New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-26
STATE POLITICS.
TO TIE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRACY OF
NETWORK.
To III. Editor Of TaeM y Tyisaae

SIR: As the CONSERVATIVE democracy OF this Si"'o
have no newspaper organ Of extensive circulation
will, with your permission, avail myself Of that
courtesy which you msnifest in opening your columns
to opponents, for the purpose Of Addressing some
earnest words 10 class Of men with whom az you
very well know, l warmly sympathze and act.
BY Conservative Democrats DO not mean eXciu-
svely Iards or Softs. for they 10 he found among
both. But mean those mep whom reading and re-
Gection have immovably grounded in the Jeiler-
sopian theory of the COnsutution-those reasoning
men who attempt TO decide every political question
by the principles of creed, instead Of tic impulses
Of the moment-tbose cautious men who "hasteh
slowly" and love no change for changes sake.
This, you viii allow me TO remark consider the
only real, the only permanent party in our STATE
since the extinction of their grand old opponents the
Fedcralists. The rest have been mere oppoetions-
Congregations of diverse elements acting together on
come one question, for the purpose OF defeating
common enemy.
The Democratic party has been frequently and, l
lament to add Justly defeated by these combinations.
The sources of it's strength have been sources Of some
of its greatest errors One creed one course was
is early motto. When that course was decided III
the party conoave, he who doubted lost CASTE ana
he who wavered 20 "a hairs BREADTH was ignoinln-
ousy expelled. This unity and frmness begat eX-
clusveness and bigotry. This iron dscipline while
il gave resistess energy to party action, dwared M
diyidual independence; aud it conferred too des-
potic authority on the few superior in,elecis who
controlled the party caucuses, unit finally The over
strained cord OF authority snapped.
Our party had its other SINS Ii this was the place
for H. could enumeIate all but it's recent errors with
complacenoy, not only because they were neither
croycling nor sordd errors, but because they were
80 few compared with the long record Of ts gores.
And what line of chiefs has it shown to the
world The iron sense and vigOr OF GEoEGE CLIs-
TON the varied talents and Attachments of the stately
LIvISGsToSs. the splendid genius of DE WITT CLrS-
Ton, tho galantry and unselislness of the genial
ToNPKlSs, the firm judgment and cOnsummate tact
Of VAS BURES, the. calm logic Of WnCHr, the Ro-
man courage OF YoUSG, the mastery intellectual and
executive compass of MhRcr-when viii our State
look on their like again When VIII the old State
Rights party Of JEFFERSON, and MADISON, aud
GEORGE MASON, andJAcKsos, again uniurl It's mol
dering pennanis under such leadersi 1 have pur-
uosely named only the dead those shut ont by age
from public employments. And - this splendid con-
stellaton might add multitude Of stars Of only a
little lesser brightness. Tie history Of NewYork is
history of Democratic statesmen and sta,esmansbip.
This great and proud party is now reduced to a
remnant 1t is distracted by intestine euds not only
in tie State but in every county of the State Nearly
every wear for the last ten or fifteen, has witnessed
new division in its ranks and the secession Of some
portion Of IT, But il obtains no important aceessions
from TIE outside. Its power over the popular mind
and hear is Loot. Friends ard brethren, we stand
where one more serious fa.ee step will be fatal.
There is pitch Of prostration and weakness from
heh there il no recovery. It is easier and cheaper
70 build vessel out of hew timber than 10 recon-
.,ruct one ont Of the splinters Of a wreck.
/ Shall We calmly and firmly examine the causes OF
our decline 20 the end that We may seek remedy
or shall we let the Democratic party pcrishi for The
want Of a little manly irankncss and fearlessnets
For my part, propose 10 speak out-not in wrath
not in rnalice-bui became the ruth i HcocGry BIT
where il may.
Tie proxima,e causes Of our overthrow, rs a Ma
tional party, were oar suicidal divisions in The
Charleston Convention. We madly rendered our.
selves powerless at the moo, critical momcut OF The
nations history, aud we richly deceived 10 be beaten
for IT, II would not subserye ny present purpose q
inquire what wing, or whose supporters, were mos
10 blame for the catastrophe. All were 10 blame.
In this State, the fraircida contest continued down
to the eve Of the election. We were kept divided by
Petty maneuyeregs. The DOuglas wing AID The
Breckenridge wing had each " State Committee.
Thee Committee, instead Of beng composed o.
stright-forward men chosen to perform tho few anC
L., d. IA 80
bilious intrguers l,tle-grea; men, who lad az many
personal interests to subferye. in Arranging terms
racfcaon, as Lad the Allied Sovereigns in the Con
grese Of Vienna and Ociavius, Antony, and LeIid1.
did not more carefully make out proscipiion-liss
their pers nal enemies! When the body OF the Dem
ocratic pafty, of MI wings and shades burnins
to "fal INTO line unro its old banner TO the winds
and make resolute, though it might prove a lust
charge on the foe, these teapot dipomaists Oh one
side would assemble after formal "pubiic notice,
discuss for several days jus, bow many candidates fol
Electors should be given TO or taken from some oihc
sice in the formation Of combined ticket, and, they
having agreed on proposition or u'iima'uu as sol
EMMY a. an imperial parliament, adjourn for scyoga
weeks! Then tue other wing would 90 through The
same august ceremonial!
The incidents Of this pompous farce were oharac
terstic Of the acton: RIcnNosD made stipniation'
by subcommittee and Deliberately broke them. The
immortal GREEs clustered ana then "blcked down.
RIcnaoaD wheedled the Cooper In.titute Commit
tee in private and snubbed them il public, until they
agreed TO furnish tho siHet7s Of he Eaf. He then
sTacously vouchsaled TO them seven Breckinridgc
electors ont Of thirty -iyebut they must be chosen
by himself. and be must not be even confined to tie
Breckinridgs ticket in the selection. What became
Of the large election (aEd raised by tho Meesr'
HrgHY & Co.. Echo answers, What became Of 1t
-. ....u..lLn inni. inn inninal LumIIl