737517 U.S.5119.8 1859. Apr. 30. Gift of Hon. John of Dix, ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, BY W. C. BRYANT & CO., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York. PREFATORY NOTE. It is the aim of the following pages to show that two moral questions of great and vital importance are connected with this Presidential contest. With respect to these, a solemn duty is imposed upon every voter. To neglect or evade it would be a criminal abuse of a most sacred right. To shed light upon this duty four classes of facts are presented. The duty is rather suggested than argued, as an obligation, which, from the nature of these facts, inevitably follows. The old party issues are for the most part settled. A new one has arisen, appealing to new and higher motives than the old. It takes direct hold on the purity, if not the very existence, of our civil and religious freedom as a nation; it infinitely transcends them all. In the light then, first, of the late events in Europe, which have so deeply stirred our national sympathy; secondly, of the peculiar facts of our position as a model republic to all nations; thirdly, of the solemn and heartstirring facts connected with the legislation of the fathers and founders of this republic; and fourthly, of the bold and open fraud, the violent assumptions, connected with the late party contests of our country-in the converging and focal light of all these events, our imperative duty is suggested. In the latter class of facts will be found an account of the late division in the Democratic party of this State, the origin of the terms by which the two parties are designated, and an authentic history of the five conventions by which the great Free Soil party of the North has been brought into existence. Several important papers and speeches have been omitted, because of the extent of space they would occupy. Among these are the very able address of the Democratic members of the Legislature, and a clear and searching speech of B. F. Butler, Esq., of N. Y., exposing the Compromise Bill of Mr. Clayton—the speech of an able and faithful officer of the Government, who knew his duty and feared not to do it—of one who could receive with entire calmness the shock of executive vengeance in his removal from office, as a grateful reward for his eminent talents and influence in elevating that Executive to the high office he now enjoys. State organizations have been formed in all of the free, and in some of the slave states; and over nearly all the Union, free soil associations and the most enthusiastic meetings have extended. Even a brief outline of these would swell the work to an undue size. For this reason, the frank and highly honorable letter of the Hon. John P. Hale, withdrawing his name as the candidate of the Liberty Party, and supporting Van Buren and Adams, has been omitted. The brief history of this question in the 29th Congress, also, is covered but in part by the speech of the Hon. David Wilmot, at Herkimer.-New York, though not the first, was in the van of this great movement. Her able Senator, John A. Dix, in a most powerful free soil speech in the Senate, in March, 1847, on the “ Three Million Bill,” nearly two years ago, closed with these emphatic words :— “But I say for her, (New-York,) and in her name, and I believe I do not misunderstand her resolutions, that she can never consent to become a party to the extension of slavery to free territory on this continent." Many of the documents contained in these pages are among the ablest political papers which have come before the country since the formation of this government. They disclose the honesty, firmness and intelligence of those who have enlisted under the Free Soil banner, and that with the names of Van Buren and ADAMS inscribed on its ample folds, they are determined never to yield the contest till the victory is won. NEW-YORK, Oct. 2, 1848. Errata, p. 96. For CHARLES F. ADAMS. read HENRY DODGE. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The years 1846-7 and '8 memorable-events in this country-treaties of government since '46-their result. Revolutions in Europe-their extent and causesreform in the British Parliament-the three leading questions :-corn laws, poor law, and a system of national education-decisive result in reference to corn laws-remote effect on the cause of freedom-moral effect of the Irish famine 7-10 Italy-events which subjected her to Austria-her position-area-population and associations-condition prior to the ascension of Pope Pius IX.-Pius IX.-his previous life-his reforms-the jealousy and encroachments of Austria-their effect on national spirit in Italy-outbreaks-the Pope yields the civil power-its effect on Church and State-the army-offensive and defensive league-her present relation to Austria-intervention of higher powers 10-13 France-its extent-climate and associations-her constitutions since Louis XVI.Guizot and Louis Philip-charter of 1830-the policy of Guizot-harmony with Louis Philip-attached to the doctrinaire party-attempt to prove the King's right of suceession-his practice and theory-his influence in carrying the three laws of 1835-the nature of these laws-condition of things at the opening of the last Parliament-the prohibition of political banquets—the result-the nature and prospects of the new republic 13-16 Revolution in Denmark-in Walachia-in Germany-its progress and result in Germany-the nature of the new German confederacy-Arch Duke John-the result of these