The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-23
From the ,he,p York Herald

The LATE ELECTIoNs-THE BREAKING up
! 1920 AND lS50-THE New REyoLuTIoN.-We are
on the verge Of new revolution. Old parties are
breaking up, and old party platforms are crashing
and tumblns to pieces i'll every direction. Upon
| the slavery issues, the accumulations Of thirty
years, we have had the agitation, the discussion,
the adjustment, as in 1920, but not the revolution
| 1t has to come, Is coming, and has already COM
menced. The causes have been similar the re-
suits will be the same, only more extended, more
striking, more complete and conclusive.
The late elections mark, significantly enough,
the beginning Of the dissolution, not of the Union,
but of the old WORKOUT Wing and Democratic
parties. The Compromise measures of the last
session are doing thelr work in the most imposing
and decisive manner. A superficial poitci n
would conclude that Free-so is becoming the su-
preme power in the North. The Free-sol and
antl-slavery elements have, indeed, controlled the
late elections, against the late Compromises, and
to the practical setting aside of all the eminent
statesmen concerned. Mr.. Webster has been cast
overheard in observation-disclosures Cass has
been virtually condemned in Michgan-Mr Dick
| inson, the President and his cabinet, have been
routed in New York-Mr. Phelps has been super
seeded in Vermon-while in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa,
and Wisconsin, the Free-soilers have carried off
the booty. From the Atlantic to the Mississippi,
with the exceptions of New Jersey and Pennsy-
wanna, there appears to have been sweeping and
DISASTROUS reaction Of all the combined elements
Of Free-so, abolition, and notification, destruc.
tive alike to the prospects of the Administration,
Webster, Cass, and all concerned; and, upon
superficial view, ominous Of the disruption of the
Union.
At the same time we find in the South that the
| Compromise measures have been met with the
most deadly opposition While the patriotic con-
servative course of Gen. Foote, in the Senate, has
been rewarded with the strongest denunciations at
home, and by hanging in etigy, the mass meet
ings in favor Of secession, Southern rights asso-
Citations, calls Of conventions and extra legislative
sessions, render it forcbly evident that the slavery
adjustment is just as rapidly breaking up the old
political parties in the South as in the North
The predictions of Mr.. Clay that the Compromise
bills would speedily conciate all parties, and re-
store the era of good feeling, were exactly the.
reverse of the actual consequences. They
disracting and breaking up both the great parties
| of the country, reminding the agitation in both
sections-and Strengthening the agtators North
and South, by recruits from both parties Now
for the application. What is to follow
In all these movements and results, we see a
wonderful resemblance, and we may draw close
parallel to the events of the Missouri agitation
the Compromise Of 1920, and its consequences.
Then, as now, Mr.. Clay predicted the restoration
of peace and harmony. We secured them, and
shall again secure them; but now, as in 1920, we
must first have the inevitable revolution. In the
Missouri Compromise, patriotic men Of both |
parties and both sections combined. The dispute
was settled; but in the political revulsion which
followed, all the leading Compromise men, ex-
cepting Mr.. Clay, North and South, were utterly
sacrificed. Mr.. Hale repeatedly, at the last SEES
sion, reminded Mr.. Clay, and the Committee of
Thirteen, that they would soon be turned over
among the burnt offerings Of the Missouri Co II
promise. The prediction is already fulfilled but
in every battle, the bruvest among the killed
and wounded, and the leaders of n forlorn hope
are generally left In the entertainments. The
Compromise of 1920, and the adjustment Of 1885,
each had their fororn hope, and the leaders in
both cases among the killed aud wounded.
But the parallel does not end here. In 1924
four years after the Missouri Compromise there
a scrub for the Presidency. The Com
promise had worked on political revolution--od
parties and old platforms were scattered to the
winds National conventions were out of the
question. Four candidates were put in the field
Jackson, Adams, Crawford, and Clay: The cleo
ton was thrown into the House--Mr. Adams
was chosen-and from that point we date the pre-
sent Wing and Democratic parties.
| The Compromise of 1850 is running into the
same channel. Involving the same principles, it
| must lead to the same result. The only difference
is, that the beginning of the new political cycle
! covers broader surface, involves larger ques-
| tons, greater interests-is more complex, more
intense, more excited, more momentous, better I'M
| derstood, and will be more conclusive than the
transition of 1920. The late elections in the North
ana the agltations in the South, show that the
old Wing and Democratic platforms are broken to
pleces-that the statesmen of the late adjustment
are among the killed and wounded-that CLAW, and
| Lass, ana webster, ana Fillmore, and Foote, and
King, and Mangum, and Dickinson, and Cobb.
have no chance at all upon the Compromises
North or South and that a new state of things
and new set OF politicians are about to succeed
What is it? Who arc they We shall see in good
season.
A scrub race for 1852, we hold to be absolutely
certain and indispensable. Feeble and decrepid,
broken up and dslointed as they are, the old Wing
and Democratic societies may attempt TO maintain
a footing against the swelling tide OF revolution.
But what are their chances The Northern Free
soil interest will have a candidate the Southern
| rights men will have candidate and if the old
| Wings and Democrats each have candidate, we
shall have the same number as in 1924, and the
election will go to the House. With such dvi
sion of parties, Gen. Scott night possibly secure
New Jersey, and Gen. 'Cass might get the vote of
Pennsylvania but neither could possibly be elect
ed by the people. Sectional candidates will out
run them, North and South. Nashville and Buff
! faio wi! finish platforms to overwhelm Baltimore
and Philadelphia
What, then, Of the final result We count upon
scrub race between four, FIVE, or half a dozen
candidates, and that the election will be thrown
inf ha hot, IT.