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lating War, many thousands who had net, refused it as unequal to his deserts, hitherto 'gone with the party' were re- and ex-Gov. Wm. L. Marcy, notoriously pelled and alienated; and though with a adverse to Van Buren and Wright in the large proportion the ties of party were too internal politics of New-York, was called strong for the dictates of conscience, yet to the Cabinet, with the portfolio of Sectheir support of the Administration and its retary of War. It was understood that Heir became colder, more hesitating, less the Collectorship of New-York would be effective than it had been, while many bestowed as Messrs. Wright and Van openly and utterly renounced the whole Buren should prefer; but this expectation concern. When, on the meeting of the also was blasted; Mr. C. W. Lawrence, XXXth Congress in December, 1847, an a politician of the Croswell and Marcy Opposition majority in the House was school, being appointed instead of Mr. evinced by the choice of a Whig Speaker, Jona. I. Coddington. The alienation thus the discomfiture of the place-holders was originated was fed by a thousand followalmost ensured. We believe there has ing occurrences, until at length, in Novemnever been an instance under our Federal ber, 1846, Gov. Wright was signally deConstitution in which a President has feated in a canvass for reelection, and it been elected of adverse politics to those was asserted that the Administration had of the Speaker of the House last before connived at and promoted his discomfiture. chosen. Gov. Wright died a few months afterBut a concurring cause of weakness and ward, but the feud thus commenced was dissolution had already been developed in fought out over his grave. A State Conthe ranks of the professing Democracy of vention assembled at Syracuse early in the Empire State. Here, in 1843, the '47 to nominate 'Democratic candidates name of SILAS WRIGHT had been in- for State Officers; each wing made the volved in aid of the election of Polk, and most desperate exertions to secure he, an original and earnest opponent of majority of the Delegates, and there were the Tyler Treaty for the Annexation of several contests for seats, the settlement Texas, had been run as Governor, in order of which would determine the character to reconcile many Democratic opponents of the Convention. Superior management of Annexation to the support of Polk and and tact were clearly on the side of the the party. The plan succeeded but too Croswell or Conservative faction, now well well. Mr. Polk carried the State by 5,106 known by the appellation of 'Hunkers ;' votes, and was thereby elected, while while the more Radical or Wright and Mr. Wright ran far ahead of him for Van Buren faction were equally well Governor, receiving 10,030 majority. Al-known as Barnburners,' (in allusion to though this disparity evinced in the clear- an anti-Radical story of a thick-skulled est manner the immense service which Dutchman who had burnt his barn to clear Mr. Wright had done the party in con-it of rats and mice.) The Hunkers' carsenting to run on the ticket, yet there ried most of the contested seats, and prowere not wanting sycophants and adven- ceeded to nominate a State Ticket enturers to poison the ears of the Presi-tirely of their own faith, substituting dent elect and his coterie with tales of Orville Hungerford for A. C. Flagg as the treachery of Gov. Wright's especial Controller. In the election which followfriends, who (they asserted) had placed him ed, the leading and more ardent Barnat the head of the poll at the expense of burners' refused to support the ticket so other candidates on the ticket, and even formed, leaving the Whigs to sweep the plotted to defeat the Electoral Ticket! State by an average majority of over Mr. Polk, a weak man, was like all weak Thirty Thousand. [See Returns in last men, jealous of superiority and uneasy year's Almanac.] under a sense of obligation: every intima

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But the Hunkers, though beaten, claimtion that Mr. Wright had elected him was ed to have got possession of the party an agony. A misunderstanding followed, machinery; appointed a new State Cenas was natural. It is currently understood tral Committee, and in due time called that the President elect felt constrained another State Convention at Albany, to offer a choice of places in his Cabinet to Gov. Wright, who declined it in view of his obligation to the People of New-York, but asked that Azariah C. Flagg should be made Secretary of the Treasury instead. This, if not absolutely promised, was virtually assured; but Mr. R. J. Walker, to whom the Attorney-Generalship had been assigned in the original cast of the Cabi

which framed an Electoral Ticket and chose the State Delegates to Baltimore.-Meantime the Barnburners had themselves called a State Convention at Utica, the call being made by a majority of the Democratic' Members of the Legisla ture, and as such held to be regular and according to the usages of the party.'-This Convention chose a full Delegation

