American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-05

Aznriah &. Fla@g, and the late +. !
+. Il ltler were The most distin- /,
guisl,nd leaders. In a modified de /
gree Martin Van Buren, belonged |
to this faction. just previous to
the organization of the Republican
party. Gen. Dix, Sanford +. Church
Preston King. James $. W ellsworth,
William Cullen Bryant, Samuel J. f!
Tilden, and John Van Buren,, were
among the chiefs of tho New York !
Barnburners.
This section or wing of the Demo
cratic party was opposed to the
extension of negro slavery fl ON the
first moment that controversy arose.
In 1914 Mr.. Van Buren, was defeated.
for the nomination to the Presiden
cy because he had written IL moder-
ate letter i'm opposition to the
annexation of Texas. Mr.. T.lden,
in company with Mr.. Wright. and
the other Barnbt1rners, was strongly
In favor of Mr.. Van Buren,, because
of his opinions on the Texas Iurs-
ton. Early In the canfpaign of
| 1914 a circular WIS issued to the
Barnbnrner wing of the Democracy
of that State, signed by William
Cullen Bryant. David Dudley Field,
and others, advising them to vote
for Po:k for President, but protest
ing against the Texas resolutions
of the National Convention, and
urging them to secure tue nomina-
ton of Democrats for Congress wi o
were opposed to annexation. Mr..
Tilden concurred in this policy, and
participated in this movement.
| During the Mexican war the viii
mot ProvisO was introduced into
Congress by David WilmOt, Dem
ncrat of the school of Silas Wright.
The cardinal doctrine of the Proviso
was the perpetual prohibition Of
human slavery within any Terri
tory which we might acquire from
Mexico as one of the results of the
Mexican war. In no other State
did the controversy over this sub
Iiect rage with so much vclemence
as In New York. 1t was made II
test question among tie Democrats.
and it split the party in two right
in the middle. Foremost on he
Free Soil side were s las Wright,
John A. Dix, Preston King, J;in.s
s. WadswOrth. John Van Buren,
and Samuel j. Tilden.
Mr.. Wright died in the midst of
the conflict. the Provis,, WAS de-
fcated in Congress-, and Gen Cass,
who had opposed the PrOviso, was
I
lidate for President i'm the early
summer of 1913 The New York
Barnburners revOlted and in
August of that year, in conjunction
with Free Sellers from other States,
they held the famous Buffalo Con
ventiOn. This Convention adopted
the most uncomprOmi>ing resolu
lions against the extension of sla-
very. and nominated MAJ tin Van
Buren, for President. and Charles
Francis Adams fol Vice President.
Mr.. Tilden was a member of the
Convention, and cordially approved
it's proceedings. Subsequently. ]
the same year, the Free Soil pal. :,
nominated Gen. Dix for Governor !;
and Mr.. Tilden took an active share
in the campaign i'm favor of Van
| Buren,, Adams, and Dix.
When the Republic III party was
formed in this State, a portion of
the Barnburhers joined it, and the
rest remained with the regular DE
mocracy. Among the latter were
Gen. Dix and Mr. Tiden. During
The six bitter years before the war
rilden adhered ra$lier more closely
10 the Free Soil doctrines OF the.
Buffalo platform than Dix, who lie
came a member of Bnchanan's Cab
met, aud consorted with Daniel 8,
Dickson and Lyman TremaiIi while
they, on the very eve of the out
break, were utteriDg sentiments
which excused, if they did not
justify, the rebellion. This was an
epoch of sudden changes and Dix,
Dickson, aud Tremain soon went
over to the triumphant Republic
cans, VINO received them with plaud
its, and crowned them with honors
and em0lumenfs But Tilden kept
the even tenor of his way through
the war, aways sustaining the.
regular Demo. I'd ic organization,
firmly alliering to the Union cause
and spending money In fitting out
soldiers; and when the issue finally
came between the separation Of
the States and the overthrow of
slavery, he said: Let slavery
perish
Those who had watched Mr.. /
Tilden's course OH these questions,
and had known his opinions during I
the previous thirty years, were not
surprised when they read this en- |
phatic and eloquent passage in his
first message to the Legislature as
Governor t
"The adoption of the Thu teenth
-Four teenth, and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Federal Constitution
closed one great era in our politics.
1t marked tho end forever of the
system of human slavery. and of
the struggles that grew out of that
system. These amendments have
been conclusively adopted, and
they have been accepted in good
faith by all political organizations
and the people all sections. They
close the chapter they are and