f L .as E 421 .C65 Copy 1 THE COALITION OF THE DEIOGEACY AND THE ABOLITIONISTS IN OPPOSITION ^ y , i L> TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF GEN. TAYLOR The opposition to Gen. T4yior's Admin is- list." Thus the Whigs of the North were stig- tration is characterized by more violence than matized at home as betrayers of freedom, and the any other has encountered, perhaps, since the Whigs of the South proclaimed at league with, formation of political parties in the country. It fanatics and incendiaries against their own fire- was expected, that those who enjoyed twenty sides and hearthstones. The Southern Demoe- years almost of unbroken power would exhibit racy, too, under the lead of the Washingtoa both' sullenness and spleen when driven off from Union, singing all the while hosannas to the feasting' and rioting amid the spoils of office. — This, we say, was expected ; but there was reason to believe also, that men so extravagant in professions of Democracy, would,- for the sake of decency at least, submit to the will of the People, and conduct their partisan warfare with due respect to candor and fairness. Rea- Northern Democrats as " the natural allies of the South," made every shift and adopted every expedient to show that Northern Whigs and Northern Abolitionists were identical and indi- visible. Whether these things were spoken ia jest or earnest, or whether they were shallow tricks of the adroit and skilful in the arts of po- sonable as it was, the hope is disappointed ; andi litical jugglery, is a matter of little consequence, now all the odds and ends of faction are banded i In time they will be properly estimated; it is suf- together for a common purpose — the destructien ; ficient now to know, that they were anything of the Administration. A coalition has been j but truthful. Long before they were uttered the formed which, as the surest means of rallying! "natural allies" placed on record evidence. the friends of good government to the support of i somewhat dubious, we must confess, of their a National Party, it is our intention to expose, j fealty to the South. As a specimen of what This coalition, influenced, we are bound to be- j they mean by non-interventiun and fraternity we lieve, by no motive but to secure and dispense submit certain resolutions of the Legislatures of patronage, is the more despicable because of the Maine, New Hampshire, and Michigan, States rancorous enmity which s© recently existed be in which they are so powerful that their do- tween its prominent supporters. It is a Coalition minion may be said to be almost despotic. They between the Democracy and the Abolitionists, a are as follows: coaHtion on which the former base all their hopes | Jiesolutio'^ of Maine, passed August 3, 1847 of restoration to power, and the latter all their « p^solved. That the sentiment of this State prospects of becoming the dominant ^arty. — jic jnofound, sincere, and almoat universal, that Against this coalition, powerful in number, j the influence of slavery upon productive energy base in its conception, and corrupt in principle, j is like the blight of mildew ; that it is a moral stands opposed a National Party, a* t&e head ofj and social evil ; that it does violence to the which is Zachart Taylor, with "no private purposes to accomplish, no party projects to build up, no enemies to punish — nothing to serve but his coimtry." It may be well, perhaps, before tracing the progress of the new coalition, to recur to past events, with wliich it is in some degree connect- ed. The question of slavery, much to the re- gret of all who discountenance sectional jealous ies and agitations, entered largely into the pub- lic discussions of the last Presidential canvass. And it will not be denied, we presume, that while the Northern Democracy were lavish in their denunciations of "Zacbart Tatloh, the Southern slaveholder," their political brethren of the South hurled anathema after anathema against *• MiiiARD FiiiMOBB, the Northern Abolition rights of man, as a thinking, reasonable, and responsible being. Influenced by such conside- rations, this State will oppose the introduction of slavery INTO ANY TERRITORY which may be acquired as an indernnity for claims upott Mexico." Resolutions of New HampAire, February 19» 1847. " That the Senators and R'presentativea in Congress from this State be reep>ctfiilly request- ed to urge the passage of measure for the er- tinction of slavery in the Districttf Columbia^ for its exclusion from Oregon andyt^er Terri' tories that now or at any time het-after may belong to the United States, for ah constitU' tional measures for the suppression ff the dO' mestic tlave