to the National Convention at Baltimore, | Chief Magistracy, while his signal and while the Hunkers chose Representative long-continued labors for the Whig cause Delegates by Congressional District Con- were deemed fairly to entitle him to this ventions. When the Baltimore Conven- recognition of his worth. Another class tion assembled, (May 1, 1848,) each side perceived in the brilliant achievements, was fully and ably represented, and their the blameless life and the sound principles conflicting claims were urged with ability of Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT, the Conqueror and desperate earnestness, first before a of Mexico, the elements of unquestionable large Committee, then in full Convention. and merited success, and rigorously urged It was finally decided that neither should his nomination. JOHN MCLEAN and be admitted to cast the vote of New-York THOMAS CORWIN of Ohio had each of them in the ballotings for President and Vice- advocates for the Presidency, but they had President. The Convention then proceed- withdrawn their names from the canvass. ed to its work, and on the fourth ballot And finally, a large majority of the prominominated Gen. LEWIS CASS of Michigan nent politicians of the party, especially for President, and Gen. WILLIAM O. BUT throughout the South and West, and inLER of Kentucky was afterward nominat- cluding most of the Whig Members of ed for Vice-President. The Hunkers' Congress, discerned in the character and promptly and heartily concurred in these life of Gen. ZACHARY TAYLOR the ele nominations; but the Barnburners,' to ments of apopularity which nothing could whom Gen. Cass was especially obnox-withstand, and deemed his nomination ious, utterly repudiated them, and prompt- equivalent to an election. It is not alone ly called a State Convention, which as-or mainly, they urged, that he has been sembled at Utica, (May 22d,) and nominat- uniformly successful in the field, winning ed MARTIN VAN BUREN for President, and decisive victories over armies numbering HENRY DODGE (ex-Governor, and now treble and quadruple his own, but that he U. S. Senator,) of Wisconsin, for Vice- has uniformly shown himself so wise, so President. Gov. Dodge declined the nom- simple, so modest, so scrupulous in his ination and adhered to Gen. Cass; but obedience to the civil power, that we urge Mr. Van Buren, though accepting with his nomination, and pledge to it the sup unfeigned reluctance, resolved to abide port of a large majority of the People. the issue. Several gentlemen from other These considerations prevailed with the States participated in the doings at Utica, Convention. Gen. TAYLOR was nominated but New-York alone was regularly and for President on the fourth ballot, the votes fully represented. The New-York Dele- running as follows: gates were therefore empowered to attend and take part in a more general Convention called upon farther notice to meet at Buffalo in August, and which did meet accordingly.

1st ballot. 2d.
Zachary Taylor.......111
Henry Clay........... 97
winfield Scott........ 43
Daniel Webster...
John M. Clayton..

Total....

* Withdrawn before.

uents.

3d.

4th.

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118

133

171

86

74

32

49

54

22

22

17

4

2

0

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MILLARD FILLMORE of New-York was on the second ballot nominated for VicePresident by a decided majority.

Meantime, (June 1, 1848,) a Whig Na-*John McLean..... tional Convention assembled at Philadelphia, every State in the Union being represented; Texas, which alone had no In point of fact, this nomination had Delegates present, having instructed Loui- been settled from the beginning. Many siana to vote for her. Hon. JOHN M. Delegates who voted for other candidates MOREHEAD, Ex-Governor of North Caro- at first were known to be really in favor lina, was chosen President. An excited of Gen. Taylor, and only voting for others struggle for the Presidential nomination in deference to the opinions of their constithad long been anticipated. A large majority of the Whig voters, in the opinion of this writer, ardently desired and confidently expected the nomination of their old and dearly loved standard-bearer, The opposition to Gen. Taylor in the HENRY CLAY, believing that the People Whig ranks had been in no considerable were now ready to do justice to his emi-degree personal. The merits claimed for nent statesmanship, abilities, devoted him by his friends were very generally patriotism, and unsurpassed public ser- conceded. But it was objected to him that vices. A less numerous but most respect- his Military achievements formed, after able body, especially in New-England, all, the basis of his aspiration to the Presibut by no means confined to that section, dency, since without these his personal regarded the transcendent abilities and merits and virtues would never have made world-wide fame of DANIEL WEBSTER as him a formidable candidate-and to elevaeminently calculated to shed lustre on the [tion to high civil trusts on the strength of

