The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-21

tons OF the West Indies. All these matters may
be conjecture but there can be no conjecture,
and no doubt, and no hesitation, the present
momentous crisis which this question has assum-
ed in the country, and The responsibility of which
the committee in the Senate have endeavored TO
throw on The Judges of the Supreme Court, instead
of manully and boldly deciding on the matter
themselves.
This question is only In its inception. II will
agitate the whole country, and may change the
face OF the political factions and parties, TO much
greater extent than any can now tell.
PARTIES HEREABoUTs AND THERE ABoUrs-The
Presidential parties, In these attitudes, are in a
curious and amusing condition. All is apathy, all
is vapidness-all is ''fat, stale and Improbable"
The wings, democrats, and barnburners, seem TO
be all equally affected with the dry rot. In this
state Of general torpidIty, some calling out tor
new OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for more newspapers,
and others again for Rough and Ready clubs. But
the people are as deaf as adders-they won't listen
TO the chamers; charm they ever so sweetly. No
CAM aign papers are read, and emu, and lstless-
ness are the order of the day. An attempt is occa
sionaly made by the various nests of corruption,
posts and Places to excite an agitation in this ge
neral lull PARTIES but their efforts hitherto have
been unavailing. The people are as still and mo-
tonless the great, the vast, the boundless, the
beautiful, sometimes blackguarG, oce an in dead
calm; and all the efforts and noise of the corrupt
cliques. and clubs and coterles, insufficient, to
produce even ripple on the vast surface.
Let us come to more detailed examination Of
this state OF things Not long ago, there was
meeting of the independent Taylor men at Baltl-
more. Because the old chap had accepted the
nomination of the whig convention, as he had of
every other nominations, from every other party,
for the last year, they agreed with tears in their
eyes, to break up and abandon him. Poor devils
they ought to have dispersed long ago. They were
nothing but little nest of office seekers and
place hunters; and finding that General Taylor ac-
copied the nomination of the wing convention,
they were completely dIspirited by the dmness
of their prospects. General Taylor, however, ac-
ceped all nominations; and he was perfectly right.
But these little ciques and corrupt partzans which
infest all our large cities, New York included,
have received heavy blow and great discourage
ment, in consequence Of the apathy of the people,
and the total absence of any manifestation of
strong political excitement. Even the ratification
meetings which have been held by all parties, and
got up with great effort, considerable expense and
several kegs of cheap whiskcy, have been produc-
tive of very little effect. The only indication of
vitality they give to the public, is an occasional
fracas at Tammany Hall, Lafayette Hall. or some
other rendezvous of the old parties.
The exhibitions at Tammany Hall, last week,
We're exceedingly interesting and amusing almost
as much as shilling farce at NIitchell's dirty
theatre, but hardly coming up in responsibility to
the performances at the Chatham. Terrible has
been the contest among the sachems and conscript
(drunken) fathers of Tammany Hall, for ascen-
dency in the Republican Committee. The General
Committee is divided into two distinct parties
hunkers and burners-the former being in the as
cendant in the Committee, but the latter having
the majority IN the Custom House and The kitchens
Ct the party in Wall street. The hunkers have
succeeded, after some struggling, In dislodging
Maclay, neck and heels; and having done their
wolk, they are now crying to Mr.. Polk for beef
and grog for what they have done; but the barn
burners have too keen asrelish for the good things
down town, to crafty numbering longings by any
Here is the great point at issue.
This is the bone OF contention, which has raised
the snarls throughout the whole party from the Col
lecor and Capt. Rynders, at the top OF the list down
TO Mr.. Butler, Mr. Purdy, and Mike Hoffman,
who bring up the rear. Both parties
laying siege TO Polk with an assduity that
would make them their fortunes in any other
but in the present one, only serves
10 make them ridiculous. But poor Polk wants
The courage to meet the This Is the real Sc
cret of the catastrophe that has lately befallen
Tammany Hall. All, however, is yet in the wind
Mr.. Polk won't act; many of his office holders are
opposed to Cass, under the impression that If Tay-
Tor carries the day, they will in such an event
stand better chance of securing their present po-
slnons hereafter.
The wings, too, have had troubles In their COM
mltees; but having spois to fight about, and no
kitchens to smell, they have exhibited more of SEN
timent and less of appetite. Dudley Selden, n. b.
Bunt and a whole troop, utterly opposed to
Taylor, and in open hostility TO the party But the
great mass of the wing party won't move at the die
taton Of the iques and just as quiet and silent,
looking on at their manGuvrings, as the mass of
the democratic party towards those cligues and
coteries.
In short, we have never seen in the last thirty
years, such singular Presidential election as the
present. The organization OF every party is break
ing to pieces, like old machinery used up The
attempts TO produce new organizations by estab-
fishing new ciiques, starting additional campaign
papers, and raising new clubs, meet with the same
perfect Indifference from the great body of the peo-
pie. In this general state OF apathy and disorgan.
izanon, il is difficult to tell whose chances are the
best; but we believe that the 9Th of November
will find General Taylor the rghtfu proprietor of
the White House Tor four years If it should not,
we shall not break our heart with disappoint-
ment, nor do we think will he either We'll both
take il easily.