! To come nearer to the point, is nothing
done, when any young gentleman invites the fair
damSel, by whose charms of purse or person he
has been smitten, to n walk in the shrubbcry to q
drive by the beach, to morning tee--tete in anv
spot? Without meaning to insinuate
hat there is anything positively criminal in coaI-
ion with the Republicans, or that fusion between
The two parties is other than the most natural thing
n the world, is nothing done when the first stepis
taken in any course of wrong-doing? We have
read that CESAR paused on the banks of the Rubi-
con; we nowhere read, that having passed that
rlver he was troubled with any scruples of con-
science afterwards
III we looked upon this recent action of the Amer
can State Council at Albany. simpIv with an eve
to its possible effect upon the local noIt;cs of New
oiA' VIC shoulu not have said thus much upon
-ne SuoJe0'' we cannot forget, however that the |
AMERICAN party winch that Council represented.
md OF which, it is said to have been tho larooct
md most respectable representation lately oSson,-
oled in New York, has hitherto been profssedlv Of
east National party, and, as such, has enioyad
he sympathy and confidence of many truly no+ri-
'tic and conservative men, both in Maryland and
elsewhere. We cannot therefore CONTEMPLATE tbo
possibility of fusion between that party, and one
70 purely sectional the Republican, without esti-
"'iis It's probable consequences upon the position
- ptrues throughout the Union. Should the
at Syracuse fuse with their former enc
,la = anu the men who supported Mr.. FILLMORE for
co, HtsiDEScY strike hands with the followers of
NsnoSr, their political brethren in other
Ahead WIN ~ not be slow to follow their example
W "e''s III many portions of the North and NJ,