The Free Soilers of New York.

Dear Sir:—It is well to notice the course of the leading Free Soilers of New York, to see not only what they have done, but what they intend to do with their followers. Among them, none are more conspicuous in this State, than Henry B. StantonStanton, Henry Brewster

Born in Griswold, Connecticut, Henry Brewster Stanton (1805–87) is probably best remembered as the husband of woman suffrage advocate Elizabeth Cady Stanton. He became an abolitionist while a student at Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati and was among the fifty “Lane Rebels” who withdrew in 1834 when the school prohibited their antislavery efforts. After his resignation from Lane, Stanton joined James G. Birney on a lecture tour in the Northeast. He became active in the American Anti-Slavery Society and, by 1837, served on its executive committee. Between 1837 and 1840, Stanton increasingly challenged the Garrisonian doctrine of “nonresistance,” insisting that abolitionists had a moral duty to use political means to achieve antislavery reforms. Unlike many of his New Organization colleagues, Stanton endorsed women abolitionists’ right to hold office, lecture, and participate fully in the antislavery movement. A prolific writer, Stanton published articles in abolitionist journals, political and religious papers, and Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune. After the Civil War, he contributed regularly to the New York Sun. Politically active, Stanton supported at various times the Liberty, Free Soil, Republican, and Democratic parties. Henry B. Stanton, Random Recollections (Johnstown, N.Y., 1885), 26, 34, 52; Aileen S. Kraditor, Means and Ends in American Abolitionism: Garrison and His Critics on Strategy and Tactics (New York, 1967), 68, 120–24; Sorin, New York Abolitionists, 63–67; Sewell, Ballots for Freedom, 156–59; NCAB, 2:331; DAB, 17:524–25. and John Van BurenVan Buren, John

. It was all important that they, and such as they, should attend the Democratic ratification meeting in New York, to express for themselves, and of course for their followers, an attachment to the Baltimore nomination, and the platform of principles the Convention established.

The course of Mr. Stanton, in this regard is more noticeable by liberty men, from the fact, that he was an abolitionist, and a distinguished member of the Liberty Party.—He pledged himself to the support of the Pierce ticket in fervid terms. He took no exception to Pierce or Butler, or the platform on which they are nominated. In regard to the effect of the nomination, he was highly enthusiastic and loudly cheered. He said, "it would break down the middle wall of partition which had divided the Democracy of this State
." As much as to say the Barnburners and Democrats could now amalgamate on the Baltimore platform.

John Van Buren was never a member of the Liberty Party, but by many has been taken to be an abolitionist, and suspected of having a strong inclination in the direction of the Liberty Party. Mr. Van Buren seemed to feel that he could not use strong language enough to express his determination to abide with the Democratic Party thereafter. He pledges more extravagant.—He said "hereafter he should only inquire of a candidate whether he was a Whig or a Democrat." The following is a brief extract from his speech on that occasion from the Evening Post:

"Such a ticket I can cheerfully support.—I congratulate you that it has been presented; and I can do more—I can stand upon the platform laid down at Baltimore. (Cheers.) The State of New York can stand upon that platform, (renewed cheers,) and I do not stop to cavil, or inquire by what vote it was adopted, under what circumstances presented, or what authenticity is due to the proceedings by which it has been made public. I shall approve of such a platform for this election, and can cheerfully and unreservedly stand upon it. (Cheers.)

I shall not detain you by calling your attention to the various provisions of that platform; but it is due to you and to me that I should advert briefly to that which has been the cause of difference between us. You understand me as alluding to the subject of slavery, to the resolution passed upon that subject by that Convention; and I acquiesce in the various measures passed by Congress upon the subject of slavery, INCLUDING THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW."

Many honest Liberty Party men followed Mr. Stanton and Van Buren in '48. Will they follow them now, and mount the Baltimore platform of '52? I think not. They will return to the Liberty Party, with an unutterable disgust and contempt for men who have thus misled them, and who are thus treacherous to humanity.

John ThomasThomas, John

John Thomas (1814–92), an abolitionist and newspaper editor from Syracuse, New York, merged his Liberty Party Paper with Douglass’s North Star in June 1851. Thomas’s paper, which he published in Syracuse from 1849 to 1851, was rapidly failing despite the financial backing of Gerrit Smith. The new paper created from the merger was Frederick Douglass’ Paper, the name indicating which editor would be in control of the venture. Thomas agreed to accept a subordinate position as assistant editor and remained in Syracuse to conduct those duties. Thomas later became widely known for his participation in the Jerry Rescue, the rescue of the fugitive slave William “Jerry” McHenry in Syracuse on 1 October 1851. NS, 12 June 1851; Detroit Plaindealer, 15 April 1892; Harlow, Gerrit Smith, 187–88, 380. .

Syracuse, June 14, 1852.