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lating War, many thousands who had net, refused it as unequal to his deserts, hitherto 'gone with the party' were re- and ex-Gov. Wm. L. Marcy, notoriously pelled and alienated; and though with a adverse to Van Buren and Wright in the large proportion the ties of party were too internal politics of New-York, was called strong for the dictates of conscience, yet to the Cabinet, with the portfolio of Sectheir support of the Administration and its retary of War. It was understood that Heir became colder, more hesitating, less the Collectorship of New-York would be effective than it had been, while many bestowed as Messrs. Wright and Van openly and utterly renounced the whole Buren should prefer; but this expectation concern. When, on the meeting of the also was blasted; Mr. C. W. Lawrence, XXXth Congress in December, 1847, an a politician of the Croswell and Marcy Opposition majority in the House was school, being appointed instead of Mr. evinced by the choice of a Whig Speaker, Jona. I. Coddington. The alienation thus the discomfiture of the place-holders was originated was fed by a thousand followalmost ensured. We believe there has ing occurrences, until at length, in Novemnever been an instance under our Federal ber, 1846, Gov. Wright was signally deConstitution in which a President has feated in a canvass for reelection, and it been elected of adverse politics to those was asserted that the Administration had of the Speaker of the House last before connived at and promoted his discomfiture. chosen. Gov. Wright died a few months afterBut a concurring cause of weakness and ward, but the feud thus commenced was dissolution had already been developed in fought out over his grave. A State Conthe ranks of the professing Democracy of vention assembled at Syracuse early in the Empire State. Here, in 1843, the '47 to nominate 'Democratic candidates name of SILAS WRIGHT had been in- for State Officers; each wing made the volved in aid of the election of Polk, and most desperate exertions to secure he, an original and earnest opponent of majority of the Delegates, and there were the Tyler Treaty for the Annexation of several contests for seats, the settlement Texas, had been run as Governor, in order of which would determine the character to reconcile many Democratic opponents of the Convention. Superior management of Annexation to the support of Polk and and tact were clearly on the side of the the party. The plan succeeded but too Croswell or Conservative faction, now well well. Mr. Polk carried the State by 5,106 known by the appellation of 'Hunkers ;' votes, and was thereby elected, while while the more Radical or Wright and Mr. Wright ran far ahead of him for Van Buren faction were equally well Governor, receiving 10,030 majority. Al-known as Barnburners,' (in allusion to though this disparity evinced in the clear- an anti-Radical story of a thick-skulled est manner the immense service which Dutchman who had burnt his barn to clear Mr. Wright had done the party in con-it of rats and mice.) The Hunkers' carsenting to run on the ticket, yet there ried most of the contested seats, and prowere not wanting sycophants and adven-ceeded to nominate a State Ticket enturers to poison the ears of the Presi- tirely of their own faith, substituting dent elect and his coterie with tales of Orville Hungerford for A. C. Flagg as the treachery of Gov. Wright's especial Controller. In the election which followfriends, who (they asserted) had placed him ed, the leading and more ardent Barnat the head of the poll at the expense of burners' refused to support the ticket so other candidates on the ticket, and even formed, leaving the Whigs to sweep the plotted to defeat the Electoral Ticket! State by an average majority of over Mr. Polk, a weak man, was like all weak Thirty Thousand. [See Returns in last men, jealous of superiority and uneasy year's Almanac.] under a sense of obligation: every intima- But the Hunkers, though beaten, claimtion that Mr. Wright had elected him was ed to have got possession of the party an agony. A misunderstanding followed, machinery; appointed a new State Cenas was natural. It is currently understood tral Committee, and in due time called that the President elect felt constrained another State Convention at Albany, to offer a choice of places in his Cabinet to Gov. Wright, who declined it in view of his obligation to the People of New-York, but asked that Azariali C. Flagg should be made Secretary of the Treasury instead. This, if not absolutely promised, was virtually assured; but Mr. R. J. Walker, to whom the Attorney-Generalship had been assigned in the original cast of the Cabi

