Cincinnati, July 26, 1849.
My Dear Sir — The Free
democracy of Ohio naturally regard with a good deal of solicitude the movement
now made in New York with a view to Union between the Free democracy and
supporters of General Cass: and as one of their number I have thought it best
to state frankly to you the light in which the matter appears to me, and to ask
in return an equally frank expression of your own thoughts upon it. Union
between the different sections of the Democratic party is undoubtedly much to
be desired: but it must be a union upon principle. The Buffalo Convention
promulgated a Platform of Democratic Doctrines & Measures which
those who composed that body pledged themselves in the most solemn manner to
maintain and defend, until victory should crown the efforts of the free
Democracy. That platform we adopted, as the National Platform of Freedom in
opposition to the sectional Platform of Slavery. I have never met a Democrat of
the Free States who did not admit that every resolution adopted by the
Convention embodied sound democratic opinion. The resolution least likely to
meet such general approval was that in relation to the Tariff and this
resolution, as you are well aware, was the least palatable to me. Still it is
unquestionable that this resolution expresses quite as distinctly the doctrine
of a Tariff for Revenue, in contradistinction from a tariff for Protection, as
the resolutions generally adopted on that subject in Democratic Conventions.
The Buffalo Platform then is the Democratic Platform on which we are pledged to
stand, at least until in National Convention the Free Democracy shall see fit
to modify it, in harmony with the progress of Opinion. I see that the
Pennsylvanian suggests as the basis of Union in New York general forgiveness on
the part of the Cass Democrats to the Barnburners for the crime of supporting
Martin Van Buren, and, in consideration thereof, the abandonment on the part of
the Barnburners of the Buffalo Platform. I have no fear that any terms so
degrading will be acceeded to by the generous spirits with whom you & I
fought last year the most important political battle which this country has
ever witnessed. But I have feared that a desire for union and the hope of a
speedy triumph over their ancient antagonists the Whigs might lead them to take
somewhat lower grounds on the subject of slavery than was taken at Buffalo. I
should regard this as a deplorable mistake, to say no worse. I do not think
that the Democracy could be reunited by such a step. You would leave out of the
party formed by such a compromise, the entire body of the old liberty men and
nearly all the Progressive Whigs who united with us last fall mainly on the
Anti Slavery grounds: but those principles and views on political questions
generally are so little whiggish, in the conservative sense of that term, that
we may fairly assert them to be as Democratic in the main as our own. Besides
this loss of numerical force, there would be the loss, still more to be
deprecated, of moral power. The surrender or modification of Anti Slavery
principle for the sake of Hunker affiliation and support would provoke and
justify the contemptuous sarcasm of the entire Whig press, giving it a vantage
of attack, which it would be prompt to avail itself of: Under these
circumstances where would the Democracy be in future struggles, in nearly every
one of the Free States? Borne down, I think, by a tide of opinion setting
against it as untrue to its own principles & retrograded from its own
position, much better it seems to me, will it be for the Free Democracy to
maintain its own organization firmly and resolutely, and trust for growth for
individual accessions and the junctions of small bodies in counties and towns,
than to form any union upon the ground of compromised principle. There is no
occasion for haste. The campaign of 1852 will not be opened for more than a
year. The Free Democracy is daily gaining strength. The people approve our
views and measures. The Old hunkers cannot go into the Battle of '52, without
uniting with us on our own platform, except to meet inevitable and disastrous
defeat. Not many of them have any such love for the maxims of Hunkerism as will
make them covet political martyrdom. They must therefore advance to our
platform however reluctantly or gradually. Better wait for them where we are
than in our haste to rush to their embraces, leave our principles behind us.
I was much pleased
by the remarks of John Van Buren at Cleveland.1 He took the true
ground “No more Slave States: No Slave Territory No encouragement But rather
discouragement of Slavery by the General Government, and no support of any
candidate for the Presidency who is not with us upon the platform” of course I
don't give his language, but his views only. The last is the test clause. There
are enough who will shout forth the three first propositions: but shrink from
their practical application by the fourth, and agreement in the application
must necessarily be the only secure basis of Union: for no other union will
stand the trial of a nomination for the Presidency if that nomination would
fall on a candidate of proslavery or doubtful principles. I hope that John Van
Buren's sentiments truly reflect the opinions of the Free Democracy of New
York. If they do whatever may become of the proposed union between the Free
Democrats and hunkers in your state, the union of the Free Democracy of the
union — far more important to the country and the cause of human freedom &
Progress in general — is safe and its ultimate triumph as certain as the truth
of its glorious principles. I enclose to you a communication to the Toledo
Republican written, I suppose, by Mr. Hamlin the President of our Board
of Public Works, which will still further shew you the views which prevail
among us — I shall be glad to hear from you as soon as your leisure will permit
and meanwhile remain
_______________
* From letter-book
6, pp. 113 and 194-195. Benjamin Franklin Butler, 1795-1858; Attorney General
of the United States 1833-1838; Acting Secretary of War October, 1836-March,
1837. Mr. Butler had presented Van Buren's name at the Buffalo convention in
1848.
1 Probably at the Northwest Ordinance
Convention, July 12. Cf. T. C.Smith Liberty and Free Soil Parties, 177.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 180-2
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