New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-14
THE UTICA CONVENTION.

shrewdpess, we cannot say for the courage and
frankness of the Constitutional Union Convention,
which met at Utica on Thursday, ostensibly to ad-
vance and strengthen the doctrines and the party
represented by Messrs. Bell and Everett.
1t should be remembered that at the State Con-
yenton of the same party, then known a. the Ma
tional Union party, held at Troy, on April IL, it
was determined to send delegates to the National
Cor vention at Baltimore, bat to leave for futurs
consideration the question whether the party in
this State sheuld support the candidates which its
delegates were thus sent to put in nomination. How
far this determination was TIE result Of an earnest
devotion to their political principles, We do not
undertake to Judge; but if the purpose was no
novelty in politics, its open, official avowal was
something both new and curious. Generally, the
members of Nominating Convention are regarded
as bound to support its candidates, at least out.
wardly; but in this case the delegates of New York
advertised beforehand that after having voted for
their candidates in the Convention, they were
ready to 90 home and vots against them at the
polls This peculiar policy is believed to have been
the invention of the Hon. Washington Hunt; at
any rate, it was adopted by the Trey meeting with
his full and hearty consent.
This double faced attitude of the New.York
delegates, and especially Of Mr.. Hunt, whose ante
csdents and whose political capabilities made him
. man of weight, naturally caused anxiety to the
representatives of the South at Baltimore, for they
were in earnest, and were much more desirOus to
crush the Democracy than to defrat the Republi.
cans. Not wishing to quarrel with New-York,
they hit upon another means of binding her repre-
sentatives more firmly TO their cause. They &C.
ected Mr.. Hunt as the President Of their National
Convention, naturally supposine that after having
figured in that capacity, be could not in decency,
again engage in the plan Of selling out to either
faction of the Democrats, but would energetcally
maintain the party organization and rally as large
body of voters IS possible around the party ban.
ner. For time this expectation seemed destined
to become reality. In hs speeches at Baltimore,
oyerHowiDg with gratitude for the honor done him,
be seemed to promise an honest devotion to the
cause which Messrs. Bell and Everett had been
chosen to stand for. The other delegates from
New-York apparently agreed in this promise; and
the Convention separated at Baltimore with the
conviction strong in the mitds of the delegates
from the Southern States that the organization Of
the Union party would be maintained, and its
candidates be voted for in New-York.
Such, however, is not the conclusion now arrived
at by Mr.. Hunt or by the Utica Convention. That
body, while listening to speeches euogizng Bell and
Everett and the political ideas which they repre-.
sent, effectively declared its purpose to give them
no votes in the election. Instead of nominating
candidates for Presidential Electors, they ap-
pointed COMMITTEE to decide hereafter, and at 10
late day as they shall deeurs3rudent whether the
sufftsges Of the National Union men shall be given
in bchaf of Breckenridge and the " miserable
abstraction" of q slave code, or to Douglas and
the other " mserable abstraction" Of Squatter
Sovereignty, if, indeed, it she prove impossible to
combine the three parties in the support Of joint
electoral ticket.
Now, as we have said,this is shrewd dodge.
In the first place, it saves the party from the dan
ger Of such disclosure Of its exact numbers as
would be involved in the support Of ticket Of its
own. In the second place. it allows Of various
and indefinite bargaining in the State, township.
and county elections And, thirdly, it offers the
only chance of possibility Of defeating the Repub
Leans, whether BY giving the Presidency to Bell.
10 Breckenridge, or TO Douglas, is a matter Of
comparative unimportance in the estimation Of
Messrs. Hunt Brooks, Duer and Company.
We sincerely trust that the purpose Of these
gentlemen may be realized and that they may be
enabled to merge themselves either with the sup
porters Of Breckenridge or If Douglas, or Of both.
II is n pity that men Of such patriotism and such
talents should remain longer IN their present unat
tached condition, " lone, wandering. though not
"lost" But how Gar the earnest and fair.minded