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which framed an Electoral Ticket and chose the State Delegates to Baltimore.-Meantime the Barnburners had themselves called a State Convention at Utica, the call being made by a majority of the Democratic' Members of the Legisla ture, and as such held to be regular and according to the usages of the party.'-This Convention chose a full Delegation

to the National Convention at Baltimore, | Chief Magistracy, while his signal and while the Hunkers chose Representative long-continued labors for the Whig cause Delegates by Congressional District Con- were deemed fairly to entitle him to this ventions. When the Baltimore Conven- recognition of his worth. Another class tion assembled, (May 1, 1848,) each side perceived in the brilliant achievements, was fully and ably represented, and their the blameless life and the sound principles conflicting claims were urged with ability of Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT, the Conqueror and desperate earnestness, first before a of Mexico, the elements of unquestionable large Committee, then in full Convention. and merited success, and rigorously urged It was finally decided that neither should his nomination. JOHN MCLEAN and be admitted to cast the vote of New-York THOMAS CORWIN of Ohio had each of them in the ballotings for President and Vice- advocates for the Presidency, but they had President. The Convention then proceed-withdrawn their names from the canvass. ed to its work, and on the fourth ballot And finally, a large majority of the prominominated Gen. LEWIS CASS of Michigan nent politicians of the party, especially for President, and Gen. WILLIAM O. BUT- throughout the South and West, and inLER of Kentucky was afterward nominat-cluding most of the Whig Members of ed for Vice-President. The Hunkers' Congress, discerned in the character and promptly and heartily concurred in these life of Gen. ZACHARY TAYLOR the elenominations; but the Barnburners,' to ments of a popularity which nothing could whom Gen. Cass was especially obnox-withstand, and deemed his nomination ious, utterly repudiated them, and prompt- equivalent to an election. It is not alone ly called a State Convention, which as- or mainly, they urged, that he has been sembled at Utica, (May 22d,) and nominat- uniformly successful in the field, winning ed MARTIN VAN BUREN for President, and decisive victories over armies numbering HENRY DODGE (ex-Governor, and now treble and quadruple his own, but that he U. S. Senator,) of Wisconsin, for Vice- has uniformly shown himself so wise, so President. Gov. Dodge declined the nom-simple, so modest, so scrupulous in his ination and adhered to Gen. Cass; but obedience to the civil power, that we urge Mr. Van Buren, though accepting with his nomination, and pledge to it the supunfeigned reluctance, resolved to abide port of a large majority of the People. the issue. Several gentlemen from other These considerations prevailed with the States participated in the doings at Utica, Convention. Gen. TAYLOR was nominated but New-York alone was regularly and for President on the fourth ballot, the votes fully represented. The New-York Dele- running as follows: gates were therefore empowered to attend and take part in a more general Convention called upon farther notice to meet at Buffalo in August, and which did meet accordingly.

Zachary Taylor.....
Henry Clay...
Winfield Scott.......
Daniel Webster...
John M. Clayton......
*John McLean...

Total...

* Withdrawn before.

1st ballot. 2d.
.111

3d.

4th.

118

133

171

97

86

74

32

43

49

54

63

22

22

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Meantime, (June 1, 1848,) a Whig National Convention assembled at Philadelphia, every State in the Union being represented; Texas, which alone had no In point of fact, this nomination had Delegates present, having instructed Loui- been settled from the beginning. Many siana to vote for her. Hon. JOHN M. Delegates who voted for other candidates MOREHEAD, Ex-Governor of North Caro- at first were known to be really in favor lina, was chosen President. An excited of Gen. Taylor, and only voting for others struggle for the Presidential nomination in deference to the opinions of their constithad long been anticipated. A large ma-uents.

jority of the Whig voters, in the opinion MILLARD FILLMORE of New-York was of this writer, ardently desired and confi- on the second ballot nominated for Vicedently expected the nomination of their President by a decided majority. old and dearly loved standard-bearer, The opposition to Gen. Taylor in the HENRY CLAY, believing that the People Whig ranks had been in no considerable were now ready to do justice to his emi- degree personal. The merits claimed for nent statesmanship, abilities, devoted him by his friends were very generally patriotism, and unsurpassed public ser- conceded. But it was objected to him that vices. A less numerous but most respect- his Military achievements formed, after able body, especially in New-England, all, the basis of his aspiration to the Presibut by no means confined to that section, dency, since without these his personal regarded the transcendent abilities and merits and virtues would never have made world-wide fame of DANIEL WEBSTER as him a formidable candidate-and to elevaeminently calculated to shed lustre on the [tion to high civil trusts on the strength of

had been lost.