trade, and t» resist the cCnissunk ^t., -> •f any nete State into the Union WHILE TOLERATING SLAVERY." MUtolution of the New Hampshire Democratic Convention. " Resolved, That among the doctrines of the Democratic party, the most important is an uhiding adherence to the compromises of the Constitution, as the anchor of safety to the Union itself — while at the same time none are more opposed than ourselves to the continuance mr wider extension of slavery, and that we will oppose so great an evil to the progress of civi- iization and hvmnnily whenever a proper occa- sion shall arrive, and by every measure con- eistent with the Constitution and its compromi- aes ; and that we deem the imputations of our opponents on that subject too false to be worthy »f regard, too frivolous to be deserving of an ■jocracy and Free-soil at the Congressional elec- tions in Connecticut, by which the opponents of the Administration gained three members in the House of Representatives. The successful can- didates of this combination were Chauncet F. Cleveland, Loreu P. Waldo, and Walter Booth. And here it were well to note the fact that Gov. Cleveland and Mr. Waldo were on the Cass electoral ticket voted for in November. The letter of the first-named gentleman was read in the Free-soil convention for the third Congres- sional district, which met at Norwich, March 13, 1849. We give the following extracts: " Hamfton, March 10, 1849. " H. Hammond, Esq. " Dear Sir : Your letter of the 8th Inst., ask- ing me to answer certain questions which you «wer, too inconsistent, coming, as they do, from i propounded, is received, and I embrace the first mien who oppose the concession of an hour's opportunity afforded me, to forward you are- respite from labor to our own white laborers of the North, to rise to a point where they may be reached by any other sentiment than contempt. flO^ For we declare it our solemn conviction, as the Democratic party have heretofore done, that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude should hereafter exist in any territory which may be acquired by or annexed to the Uniteit States, and that we approve of the votes of our delegates in Congress in favor of the Wil- mot Proviso." j;^ Resolutions of Michigan — March, 1, 1847. " That in the acquisition of new territory, •whether by purchase, conquest, or otherwise, we deem it the duty of the General Government to extend over the same the Ordinance of 1787 {being the one prohibiting slavery northwest of the Ohio,) with all us rights and privileges, con- ditions, and immunities." These confessions of faith, it must be conced ed, are not quite in union with the Southern platform which the Democracy have erected and abundantly prove withal, that t^e most trusted allies sometimes become the most trtorherous friends After this, there is no longer occasion for the Democratic orators and Democratic press at the South to waste breath on Giddings and Palfi-ey. The ra.sol«tions we have quoted, will answer erery purpose in alarming the people of the South. Besides they foreshadowed the very con dition of things which Jias finally come about, •nd which the signal /defeat of General Lewis Cass for the Presid^cy served to hasten, the Coalition of the Dem>eracy and the .Abolitionisti) The first fruit of t>^« coalition was the election •f Salmow p. P«a8b, United Stales Senator, from the State >f Ohio, in place of William Allen. The /"ree-Hoilers had two votes in fcoth branches yf the LegislatuK', and yet they «omj)clle(i th/ I.>eniorracy to elect an avowed Abolitionist * tiie United Staten Semite, in con- dderation tn toe ""•^'^Tyom second inquiry I would reply, that / have ALWAYS MAINTAINED that Con- gress had the power to regulate and abolish the histitution of slavery in districts exclusively un- der its legislative control, and that it should ex- ercise this power in a reasonable manner, having for its object the speedy and entire abrogation of all laws in such districts, authorizing any man to hold his fellow man in bondage. " In whatever position I may be called to act, 1 shall, unless my views are materially changed, be governed by the sentiments herein expressed, and my highest ambition will be satisfied if I may, in any manner, be instrumental m elevat- Tg'^^he condition of suffering Jumamty wherever found, or in contributing to the relief of the op- pressed." . ,, « Yours, respectfully, ^ _ _ _ „ " LOREN P. WALDO." The character of this Mr. Burleigh whom Mr Waldo so graciously assures, that it will ever be hrh.ghest^mbitionto -contribute to the relief of the oppressed," should not be lost sight of ta this connexion. In fanaticism and bitterna^ he is first among the