The New York herald., 1850-11-16
The Political Bovoiution In the United
states and Its Effects.
fFrem the London Chronicle, Oct. 20

fFrem the London Chronicle, oct. 20
The electoral tnumphs which, as our American
despatch informs us, have been achieved by the
democrats party in the great States Of Ohio and
Pennsylvania, and which will conclusyely deter
mine the political compe xion OF the Congress about
10 meet at Washington in the latter moaths of this
year, demand some ltlle attention, both on account
of the causes which procuoed them, and Of the eff
iects with which they are pregnant. IL is now
about two years since the expansion OF the slave
controversy to a new aud portentous bulk began TO
eace the characteristics Of faction, aud TO disturb
the relations OF public men; and, from the COM
mencement of the fierce discussions which II pro-
voked 10 the period Of the recent contest, scarcely
a single election occurred whch could be regarded
as bearing upon any point except the claim OF the
North against the South, or as influencing a sim
gle question beside the great ono Immediately be-
fore the country The apparent result of the change
which seemed TO be developing itself was is well
known, reversal of the former position of the two
great parties The wings got the better Of the de-
mocrats-although the successive victories in
Mexico had appeared TO be many points won by
the latter-snd a whig President was nominated.
The democrats of the North (party-dyisions In the
South had nearly dsappeared) were, in truth, much
more divided by the new disputes than their rival,
through the very fact of their long and almost un-
interrupted predominence at Washington. One
.ection-in some respects the more reputable OF
The two-decLned 20 sunder the ties Of common
interest and ancien. alliance which rivcued il to
the slave proprietary; while another, with truer
perception of the antipathics and tendencies which
must eventually determine the tcnets Of popular
party in the United States, proposed TO break az
once with the dealers in hHmsn flesh, and appe aled
10 the deep democratic feeling Of the North to vim
dicate the rights of man, which territorial oil
rarchy had too long been permitted TO Outrage,
The wings, substantially excluded from Slice
during the period of five presidrnces, had all the
motives to union, and all the facilities for coalition,
which oppositions of long standing are accustomed
TO enjoy Quite as seriously divided on the subject
of the Wilmot proyiso as the democrats, they
found II much more easy 10 unite, for purposes ol
faction, on the basis Of certain resolutions which
aisgut ed iradictions in indefinite
phrases, and they managed TO present a front al
least specifically unbTohen to PAIR OK hosnle De
tachments, operating without common leaders OF
common understanding. They continued stronger
than their antagonists, long as political echism'
were subordinate TO sectional differences, but al
ne present moment, except where the Fuglnye
Slave act PRODUCES topical irritation, the predom
nant sentiment through the States is rathar alarm
at the danger which the Union has incurred, thar
any particular form OF opinion respecting the term:
or the merits OF MIR. Clays settlement. Under III
influence, the democrats have contrived to put ou
of sight the differences which are symbolized BY
the uncouth designations bunker and barnburner
and, in their own phrase, they "have gone unde
the same platform for the same ticket" Tht
wings, on the contrary, have not surmounted the
.palpabe difficulty OF compromising between tn,
creed of the eloquent Secretary Of State, who will
sacrifice everything to the Union, and the opinions
OF their non-official exponent, Mr.. Seward, WHIT
still declares that the Union without the Whine
proyso is a compact Of iniquity. The result ha.
been their complete defeat
The occasions are not frequent when English
men have an interest at stake, deeper than casu
al predection, in the result OF an American elec
lion, or when they are able to recognise mor'
important distinction between the combaiants thar
the difference between cheering for Webster an,
hurraing for Cass. In this instance, however, th'
question to be settled was, whether America shoul'
steadily follow the mother country in the path o
coumercal reform,'or retrograde a step or two TO
wards more iiberaf tariff. Towards the end o
The session which has lately closed, number o