The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-06

Question.
Our State election comes off to-ds.J. Between the |
contendng parties and the inex plcabe local and |
national issues mixed up IN the Contest the general
result rendered extremely predetermined. From |
the sudden disat1ecuon among some Of the demo- |
cratic leaders il the city, and the apparently united
front of the wings, it is considered probable, by
many that the latter party will succeed in the elec-
lions in this city Over the State at large, the two
factions of the democracy seem to have come to-
gether more cordially but here the original
party landmarks are destroyed by the overriding
question of free soil; and the perpexltes 1t has in
troduced into the democratic family, render their
success matter Of uncertainty.
The doings of the cabinet at Washington-their
prescriptions of the ofice-holders and farming out
of The spoils the shares, a dozen families OF
old broken down gamblers in the trade of polucs-
the Notifying feebleness sickly bravado Of the
Secretary of State, in his bungling and stumbling
attempts to manage our foreign relations-have,
in the elections Of all the other States, since
March last, exerted controlling influence.
Ard the result has been uniformly the same.
From Maine to Georgia, from Pennsy lvana to
Indiana, the weak cabinet, and its weaker po-
licy-wicked and pernlcious at home, feeble and
Illuminating abroad-have been uniformly
demned. And if The merits Of the election In this
State rested exclusively upon the dement's Of the
cabinet, the result would unquestionably be the
same; for the cabinet has not escaped The
sure of the leading wing organs of the State, and
the honest working men Of the party have cause
tor sympathy with its abominable huckstering out
of the public Offices.
But these things are superseded IN this election,
by local and national issues, of more immediate
or far greater ultimate importance.
! Free soIl-the antl-slayery movements the
! hinge upon which the election turns. The coai-
ton Of the hunkers and Landowners, upoa ar
mistce, suspendng the agitation of the question in
their ranks, bu, leaving every candidate aad voter
! untouched in his individual opinions, leaves the
wings IN a minority, according 10 the result OF 4S,
provided the full strength OF the two democratic
factions is brought into the field The bare proba-
bility Of this result has been sufficient to stimulate
The wings TO outbid their Opponents for the extreme
free sol and abolition vote. Opposed to them Is the
half-aDd-hal ticket OF the democrats, giving TO
John Van Buren and his faction for their support,
one half the profits of success and tacry consent
ing to the anti-slavery doctrines of the Buffalo
platform. Such coalition requires the most
ultra ground on the slavery question to catch the
balance Of power IN the ultra free soil and abolition
votes. The wings have not hesitated to take this
position; for it is suspected that they have
connived at, If they did not instieate the recent
meetings of our colored voters, in opposition to
the Tammany Hall ratification.
What, then, is the conclusion? The anti
slavery movement is the ruling element in this
election. For all practical purposes, hereafter Ia
Congrs Sc, it is immaterial which party is success
full In any case, an overwhelming majority Of
A. -.
or who is defeated, the New York delegation to
the next Congress goes bound, hand and foot, IN
opposition 10 any compromise in any form or sh ape,
with the South upon the question Of slavery in the
territories. Nor is this all They go fully com-
miiied to prosecute the hazardous experiment oil
abolshing slavery in the District of Columbia.
The South are fully alive to this state OF things
The ani-slavery campaign Of Mr.. Benton, in Mis-
souri,, has only concentrated all the elements Of
free soil in the North, but it has united the South,
and exasperated them to the most desperate reso-
luuons. The New York election, whatever the re-
suit, can only add fuel TO the fire. That Mr.. Ben
ton will be crushed IN Missouri there is scarcely
! a shadow % doubt; that in less than six months
he will hardly dare To venture south of Washing
tom Is not at all improbable; for il is to be expected
that he will carry his Missouri doctrines into the
Senate, and push them, reckless OF results, to the
worst exiremiues. ON the question OF New Mexi-
CO. in opposition TO Mr.. Calhoun, he Is just in the
temper for crisis.
California may settle for herself the question of
slavcry but there is a double difficulty to be set
tied for the territory Of New MrNco-First, the
claim of Texas 10 the territory, which involves the
question OF slavery secondly, the naked ques-
ton of the provso, IL the claim is rejected Ia the
clam of Texas is rejected, then comes the attempt
TO idsien the proyso upon New Mexico in term
tonal government, she wants government, and
is not qualified to IN a State, like Califor-
MA. supposing il TO be possible that both these
difficulties may be adjusted by a compromise, or
that the South will assent To the rejection OF the
claim of Texas and the application Of the provso
to New Mexico, will the free soiers be satisfied !
Not at all. They will next attack the District OF
Columbia, and never rest until sllyery or the ca
piol 10 removed.
The politicians OF the South, headed by Mr. CAL
houn. will resist these encroachmenis; and the late
Mississippi convention gives fair expression of
their opinions. 1t as reported that there Sena-
tors from several OF the Southern States, VIII, will
come TO the next Congress authorized and ready,
on the passage Of the WllinCt proyIso Tor CditOr-
/ MIA or New Mexico as n law Ut the land, to de-
clare the States which they represent to be out OF
the Unon, and dissolved from all allegiance 10 the
federal government; and that they ready for the
came alternative ia the event at law aboilshing
slavery va the District oi Columbia.
That these questions wall be discussed NJ the
next session is inevitable. They clearly
within the field OF debate There Is every reason
To- presume that she House will reject the claim OF
Terss, and Apply the NIlmot provIso to New
Mexico. There "a reason to tear that the position
and vote Of Mr., Benton will driye it through the
Senate; and the pledges OF General Taylor com
init him against the veto power. The next step
OF the South ~ submission or disunlon. From
the convention originating the constitution, this
question OF slavery has, ike poisonous mildew,
blghied the success and harmony OF the Union.
On every succeeding occasion In Congress IN
which II has been at issue, IL has weakened the
bonds the Union ulorr ard more. Inc recent aud
increasing agitation. North and south, discloses
a. the symptoms OF a rev Oh Benton, Van Burea,
Seward, free Isoil, and abolition, have wIdened
tn breach, till nothing now but the utmost pr1-