Abolitionists of Connect*- II He is the^editor of au Abolition journa^ and not more than a year or two before \h is cor- respondence, the Democracy indignant at hi» course on the Mexican War, gathered a mob about hU premises, and threatened to destroy hb IS He was'fitly chosen then as the tn. strument of a coalition between the men wiu» mobbed hiai, and his Abolition associates. The letter of Mr. Booth embodied the same |divisions of its party, thus rebuked a contempora- 4»ntiments as those of Mcbsts. Cleveland and ry for pressing the pretensions of Mr. Van Waldo. At all events it satisfied the Abolition- ists, among whom it was secretly circulated, and secured their votes. The obligation of mutual "aid and comfort" between the high-contracting parties in Connec- ticut was not cancelled, however, by the result Shaick " The New York Evening Post seems bent on defeating the election of a Democratic May- or, and does not hesitate to recommend Mr. Van Shaick because He has been a friend of the Free- soilers. Can this perturbed spirit of the Free- of the Congressional elections. It was in full soil clique never sleep force when the Legislature assembled the 2d of ^ On Tuesday, however, the Union volunteer- May, at Hartford, on which, in consequence of ed to act as pacificator. It then said : " Unless a failure to elect by the people, the choice oi the Democrats unite their votes in favor of one State officers devolved. The Senate wa^s de-^^candi date they will be defeated." Recurring to cidedly Whig-, but the House was in the hands | the subject onThursday, it manifested its anxiety of the Democracy and the Abolitionists, and the | for the success of ihe coalition as foUews : officers of that body were parcelled out share and share alike between them. And on the joint vote of the two Houses for State officers, while only one of the "Free Democracy" voted for the W hig candidates, eleven went straight-out for €he candidates of their Radical allies. The remainder, nine in all, either threw away their ▼otes or did not vote at all. Over this victory of the Coalition of the De- mocracy and the Abolitionists the Washington Union, maugre all its clamor for the rights of the •South, rejoiced as lustily as the most ultra of the **Free Democracy." We subjoin the following ;^ecimens of its merry-making : From the Union of April 5th, 1849. " If the Democrats have carried three mem- bers of Congress it will serve to show that the Democracy of the Union is rallying — that they have gained ground in Connecticut as well as in New Hampshire — and that it requires only great- er exertion to redeem entirely the defeat of No- vember last. It also shows that the next House of Representatives may be redeemed." From the Union of April 6th, 1849. *' The ultra Whig press is attempting to de- preciate the recent Democratic victory in Con- necticut. The victory, at least, seems now to be conceded. And this important result seems also to be certain : that in all great party questions WE obtain three more votes from the land of steady habits than we had before, making a dif- ference of six voles in favor of the republican party compared with the last House of Repre- sentatives. This result will animate the Democ- From the Union of April 5, 1849. " A correspondent in New York writes us, on Monday night, that ' If Van Shaick be nominat- ed for Mayor to-night by the Democratic con- vention, (at Tammany Hall,) he will be elected ; the Barnburners having PREVIOUSLY nomi- nated him.' But the New York Courier of Tuesday, says that, ' after a strong debate, (the night beiore,) the hunker convention succeeded in nominating for Mayor, F. B. Cutting, Esq., as their candidate, by a vote of 29 to 23.' " And the next day, it cheerly announced that "the Democrats had united their votes in favor of one candidate," and that candidate was Mr. Van Shaick. We give its own language : From the Union of Friday, April 6, 1849. " Mr. Cutting declines the nomuiation, and the Convention of Tammany Hall has nominat- ed Mr. Van Shaick as the democratic candidate. The New York True Sun speaks in high terras of his qualifications, and says all candid men admit that "his election is as nearly certain as any future event can be." We re-echo another sentiment of the True Sun ; " Mr. Van Shaick's election may be considered certain, and we can- not but express the confident hope that it will result not only in a great advantage to the Pub- lic WELFARE, but olsi in securing the integri- ty and ascendency of the Democratic party in the City and State." The gratulations of the Union, nevertheless its coqucttmg and wooing with the Barnburners, were a little too hasty. The fierce Democracy of