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Buffalo Convention--john P. Hale

Buffalo Convention--john P. Hale image
Parent Issue
Day
7
Month
July
Year
1848
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In our last we gave from the Daily Chrenotype, the resull of the Convention of that branch of the Liberty party which met at Buffalo, June 14 and nominated Gerritt Smith for the Presidency, which our compositor, thro mistake, styled the Liberty League. They may think this is the best course to advance the great cause of freedom and human rights. Under our government every man should have the privilege to think and act for himself, provided his acts do not interfere with the just rights of his fellow man. That the Convention at Buffalo had a right to meet, and make a nomination, no one wíl] question ; but whether it will advance the cau6e of Liberty, is a matter worthy of consideration. To bring too many ultra questions before the public at this time, we think will have a tendency to retard rather than advance the great cause. The Liberty party, under whatever name, have these first great objects in view : The extermination of Slavery and the slave power, and to secure to every man his inalienable rights. On these great questions rest the best interests of our country. These achieved, the victory is won. Let us contend for and decide the one great issue, that is now before the people, then all other questions that may interest or advance the prosperity of our Republic, will take their proper place, and the great principie of reform will be carried on according to the spirit of our institutions. If we cannot be united, let us at least avoid any collision that will give advantage to our enemiea. We have a high respect for G. Smith, for his benevolent and manly course in the great cause of freedom, but rejjret this diversity of sentiment with regard to a Liberty candidate for the Presidency We are bound to support John P. Hale; not merely because he is the choice of the great Liberty party ; but we support him in the fullest conviction of his fidehty to its principies, and his unquestionable ability and courage to carry them into efFeet. We think the severe criticisms in the Buffalo Convention, on the course of J. P. Hale, was ungenerous and uncalled for, as his remark to Butler of S. Carolina, was toughing the privileges conceded to each sovereign State to make its own laws, over which the General Government sliould have no control, when not conflicting with the laws and constitution of the United States. As to the other assertion in the Convention, that he in any of his speeches denies the right of the slave to escape from his master, we have yet to learn, or that he has at any time conceded one point of Anti-Slavery principie to his opponents. We differ decidedly from our friend of the Chronotype in his opinión of J. P. Hale, that he is a "fraciional unfinished man.'" If he is a fraction, whero is the whole man ? Where, in the history of our National Legislature, d0 we find one who has more fearlessly performedhis dufy 1 A youtig man, thrown in the raidst of one of the most august assemblies in the world, surrounded by some of the most experienced statesmen of our country, who have watched every motion and remark with critical discrimination, yet regardless of their sentiments he planted lis standard upon the true principies of Demscracy, unfurled the flag of freedom and right, and maintained his position against opposition which would have disheartened any man, who had not a firm, equally ballanced mind. He has fought bravely for liberty, and as the conflict thickened he gathered strength for the onset ; unmoved as the " granite hills of his own native State," he do alt out truths, withering truths, tliat could not be misunderstood ; regardless alike of thedenunciations and clamorous threats of the South, in their claims for oppression.or the pusillammous silonce of the North, who by their indifFurenre havo bartered the privileges of frecmn, bv by tatneW submitting to the encroachments oi Southern despotism. Gloriously he contended for the privileges of freemen, separate and alono ; his name stands in bo'd relief on the Journald of the Senate, as a memento of hia firmness in the advocacy of these measures which will soon be sustained by the independent suffrages of the people of these United States.