New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-15


The Democratic State Convention meets to-day
at Syracuse, and, though the delegates are limited
by the call to one from each Assembly District the
attendance of contestants and outsiders is certain
to swell the entire assembage to thousands. I'M
portant and fsr-reaching consequences depend on
! the issue Of this Convention. The New-York
Democracy really consists of two parties, often
acting in outward harmony sometimes in open
conflict and always countermning and intensely
hating each other. These parties were first pub
| Ecly known under the GOyernorship Of William c.
| Bouck. but more distinctly defined under thst of
Sas Wright, who wos the idol of the ore radical,
known as "Barnburners, who were naturally
anti. Bank anti-COrporatiOn. anti-Canal Enlarge
ment, anii-Slavery and anti-Texas Annexation.
| Gov. Wright was obnoxious 10 the 'Hunker
faction, who secretly opposed and defeated his
reelection in Is46. The IIunkers had majority in
the next State Convention, 0cE,) and nominated
clean Hunker ticket. rejecting (by laying on
the table) resolve submitted and warmly insisted
on by the Barnburners, protesting against the tx.
tension of Slavery; whereupon the Barnburners
opposed and smashed" the ticket at the polls.
In ls4s the two factions held separate Conyen-
tons and supported separate tickets throughout
the Bsrnburners running Van Buren for President
and John A. Dix for Governor while the Hunkers
went for Csss for President and Reuben II. WAL
worth for Governor. The two factions have az
least once since (in 1859 run separate tickets and
when they did not have generally amused them
selves by knifng each other. They have more re-
Gently been distinguished as L" Iards' and SOfts,"
but. though they have presented various phases,
and though the anti-Slavery sentiment which first
animated the Barnburners has entirely eyaporsted
or passed over to tie Republicans and though
many individuals have passed from one camp to
the other-some Barnbuners in l-45 having be-
come Hards before 1s53-yet the reciprocal hatred
and rsncor are still fresh ard undying. There has
never been bitterer struggle IN any Democratic
State Convention than this day (and perhaps to-
morrow slso) will witness.
The main battle viii be fought on the question of
contested seats: the entire Delegation from this
City being in this category The Soft or regu-
lar Tsmmsny Delegation will be led on the floor by
Dan Sickles. who was formerly one Of the hardest
of the Hards while the spokesman of the Hard or
Cusiom-House Delegation will be Fernando Wood,
but recently among the soltest of the Softs. Zach
Of these is political diver, who comes up wher-
ever circumstances may seem 10 dictate. There
are many former Hards now connected with the
Tsmmary or Post-Offce faction, and some Soits
who now train in the Custom-House brigade; but
the bulk of both old factions remain true to their
former leaders. How the fortunes of the struggle
will be effected by bogus contests cannot well be
ioreseen; but there is no room for honest doubt that
the Softs have majority of those Delegates whose
right TO sit is beyond serious question. Hence il is
clear that, il but one Convention be organized, it
VIII BE- controlled BY The Sos, who viii bolt if the
chair is conceded to OF their adyersarieS. A,
however, nearly oil the members of the State Com
mittee are in their most secret councils. We pre-
sumo the Sotts will secure the organization with
little difficulty.
How fsr they viii be disposed TO Use the power
thus soquired, is interesting question. The
Soft leaders in this City last wear consented TO
divide the City Delegation with their consest;ng
adyerssres whose leader, Wood was then our
Mayor. This yesr, they do not mean TO submit to
sny such division, but viii insist that the regular
Tsmmsny Delegation pure and simple, shall alone
be recognized ana admitted. If they persist IN
this determination, the Soft leaders throughout
the State sre pledged 10 uphold snd enforce il.
leaving Fernando and his platoon 70 cool their
heels outside o., the bar. But as this would. in
effect, be sying Wood under the sod. we DO not
think he viii submit To il and, if the Soft lead.
fulfil their pledges 10 their confederates here
We believe b. viii bolt. and that the Tards Will go
with him. organizing separate Convention That
the Soft leaders viii venture TO drive him 10 this.
We do not ssy; but ii they back down they viii do
So wihou; the consent of their City coniederates.
who ere determined TO make finish Of Wood At
whatever cost. Whoever msy recol. they will
not; nor do We believe Fernando will consent 10
60 10 the wall TO preserve 1.-The harmony of the
party" he is TO die, he will die game.
This feud will probably change the cast for Gov
ernor John Vsn Buren is the first choice of the
Soft managers, but they dare not nominate him in
the face of = probable tempest. Their most pop
ulsr msn is probsbly ex-Gov. Hora..o Seymour;