New York were too mindfulof past injuries, to be racy of Vikiuwia and all the other States which sold so cheaply to "the perturbed spirit of the have yet to vote." Encouraged by this brilliant example, the De- mocracy of the city of New York, surrendered to the F'rce-Roilers at the spring election. Their candidate, for the Mayoralty having declined, they immediately adopted Mtndiikut Van Shaick, the Free- soil candidate; and, in con- Bidcration of thin concession, the Frre-soilcrs refrained from noniinating judicial tickets. No- thing loth, that high-mettled rham])ion of South Free soil clique." Mr. Van Shaick was conse- quently defeated. Near about the same time the Democracy and Abolitionists of Wisconsin were eai^nestly occu- pied, framing a compact of their own. The his- tory, and the terms of it, are stated by one of the parties, as follows : From the " Daily Wisconsin" of April 9. " The U.NiTED Democracy of Wiscousiif.^ We learn that, previous to the adjournment of crn iiistitutioHH, the Washington Un!'«/<• roHtrnhon is to be called next fall for the -April l8t, 1849, prior to the union of the (wo | nomination of Governor, &c., to be represented by two delegates from each Assembly district in the State. " It has long been perceived that the differen- ces were a mere matter of organization. That tenacity has fortunately yielded, and now the Democrats who supported Cass and Van Buren will work together, and thus secure in Wiscon- sin a Democratic majority alike impregnable to the efforts and seductions of the Taylor Admin- istration. The united majority of Cass and Van Buren over Taylor was 11.000 We can scarcely expect so large a majority hereafter, as many Whigs who acted with the Free-soil party will jom the Taylor party ; but we can give the largest Democratic majority of any State in the Union. " It is pertinently suggested that the example of the Democracy of our glorious State will be found loorthy of emulation in othir States. We have a natural pride in saying that Wisconsin is the pioneer State, where this Union has been first consummated." The "basis of sound principles" on which the union was effected, is disclosed in the following resolutions : " Resolved, That while we will faithfully ad- here to all the compromises of the Constitution, and maintain all the reserved rights of the States, we declare, since the crisis has arrived when that question must be met, our uncornpromising hostility to the extension of slavery into any Territory of the United States which is now free. " Resolved, That in organizing governments for New Mexico and California, " Why, then, is the Union less indig- nant now than in 1848 ' Is it the tempting prospect of the spoils of office, wliich it expect* the Democracy to enjoy four years hence by the overthrow of (Jen. Taylok's Administration, through the instrumentality of this "disgusting coalition," that thus ties its tongue and bushee itf speech.' There are still other grounds for belieying that the Union has no longer any feeling of disgust towards these proceedings. Almost contempora- neous with the consummation of these several coalitions, Mr, Ritchie announced his intention to bring into his establishment an associate edi tor "from the North or Pforthwest." Here is the announcement to which we allmde : From the Union of April 17, 1849. " We owe every thing to our principles and our party, and we are making arrartgiments to infuse such further talent and energy into OTTR PAPER AS THE OCCASION OBVIOUSLY REQUIRES. We have great confidence in our cause, as well as in ourselves ; great confidence in the associate whom we shall attempt to bring into our es- tablishment FROM THE North or Northwest : and we trust we are not mistaken when we add, great confidence in the Republican party. We shall stand by them ; and we appeal to them to Stand by us." A month later the mystery was unveiled, and the associate turned up in the person of En.MUFn Burke, the Ex-C»mmissioner of Patents. And who, pray, is Mr. Burke ? We only answer, whatever he may be, he is a slavery restriction ist, a Wilmot provisoist. Here is the proof. When the bill " to organize a territorial govern- ment in the Territory of Oregon, and for other purposes," was under consideration in the House of Representatives, Monday, February 3, 184fi, the following amendment was proposed to the 6th section : " Provided, hoioever, That there shall be nei- ther slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." — Globe, 2tZ sess. 28th, Cong p. 236. For this amendment, Edmund Burkk, then a member of Congress from New Hampshire, voted; and this vote, according to Mr. Ritchie, the peace of the country ^ and, finally, because