revolutions-tendency in regard to civilization-new empires-boundaries of nations-new Sclavonian empire 16-17 Two propositions in regard to the duty of America in the general cause of freedomher parent stock-her example-her debt of civilization-our federative system— ancient systems;-Grecian-Italian of middle ages-modern European-their nature and defects the nature and superiority of ours-opinion of the elder Adamsour responsibility and duty-the trial of our fidelity-decision at the ballot boxextension and restriction of slavery-view and design of our fathers in regard to slavery-our treatment-the nature of the question-two great moral points in the crisis-two classes of facts-their nature 17-21 CHAPTER II. The position of our fathers in regard to slavery and its extension-the character of the early emigrants-compact of the Plymouth colony in 1620-spirit of the compactby whom inherited-the patriots of that day-the conduct of British Parliament through a century and a half-its acts-the first Congress of America in 1774— who composed this body-their compact of non-importation and non-consumption— its bearing on slavery-the declaration of independence-by whom drawn-charge against the King of Great Britain-bearing of declaration on slavery-eight years' war-treaty of peace-the men of the Congress of 1774-debt of the countrycondition of its finances-Congress recommend a cession of territory-object-compliance by Virginia-conditions-who executes the deed-government requiredJefferson drafts an ordinance-prohibition of slavery after 1800-the yeas and nays on this clause--who supported it. The Congress of 1787-committee which framed the ordinance of 1787-unanimous passage-its provisions-the yeas and nays— states absent-who of this Congress were acting in the Convention to frame a Constition-all sanctioned the ordinance-Convention to frame the Constitution-character of this body-who were in it-the method of procedure-committee of detail—the draft-how discussed-4th section 7th article protected slavery-motions to amend it-slavery finally prohibited and taxed-first Congress under the Constitution sanctions the ordinance of 1787-how many members of the Convention approved it in different forms of official action-further sanction on the admission of States into the Union-the love of justice in our forefathers—their aim in regard to slavery-simplicity and modesty of Washington-his sense of justice-his address to Congress on assuming the command of the army-his opinion of slavery-the question of abolition waived-a higher issue-the concession of our fathers-their aim 21-37 Manhood of America compared with its infancy-John C. Calhoun-his influence over the South-his policy-his character-his position dangerous to freedom-the Spartans, his model-his demand of the North-his policy while Secretary of State -his letter to Mr. King, Minister to France-extract-the ground of his demand now-war with Mexico-concession of the North, how required-opinion of an able writer of the moral aspect of Mr. Calhoun's position-extract-position of General Cass-his Nicholson letter-extracts the reasoning of that letter-its object-degeneracy of statesmen-importance of the issue-uprising of the peopleposition of Calhoun and Cass accounted for-the result-the three classes of facts presented-our duty-how viewed CHAPTER III. 37-45 Origin of the terms Hunker and Barnburner-causes of the late division in the partyposition of Silas Wright, A. C. Flagg and others the election of James K. Polk, how secured-plot of Mr. Wright's enemies-Mr. Polk's administration-its ingratitude to New York-the course of the Hunker party-determination-fraudulent action of Syracuse Convention-opinion of the press-Herkimer Mass Convention -address by John Van Buren-resolutions-speeches of David Wilmot and John Van Buren 45-72 CHAPTER IV. Call for Utica Convention of February, 48, to nominate delegates-usages of the partyhistory of the doings of the Syracuse Convention-origin of the Hunker and Barnburner delegation-Utica Convention of February, '48-able address by John Van Buren-resolutions-extract from speech of Geo. Rathbun on Gen. Cass 72-96 CHAPTER V. Baltimore Convention-conspiracy defeated-both sets of delegates admitted-vote of New-York annulled-Barnburners retire-address to their constituents-convention called to nominate for the Presidency-Convention at Utica, June, '48-Martin Van Buren nominated by acclamation-his able letter-General Jackson's view of his defeat in 1844-resolutions-address by Mr. Butler 96-137 CHAPTER VI. Buffalo Convention-calls which led to it. First day:-Organization-sublime, spectacle-speeches-appointment of committee on resolutions of four hundred and sixty-six conferees to select candidates. Second day :-speeches-report of Platform -speeches report of conferees, of Martin Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams, as candidates-account of meeting of conferees-speeches-letter of Mr. Van Buren read-adjournment and procession formed-letter of the committee to Van Burenhis frank and able reply-reply of Charles Francis Adams 137-150 History of free soil question, during the last or 30th Congress character of speeches by Senator Dix-speech of Senator Dix on the Oregon bill-synopsis of his speeeh on the Compromise bill-speech of Mr. Webster on the Compromise bill-the two moral questions--connection with the issue-results to which they tend-the three Presidential candidates-true position of Cass-position of Taylor-position and character of Van Buren 151-176 |