The New York herald., 1851-08-04
Telegraphic Summary.


past night from New Orleans, bearing date July 81
and August l, (rather stale for the teegraph) the
steamship Alabama had arrived from Vera Cruz
ringing intelligence of another destructive fire in
San Francisco. The news probably came overland
from Mazatlan or Acapulco, via the city OF
Mexico to Vera Cruz. The fire in San Francisco is
reported to have extended over ten squares of the
city, and is said to involve aggregate loss of
three millions of property Several lives, lit ap-
pears, we're also sacrificed; but the most ominous
feature Of the intelligence is that the conaagraton
was the work of incendiares. If this be so, life
and property in San Francisco truly in most
precarious and lamentable state of insecurity
The facts, however, may possibly be exaggerated.
We wait for further intelligence by one of the
steamers nearly due at this port
Later advices had been received at New Orleans
from the island OF Cuba. The revolutionary move
nent is reported to be extending, and that Trim
idad and Villa de Clara had declared for the nsur
gents We expect more direct and copious infor
nation to- day.
State Elections To-day-Position OF Parties
signs OF the Times.
On this day, elections will be held in the States
Of Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas,
Alabama, and Texas; and on Thursday, in North
Carolina, and Tennessee. We give in another
column a table of the candidates Of the several
parties in the field, for the various Offices for which
elections are to be made in the States that elect
to-day.
Beginning with Kentucky, we find that the elec-
tion involves the choice of Governor State officers
members of the Legislature, and ten representa-
tives to Congress Cassius NJ. Clay is here in the
field as the independent emancipation candidate for
Governor and it is apprehended, by the wings, that
me may draw of some five or six thousand votes
from their regular no ninee. Although the contest
is mainly conducted upon old political issues, in
It's general aspect, il Of disaec lions in the
whig ranks, which may result in important ad-
vantages to their adversaries. AS he withdraws
from the political arena, the great name of Henry
Clay, not only in Kentucky, but elsewhere, every
where, to rally the party to the rescue, and
no sufficient substitute has been yet discovered to
maintain the ancient unity, harmony and enthu-
siasm in the ranks. In Kentucky, however, the
wings, in good faith, and without equivocations
stand upon the platform ofhe compromises, and thus
far have the benefit Of the popularity of Henry
Clay. But their local and petty divisions threaten
10 interfere with their success.
Next comes the State Of Indiana Here ten mem.
bers Of Congress to be elected chiefly upon the
old party landmarks, far as they remain to dis
tinguish party from the other. The mere
name Of whig or democrat, however, in States,
Jet to be sufficient, at this important crisis
with the spos Of $50 900 600 year in the prospec-
tive, for the ralying Of the together under
their respective party banners AS general rule, in
deed principles have become secondary to the pols
At the last Congressional election in Indiana, the
result stood eight democrats, one whig, and one
free soiler. The wings may gain a member or two
In this election bat we presume the sority OF
the deleg cation will be democrats which, in the ever
of the election Of President by the House, secures
the vote Of the State to the democratic candidate
In Iewa and Missouri the ele ctions are mere
ly of local character. In Missouri the contest
Is rendered little pungent from the continued
hostilities between the hards" and 'softs," the
Benton and anti Benton fa,tions OF the democracy;
division exactly corresponding with the late dis
tressing split between the barnburners and old
hunkers in this State. The Missourians, no doubt,
like their New York oonfr1cs, will, after a year
or two Of losses Of the spoils agree to rally to.
gether again upon the seven indestructible prin-
ciples Of John Randolph, to wit the "fve loaves
and two fishes" Meantime Col Benton will, no
doubt, fn1 sufficient employment 10 the con2ils
ton and collocation Of bis inside history Of the
statesmanship, poiti,s, and political intrgues Of
the United states for the last thirty years.
But it is in crossing over into the great cotton
producing section Of tie Union, that we approach
the most important feld Of the politics Of the day.
From North Carolina, VESTS ward 70 Arklnsas, and
southwark to the Gulf, and particularly ia the
States Of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mis-.
sissppi, and Arksnsas cotton is the great staple Of
commerce and Of politics; and il is here that the in
stitution Of slavery, lying at the very basis Of
society, is paramount in political Affairs. Here It
Is that we find the Union Itself esteemed A. only Of
secondary Importance to the preservation intact Of
this domestic institution-hero the late compro-
mise measures have scattered the old Ehiy and
democratic parties and platforms TO the winds
and here we end, on this vital question Of savery
two new parties organized out Of the fragments Of
the old ones-the Union party and the Southern
rights party. Nor is IL TO be disguised that he
great Issue between those parties is the continuance
Of The Union or the dissolution Of the Union, and
the formation Of an independent Southern conede-
rscy. The actual issues now pending in the
cotton States may bo mere abstraetions; but they
are abstraciions which il successful nay result ia
speedy action, disruption. and ondlsss dsasters.
The elections In the cotton States therefore ehal
leugo our attention, az Of the hirhet inheritance
TO the country, and Of the restoration of that peace
and harmony 50 indispensaby essential to the prs.
servation Of the Union
Yet we have omiDous signs Of impending mistor.
tunes to the Union party in the South Between
Abe two other candidates for Governor in Arkansas
the chances are at least equal for johnson, the no
minee Of the ultra Southern rights, or secession /
party. In Alabama, whore a Governor is to be /
elected and seven members Of Congress the South. |
srn rights party appear 10 be confident Of success
and are canvassng the State with great spirit ami |
energy But although the spirit Of dissatisfaction |
w1tA the compromise measures runs high in thi