makes him before all the world, an enemy of the it is this party which is to secure wholesome South, a sympathiser with a party of geographi laws, and protect the rights of all classes m the cal divisions and sectional interests! But this Republic _ is not all. Somewhere about the year 1837 or This party holding to these prmciples as the '38, he edited a paper, at Newport, New only guaranty of a well regulated government; Hami>shire, called the "Argus and Spectator," liberal, just, and bemficent in its aims, is and and through its columns propagated appeals to must be the Party of the People. Uniting under "Democratic AboUtionists." He found no fault the flag of the Constitution, not Whigs alone, ♦lipn with those wayward disciples of Democra but Independent Democrats, in every section of cy for "dissenting from slavery, and desiringj the country, it battled against the usurpations and its' removal." Keenly cautioned them sentiments proclaimed in his " Reply to the Charleston Mercury" of March 27th, 1847 .' Does it belong to him to declare, *^ from first to last we have rejected and condemned the doctrine of the Wilmot proviso?" Has he "rejected and condemned" the Democratic Abolitionists of New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Vermont, has he cast out Edmund Burke with his Wilmot proviso doctrines ! Now, we do not mean to charge the Southern editor of the Union with changing his opinions on the question of slavery, but we do charge him with suppressing those he is known to entertain, with condemn- ing himself to silence, and again with rejoicing and exulting, while "unhallowed combinations" and "disgraceful coalitions" are going on be- tween the Democracy aiid the Abolitionists, for the benefit and advantage of the Democratic family. This is our charge, and this much we think we have proved. The cement of this Coalition, undeniably, is opposition to the Administration of General Taylor, to embarrass and finally to break down which, is the highest ambition of these despicable factionists A great Northern Party, embracing every creed and every opinion, a party of geo- graphical divisions and sectional feuds is to be the consummation of their " bargain, intrigue, and corruption." Against them, their plots and machi- nations, the Whigs of the North and the Whigs of the South, discarding all differences of opin- ion as to slavery, have rallied a National Party. This party, republican in principle and national in its objects, they invite all who desire the peace,. jMrosperity, and glory of a people, undivided and indivisible, to unite with. They invite all the patriotic aad conservative to unite with themj because it is this narty which is to preserve the Constitution inviolate alike from the assaults of Northern fanatics and Southern disunionists ; because it is this party which is to maintain to be wareand"not ge't entrapped in the toils of Feder alism." Now he maligns Gen. Taylor for hav- ine called Mr. Bwing and Judge CoUamer into his cabinet What a fit associate for the guardian of Southern rights, is a slavery restrictiomst and the friend of "Democratic Abolitionists ! VV hat b this, we would inquire, but one of those un^ hallowed combinations" which formerly aroused all the ire. and excited the "deepest Ji«g"^t in M Rtrhie ! ^""' ■'»'•'•= ^^ *" denounce IN ortn corruptions of a reckless Administration, and carried Zachaby Taylor triumphantly into the Presidency. And now that he is pursued by a factious minority, now that the Democracy and the Abolitionists have coalesced with a view to defeat his administrative policy, this party ad- heres the more firmly to his fortunes. It wiU stand by, and sustain, and cheer him on in per- fecting the work of purification and reform, m which the people feel so profound an interest. I ;i v.\y^ qc an "imbecile. the South 8 shake his unconquerable will, nor impair the ] not expect, therefore, to witness a lack of hiss- confidence of his friends in his honesty of pur- ing and venom when the hero of Palo Alto, Re- pose, nor yet in his ability and determination to saca, Monterey, and Buena Vista, came by their restore the Government to what it was in the; authority to put down the spoilsmen and corrup- days of the earlier Presidents. A corrupt Press, ' tionists whom power had made insolent and reck- under the lead of the Washington Union, may j less. Let these libellers rail on, then, without charge riim again and again with a "violation stint ; they have no power to injure. The Peo- of solemn pledges," may characterize him as a! pie, in very loathing and disgust of the vile coa- •' whitened sepulchre," and proclaim it far and lition to which they pander, will