of Texas, and now
represented the pro-slavery and the anti-slavery wing of the
Democratic party. The National Convention sought in vain to bridge
the difficulty by admitting both delegations, giving to them united
the right to cast the vote of the State. But the Barnburners
declined thus to compromise a principle. On a question of bread,
the half-loaf is preferable to starvation, but when political honor
and deep personal feeling are involved, so material an adjustment
is not practicable. The Barnburners retired from the convention,
disclaimed all responsibility for its conclusions, and proceeded
in due time to organize against the ticket of Cass and Butler.
The Hunkers, left in the convention as the sole representatives of
the New-York Democracy, were startled at the situation and declined
to vote. They were anxious that the nomination of Cass should not
appear to be forced on the Barnburners by the rival faction. It
thus happened that New York, which for twenty years under the
skillful leadership of Mr. Van Buren had dictated the course of
the Democracy, was now so shorn of influence through the factions
engendered by his defeat, that a Presidential nomination was made,
not only without her lead, but without her aid or participation.

CASS BOLTED BY VAN BUREN'S FRIENDS.

The Democratic candidate was a man of high character. He had served
creditably in the early part of the war of 1812, had been governor
of Michigan Territory from 1813 to 1831, had been five years
Secretary of War under General Jackson, and had gone to France as
minister in 1836. He remained at the court of Louis Philippe,
where he received eminent consideration, for six years. When he
returned to this country in 1842, at sixty years of age, he
undoubtedly intended to re-enter political life. He landed at
Boston, and was received with enthusiasm by the New-England Democrats,
especially of that class who had not been in special favor during
the long rule of Jackson and his successor. Popular ovations were
arranged for him as he journeyed westward, and, by the time he
reached his home in Detroit, General Cass was publicly recognized
as a candidate for the Presidency. These facts did not escape the
jealous and watchful eye of Mr. Van Buren. He was aggrieved by
the course of General Cass, feeling assured that its direct effect
would be to injure himself, and not to promote the political fortunes
of t