The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-28
From the New York Evening Post
WHY THE OPPOSITION IN NEW YORK II NOT
UNITED.

All sorts of reasons but the true one have
been suggested for the failure of the Republi.
can and American Conventions to unite at Sy-
racuse. The real and only reason was, that
there were people in one and perhaps both Con-
ventions, who went there to nominate q Presi
dent in 1860, rather than Governor in 1858
The American Convention consisted of class
Of politicians who had one or both of two lead
ing purposes in view; the one, to prevent Sen
ator Seward from having the support of the
State Of New York in the next National Con.
vention, by defeating his friends now and the
other, to so modify and shape the Republican
platform upon the subject of Slavery as to meet
the local exigencies OF Crittenden and the other
Anti ecompton Americans in political asso
citation with him. The Republican Convention
consisted, in q large degree, of men who were
chosen to prevent the effort which had been
making all summer by the Americans, assisted
by certain influential Republican presses, to
dilute New York Republicanism, and of many
besides, perhaps, who desired the success of the
Republican ticket this fall, among other rea
cons, for the benefit that might possibly accrue
from it to Mr.. Seward.
Herein lies the whole difficulty between the
two sections of the Opposition this fall. 1t is
not because OF any irreconcilable differences OF
opinion upon Slavery, or upon the candidates
to be chosen this fell, but because of conflicting
aspirations in 1860. If Morgan we're running
upon State issues and interests exclusively, we
are confident that he would carry the State,
without an effort by from fifty to sixty thou.
sand majority. A more unexceptionable, a
more popular ticket, even among the Ameri.
cans themselves, independently of purely Fed
eral considerations, has seldom been presented
to the electors of new York. But, to prevent
Mr.. Seward receiving any aid and comfort from
q triumph of his principles 10 the State this
fall, it was determined upon by the leading
American politicians to nominate q separate
ticket and thus do what they could to defeat
the Republicans, in order, ss they openly avow,
to insure better terms in 1860 that ia, the
nomination Of some man for the Presidency
like Crittenden, who is unable to command the
support of his own, or probably of any other
Southern State, and who has even ceased with
In the past year to be a" national" that bastard
merit upon which his partisans have mainly re-
lied tor their political existence. 1t was with
this view of making better terms in 1860 that
they organized TO defeat Mr.. Blair in 81. Louis
They made up their minds, notwithstanding the
friendly relations which their Representative
had cultivated with the Republicans in Con-
gress during the last session. that the Republ.
can party should not be permitted to succeed
Independently OF them, where it could be pre-.
vented, especially in slave State. They now
desire TO effect the same result n New York.
They have no objection to Mr.. Morgan-on the
contrary, as body, they are generally partial
to him. They do not pretend that Mr.. Burrovs
has any chance of an election--they profess TO
think perpetuation of the rule of the Sham
Democracy one of the greatest calamities that
can befall the country; nevertheless, they say :
We must defeat the Republicans, ana lay
Seward by the heels now, in order that our
strength may be felt and properly appreciated,
| and that We may then dictate the candidate of
the Opposition in 1850" The idea has been
carefully spread through the Know N othinp
lodges, and there is no member of the order so
| obscure as to be in ignorance of it, nor are
there many enlightened enough to see how ut
terly pre- posterous it is as q scheme of party &C
ton. To expose its absurdity, and, if possible
to reveal TO such of their number as act from
manly motives the deplorable mistake they are
making in trying to choose their next Presi
dent, instead of their next Governor, at the
coming election, we beg to submit two or three
facts for their consideration.
In the first place, then, the election of Mr.
Morgan as Governor does not necessariyinv
the election of deeg aes devoted to the interests
OF Mr.. Seward. The issue in the choice of del.
egates at the late State Convention was not be
tween Seward and his particular opponents
among the opposition, bat between those who
to destroy Mr.. Seward, wished to modify the
platform of the party, 90 that he could not oc
cupy 1t, on the one hand; and those, on the other
who were tenacious Of Republican PRINCIPLES
whether because Mr.. Stewards fortunes were
identified with them, or from other and higher
considerations. So the election of Mr.. Moroan
if he is elected, as he will be in all human prob
ability, duly establishes the fact that the ma
jority of the people of this State harmonizs with
the Republican party upon all the pending SIa
very issues, and secures to the opposition in THU
State leader as free from any tinge of poiti
cal intolerance as can be found, probably, be
tween Rouse's Point to Sandy Hook.
In the second place, the Republican csndi
date for the Presidency in 1860 will not b,
chosen by the New York delegates alone, bu
by delegates from thirtytwo separate and inde