rally around wide that the President of the People is «• dis- the Administration, and bear it successfully gracing himself," but even this vituperation will tluough its trials, in proud defiance of its mali- fail to break the force and power of his name cious and revengeful assailants. with the warm hearted, incorruptible masses, j - — — > — ' ' ■ • They know too well how to count the value; * It i^ deemed appropriate to republish here, of such filthy outpourings from these political ^hat Thomas Ritchie, the .SouMern Editor of sewers, to be disturbed thereby. They remem- *^^ Washington Union, once thought of Gen. ber that Washington,., by universal consent, •^^''^son, whose most obsequious flatterer he sub- one of the purest men of his or any other age, sequently became, and also Gen. Jacksom's esti- was exposed to similar abuse because he was ''^^'"^ ° hisJibeller: firm and exact in the discharge of his Executive: From the Richmond Enquirer of 1824. duties. They know every act of his Adminis- " !Ve cannot consent to lend a hand toward trationwas censured, and he himself, "Father of '^'« election of such a ?nan as Andrew Jackson." his Country " as he was, decried as a monarch " ^^ would deprecate his election as jl curse its, and denounced as guilty of inci\ism, and as "i""* our country. the patron of kingly forms and ceremonies. " "^"^ who, in any great crisis, tcould convert They know that J KFFEHsoN, the great Apostle of '^'« ^'''"'^e country into one great camp, mA. Democracy, was made the victim of innumerable would reduce almost everything under martial libels, and his measures ridiculed in the pasqui- "^'r, , . . , . , , ^ ,. . — - "Compare him with Adams and Crawford, nades of Bryant, the editor of the New York , , ■ r ■ , , Evening Post, now a prominent character in ^^''f J^oio inferior must he he : coalition against Gen. Taylor's Administration. ^^^ '^^'^ commend General They know that James Bdchanan, after charg- ing Madison with "involving the country in a disgraceful war, from which it was extricated Jackson's modes- ty in retiring from the Senate and the bench, where he discovered the superior qualijicationg of other people. Can we say as much for hia .^ r r\ " . J r modesty wheu he is now aspiring to the highest by a more disgraceful peace, was stopped for '^^^ -^ ^j^.^ ^^^jj^^^ ,„ ^ ^ ^ sheer want of time only, on a certain memorable . ^^, -^ ^^^ ^ .„^^ '^^ ^ statesman, too rash, too occasion Iroin recounting all « the other Wun- L,j,;,^^ ■„ ;,.^ ,^ / l^j^ .measures too much in- dcrs of that Democratic Administration. They Llined to arbitrary government, to obtain the kn iw too that Thomas Ritchie, once of the i„,mble support of the editor of this paper." Richmo.d En,uirer, now of the Washington .< jp7,„^ kind of a President would this great civilian make ? A gentleman who cannot in- terpret the plain expression of one law ; and yet would be called upon to administer all the laws of the land ! One whose ideas are so purely military, thai he would transmute a traitor into a spy, or would punish treason, not by the civil Union, vas foremost among those who let loose the viaU of wrath on Jackson, when, in obedi- ence to the voice of his countrymen, he first stood a candidate for the Presidency. They know that the same Ritchie, who derides Gen. T/iiLOH, a.s men of proper self-respect would scarce deride a clown, and daily charges him ; courts, but by a courtmartial." with surrendering his high trust to " an inee-' General Jackson's estimate of Thomas Ritchie ponsible cabal," scoffed at Gen. Jacrson terms no less vulgar, sneered at his qualifica tioiis for the Presidential office, and "deprecat- ed hs elect on us a curat upon our country."* Yes, the people know that Washington, the hero of the Uevolu ion — Jefferson, who draught- ed the Declaration of Independence — Madison, who carried the country safely and brilliantly " I have often heard him (Jackson) use these emphatic words: 'RITCHIE IS THE GREAT- EST SCOUNDREL IN AMERICA.' In another of these letters, Gen. Jackson ia stated to have said : " I see that I am attacked in Congress by Cooke, Whitman, and Williams, aided by thai infamous press, the Richmond En- quirer. If such n corrupt press as the Richmond throuj^ti the war of 18 12— and Jackson, who won , Enquirer were to approbate my conduct, I should for hiinKclf, in that war; the title of the "heroj think that in some unguarded moment I had of New (Jrleans," each and all of them committed Bome great moral impropriety." felt the sting of political viper«. They could | [Breckenridge's letter t, LIBRPRV OF CONGRESS 011 897 611 3 # LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 011 897 611 3 J