The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-27
Gov. Tilden and the south.

pme of tho good results of the war II
MANUEL ]. T1LDEN is elected President.
There arc others, mere demagogue5,
Who know better, but for partisan pur-
poses affect to believe the same thing.
These two classes are making so much
boise on this subject that II may DO well to
nate what have been Gov. TILDES's opin-
IONS aud course concerning the main is
ues on the slavery question and cognatc
matters that were involved la the war. and
were settled by It,
From the outset OF his political career
Gov. Tu.DrN was member OF that section
Df the New York Democracy known rs
barnburners, whereof S1LAs WRIGHT,
JoHN A. DIX. AzARIAH c. FLAGG, and the
bate II. +. BUTLER were the most dis
tinguished leaders. In modified de-
gree MARrIS VAN BuREN belonged to this
factiou. Just previous to the organization
ri the Republican party, Gen. DIX, SAN
FORD E. CHURCH. PRESTON KING, JAMES :.
wADswoRTu, WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT,
sAmU EL j. TILDES, and JOHN VAN buren,.
were among the chiefs of the New York
Barnburners.
This section or wing OF the Democratic
party was opposed 10 the extension of ne
gro slavery from the first moment that
controversy arose. In 1874 Mr.. VAN b.
kEN was defeated for the nomination to
the Presidency because he had written
moderate letter in opposition to the an
nexatiou of Texas. Mr. TILDEN. in com
pany with Mr.. WRIGHT and the other
Barnburners, was strongly IN favor OF Mr..
VAN buren,, because of his opinions on
the Texas question. Early in the campaign
OF ls4i circular was issued to the Barn
burner wing of the Democracy of this
State, signed by WILLIAM CULLEN BRY-
ANT, DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, aud others,
advising them to vote for POLK for Pre,i-
dent, but protesting against the Texas
resolutions ofthe National Conventions and
urging them TO secure the nomination OF
Democrats for Congress who were opposed
TO annexation. Mr. TILDEN concurred in
TINS policy, aud participated in this move
ment.
During the Mexican war the Wilmot
Proviso was introduced into Congress by
DAVID WILMoT, "a Democrat of the school
of SILAs WRIGHT. The cardinal doctrine
Of the Provso was the perpetual prohi-
bition OF human slavery within any Terri
In no other State did the controversy over
this subject rage with so much vehemence
as in New York. 1t was made n test ques-
ton among the Democrats. and it split the
party in two right in the middle. Fore
most on the Free Soil side were srr.As
WRIGHT, JOHN A. DIX, PRESTON KrNo.
JAMES ). WADswoRrH, JOHN VAN b.
--"r J! TIIDrS
rem, and SAMu..-
Mr.. WRIGHT died in the midst y. tne
conflict, the Proviso was defeated in Con-
gress, and Gen. CAss, who had opposed
the Provlso, was nominated as tho Demo-
cratic candidate for President in the
early summer of 1S4s. The New
York Barnburners revolted; and in
August Of that year, in conjunction
with Free Sellers from other States,
they held the famous Buffalo Conyen-
ton. This Convention adopted the most
uncompromising resolutions against the
extension Of slavery, and nominated MAR
TIN VAN buren, for President, and
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS for Vice Presi-
dent Mr.. TILDEN was a member of the
Convention, and cordially approved its
proceedings Subsequently, in the same
year, the Free Soil party nominated Gen.
DIX for Governor; and Mr. Tn.DEN took
an active share in the campaign In favor
OF VAN buren, ADAMS, and DIX.
When the Republican party was formed
In this State, n portion of the Barnburners
Joined il. and the rest remained with the
regular Democracy Among the latter
were Gen. DIX aud Mr.. TILDEN. During
the six bitter years before the war TnDEN
adhered rather more closely to the Free
Boil doctrines Of the Buffalo platform than
DIX, who became IA member of BUCHAN-
ANS Cabinet, and consorted with DANIEL
3. DICKINSON and LYMAN FIREMAN. while
they, on the very eve OF the outbreak,
were uttering sentiments which ex-
oused, If they did not justify, the rebel
lion. This was al epoch Of sudden changes;
and DIX, DIckINsoS, and FIREMAN. soon
went over TO the triumphant Republicans,
who received them with plaudits, and
crowned them with honors and emol-
uments. But TILDEN kept the even tenor
OF his way through the war, always
sustaining the regular Democratic organ
Zation, firmly adhering to the Union
cause and spending money in fitting out
soldiers; and when the issue finally came
between the separation of tho States and
tho overthrow of slavery, he said: Let
slavery perish
Those who had watched Mr.. TuDEN's
bourse ON these questions, and had known
his opinions during the previous thirty
years, welo not surprised when they read
his emphatic and eloquent passage i'm his
hrst message TO the Legislature as Gov
lrnor;
"The adoption ~ the Thirteenth. Fourteenth. |
bnd Flitecith Amendments to the Federal Con |
nitutiun closed one great era IN our uolttrs In |
marked the end forever ~ the system Of human |
slavery, end OF the struggles that grew ont Of !
that system. InGsu aG,a2lmrnt have been /
couclusiyely adopted, ana they have been nc. |
cclted m good fHith ny ALI political urganina- |
tons ana the people Of all se uOns. They close |
the chuIter; they are and must he final; ali mar. |
lies hereafter must acce Ut aud stand upon ia, m;
aud hcuc.i fth uur y iitics ar 20 tufn uuoIi |
question NJ mo present ana the future, and not
upon those ~ tho settled and dual past. Ihe |
nohler motives OF humanity concur with our in |
tereTts IA making az h n, with heartfelt con |
grhtula ions, real and durable peace between |
populations unnaiurally esl ranged. Tho time /, |
ripe ~ discard all memories Of buried ftrfeg, |
ehcept az warning against their renewal, AMI |
W au t9gelher 10 uuild anew the solid foun- |
saHohs oi Americ-n seli-gOlegnment."
IL MI TILDEN shall be elected to tho |