brilliant Military achievements the Whig into such Territory from whom labor or service party had ever been strongly opposed. States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed is lawfully claimed in any one of the United It was farther urged that his opinions on and conveyed out of said Territory to the person the great leading principles of National claiming his or her labor or service." Policy had never been clearly enunciated, This Proviso was adopted with little or his qualifications for the highest civil discussion (but not without evoking much station conclusively demonstrated; and especially that on the great absorbing Members from the Free States supportfeeling) by the House, nearly all the question respecting the admission of Humau Slavery into or its exclusion from the ing, while those from the Slave States opThe bill thus amended was Territories of the Union just acquired from posed it. sent to the Senate, and was promptly Mexico, his opinions were not known to met by Mr. D. H. Lewis, of Alabama, with accord with those of that great majority of the Whig party which stood firm for a motion to strike out the Proviso. Mr. Freedom, but were with reason suspected Davis of Mass. rose in opposition to this and even confidently claimed to incline when word was brought that the House motion, and was speaking against it the other way. The objections thus raised had adjourned without day-the hour of were strengthened by the refusal of the Convention to pass a resolution affirming the House clock, though not yet reached adjournment (noon) having been struck by the principle of the Wilmot Proviso, or by the Senate's. The bill thus failed for even to put forth any formal declaration of the session, and among the most vociferfundamental Whig principles at all. On these grounds, many Whigs felt constrain-ous mourners over its loss was Gen. Lewis ed for months after the nomination to Cass, a Senator from Michigan, who deepwithhold their support. But by letters that so fair an opportunity to establish the ly regretted, in repeated conversations, subsequently written by Gen. Taylor the doubts of his fidelity to Whig princi- principle of Freedom in the Territories ples and the apprehensions that he would, veto any bill which Congress might pass of the bill, and of course of the Proviso; embodying the principle of Freedom in both of which again passed the House, the Territories, were pretty generally disbut the latter was now defeated in the pelled, and a very general concurrence Senate-Gen. Cass now ranging himself of the party in his support ultimately se- with its opponents, but in his speech We return to the dissenters at Balti- avowing his concurrence in the principle more from the Cass and Butler nomination. of the Proviso, while he regarded the atIn the progress of the Wright and Cros-tempt to establish it as untimely and inwell controversy in this State, a difference auspicious. But soon after the next Congress assembled (Dec. 28, 1847,) the same of opinion on a great National question Gen. Cass addressed an elaborate letter had been gradually developed. When, to Mr. A. O. P. Nicholson of Tenn., avowafter the victories on the Rio Grande and the simultaneous declaration of Waring that a change had taken place in his against Mexico, it became evident that views, and that he was now opposed to an acquisition of Territory would be among the results of that War, the disposition and future institutions of that Territory become objects of general concern. Just as the XXIXth Congress was closing its first or long session, Mr. David Wilmot, a Representative from Penn-original grounds of opposition to it. doubtless exerted an influence also in sylvania, after a hasty consultation with winning Southern support to Gen. Cass, several of his Northern Democratic' and thus securing his nomination for Presfriends, moved to add to a bill before the House, designed to give the President control of Three Millions of Dollars where

cured.

with to make Peace, a Proviso in the words following:

The next Session witnessed a revival

the Proviso altogether, as at best of doubtful constitutionality and at once perilous and useless. This letter was widely cir culated, and was doubtless effectual in securing the defeat of the Proviso when the close of the War had removed most of the

ident.

It

Long ere this, however, the Proviso or Free Soil question had become a potent element in the feud which divided the party in New-York. The Wright or Radi"And be it further enacted, That there shall be cal wing had never cordially approved neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any Territory on the continent of America which shall the policy of Annexation, though they had hereafter be acquired by or annexed to the United acquiesced in it under the stringency of States by virtue of this appropriation, or in any other manner whatsoever, except for crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted: Provided, always, That any persoa compin

a party necessity, giving pledges to their followers that the acquisition of Texas should not be permitted to operate as an

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