New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-10
POLITICAL.
THE BRECKENRIDGE STATE CONVENTION.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.

SYRACUSE, Aug. 7, 1860.
The National Democratic State Convention ia favor
of Brech inridge and Lane which assembled here to-
day. is composed of many of the Oldest and most inu
entail members of the party. With few notable
exceptions, it is made up of men who have battled
against the Free-Soi and Soft wings of the Democracy
ever since the advent of the Wimot Proviso at the
famous Convention held in this city thirteen years ago.
Every county in the State is fully represented. large
and influential body of outsiders" who sympa.hize
with the Convention present. lending tLer counsel
to IL ose of their brethren Immediately coniucng
its proceedings.
Among the prominent persons attending as delegates
or advisers are Daniel s. Dick inton, Collector Schel
Henry S. Randall the biographer Of Jefferson; John
A. Gieen IT,, Chairman of the State Committee; John
C. Mather, formerly Canal Commissioner and State
Senators Israel F, Hatch recently member OF Con-
press from Erie Thomas G. Avord, formerly Speaker
of the Assembly; Gen. Fred. Follett, late Canal Com
missio, er; Elisha b. Smith, fthe most influential
politicians in the Chenango Valley; Gen. Calvin I.
Chambern of Allegany, the war-horse OF the
Southern tier" Joseph c. Spencer u S. District At
torney; Wm Lewis, leading Democrat Of Oswego;
joseph h. Lyon, who ran fsf Treasurer not long ago
On the Democratic State ticket Gideon j. Fucker late
Secretary Of State H. X. Vele, leading politician OF
Erie; Harvey Baldwin, an able and popular Democrat
of Syracuse; NJ S. Myers the leader OF the National
Democracy of Cayuga N. E. Paine OF Rochester, long
known as party chief in Western New-York; Phillip
W. EDgs of your city; A. Is. Getty, the Postmaster OF
Oswego; M. III. Vaudeville, the popular host OF the
Franklin House at Geneva; s. G. Courtney OF Albany,
for some time the able Dstrict-AttOrney for that
County; John b. Higgins, the Collector Of Oswego;
c. l.. Grant, an active Democrat Of Tompkins; VIM.
G. Bryan one of the influential young men OF the Ma
tional wing of the party in Western New-Yorkj w.
H. Cuyler an energetic politician of Wayne Carlos
Cobb of Erie long and honorably connected with the
canal interest and score or two of other gentlemen
equally influential in the political contests OF their sew
era localities bu. whose names would swell this list
beyond reason able dimensions.
The names above. mentioned will satisfy everybody
familiar with the politics of New. York since the
Slavery issue agitaed It's politics. that the gentlemen
assembled here to-day are faithful representatives Of
that wing of the Democracy which has always beea
sound" on the negro question from 1Si7, when MIR.
Wilmot moved his amendment TO the Three Million
bill, down through the era of the Buffalo revolt the
adoption of the Compromise measures the passage OF
the Kansas Nebraska bill, the coneocton of the Le-
compton Constitution, the enunciation OF the Slave
code dogma in the JEFF. Davis Senatorial resolutions,
to the recent secession of the of the Slavery
propaganda at Charleston and Baltimore. Whoever
else has shown varabeness shadow of farming with
the exceptions noted, they have not. No night has
been go dark and murky, during these stormy years.
that every one of them has not been at his post Drawing
the elements of sectional agitation, and ready TO 60
wherever the Southern pilot commanded.
But there are exceptions Prominen. among them
stands the distinguished President of the Convention.
Mr. Randall was a Wilmot Proviso advocate in lSi7i
master workman upon that famous structure the
Buffalo Platform in 1885, and in 1919, when the De-
mocracy patched up temporary union and ran CO.
alon State ticket he was the Free-Soi, Barnburner
candidate for Secretary of State, and was elected.
Until few years past he was always identified with
that section Of the party. What has wrought this
change in his mind, whether his sojourn in Virginia
while gathering materials for his admirable biography
of Jefferson, and his extensive correspondence with
Southern gentlemen during the time he was engagedon
that work whether it the characteristic letter
of Macauay to him, depicting the evil tendencies of
raccaism in glowing TERMS is not known to the pub
lie. But it is Mr.. Randall, the radical Democrat
of the school of Silas Wright, and the Free-Soer of
1913, has, in his maturer years, become conserya-
tive and now cordially supports Breckenridge and the
ultra dogmas Of the Calhoun school of politicians. He
a sincere supporter of Mr. Dickinson at Charles
ton and Baltimore, and one of the fifteen or eighteen
men in the delegation who would not become party
to one of the basest cheats in the annals of political
chicane
Another notable exception is Col. John L. Dox of
Geneva. He was, in old party times, Wing never
radical Wing, but always a conservative, sitting with
Fillmore, Granger Barnard, and the of that type
He beld an important post under President Fillmore
and after the Wing party went to pieces he acted with
the Americans. In the Assembly of 1850, Col. Dox-
the compromise then being before Congress
introduced series of resolutions on the Slavery ques
ton, which, though not quite up to the high-yater
mark of the Wilmot Proviso, would nowadays cause
their author to be ranked about half way between
Dougasism and Republicanism However, Col. Dox
has logical head and sslrageous heart. He thinks
clearly the goa! at which he aims, and has the
manlness to 20 straightforward to it. He has some
respect for Republicanism because its action is log
cal deduction from its premises. lie has only contempt
for Dougassm because admitting the premises of the
Slavery Propagandists it lodges the legitimate conca
sion; while Breckinridgsm bravely walks right up to
it, with sort of devimaycare air. which pleases q
straight.out man like Col. box; and so he goes for
Breckenridge with all bis heart. And, when the tria
day comes thousands of men Of his political aneced
ents will emulate his example. Mark the prediction
The Convention is terribly in earnest. 1t looks tc
the future and acts in the present TO control thai
future. Fusion" "coali ion,' are secuted by the
whole body of delegates. Mr.. Dickinson, bland auG
genial usual is Also in earnest. One has but Il
watch him us he moves among his old friends, giving
counsel and caution, to that he is embodyng In
deeds to-day the bats-cry he rung out at the Cooper