The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-29
Weed az n New Psrty-Its Primo fples-The
Union and the Richmond En- ausrer.


Need o. a New Party Its rI,nc' pies-rhe
Union and the Richmond En- qusrer.
The Cabinet is alarmed. TIE Richmond
Junta l. alarmed. Alarm has penetrated the
souls Of the spoiismen. and IA the agony Of
their terror they have even forgotten TO abuse
the personal character of their antagonists
One small sneer at the friends Of the compro-
mise is the only proof We have that the Wash
ington Unsoa dces not intend, in this its hour
OF trouble, 20 depart from the tactics it pursued
in the day Gifts might. Let that pass. In the
reflections suggested by the articles we else
where republish from that paper and the Rich
moDd Enquirer such trites may be safely
overlooked 1t is now certain that light is
bursting upon the administration. They see at
last that the bolt, which short while since
was mere local squabble," has now assumed
the aspect of an incipient revolution. Their
tone in speaking of it is no longer contemptu-
ous or Indifferent; it varies from bitter denun-
citation to deprecatory entreaty. In one phrase
the detection is "atrocious," Outrageous" in
another the nationals are implored not to
PROSTATE the administration Throughout
their manitestoes the conviction that the or
ganization of the national party can no longer
be regarded as an ephemeral accident is plainly
apparent. A right view of things as they are
isthe next thing to strenuous effort to make
them what they ought to be; and we confess
that we rejoice to see the scales falling from
the eyes of our contemporaries, and some APP
proach towards the truth looming up 10 their
tone 1t enables us to meet them fairly face
, to face, and to place before the country one
plain, straight forward, honest issue.
That issue is this Shall the fundamental
doctrine Of the political party to which the
direction Of our public affairs is entruste be
adherence to the constitution with its COM
promises or shall it be something else! We
say that no party ought to hold power OF pub
lie confidence, except one based on the consti-
tuition with its compromises; and we assal the
Cabinet because it is not based on this founda-
ton. The Union and the Enquirer scoif and
sheer at the idea of a party based on the COM
promise, and call upon the people to support a
Cabinet which is based on democratic princi-
pies" Democratic principles are the some
thing else which our contemporaries submit
should, in lieu of the constitution with its COM
promises form the basis of the ruling party in
this country. 1t thus becomes of vital impor-
lance in this debate to decide what are demo-
cratic principles and what are the !" COM
promises of the constitution
We therefore ask. with all the earnestness
which the subject demands, what are de
mocratic principles" in the present day. We
know what they are not. We know that they
have no reference to United States Bank.
which has long been dead and buried that
they do not bear on the tariff for protection is
in its grave, and all enlightened men arc free
traders, SO far as free trade is compatible with
the safety of the revenue; that they do not
hinge on questions of internal improvements,
for no material difference Of opinion exists on
that head among politicians +; that they do not
in short, include one principle that was re-
garded as peculiarly and essentially democratic
in Jackson's time. All the old democratic prin-
ciples are obsolete, unnecessary and forgotten.
They have no more to do with present matters
and present contests than the principles OF the
old Roundheads and Cavaliers. What, then. has
been set up in their place! The old ones dead
and buried, what are the new democratic prnci-
pies on which the Union and the Enquirer insist
that a party should be anchored The avowcd
policy of the Cabinet, whose organs they are.
enphatically replies The only living demo-
cratic principle Of the present day is the divi-
sion Of the spoils Marcy proclaimed it twenty
years ago. when he announced to shocked
audience that in his view the sole aim and OBJ
no RI
lie plumber; and he has lived to be himself the
instrument Of carrying out his theory TO the
fullest and most disgraceiul extent An I'M
wavering belief in the cohesive power Of the
public plumber is the only cardinal point in his
creed The duty Of distributing the spols of
Office among election mongers and canvass
agents is now the only active principle that re-
mains TO the old democratic party 1t is on
this basis, and on this only, that the Union and
the Enquirer would have the ruling party in
the United States constructed.
We hold, on the contrary, that the govern
ment Of this country should be in the hands Of
party whose cornerstone is faithful adherence
to some great national principle Of universal
scope and abiding force. We see but one pin
ciple Of that nature that can DO evolved from
political contests. That principle is: the pre-
seryation, at all hazards, of perfect equili-
brium between the two great sections Of this
country, and the union Of free and slave labor,
each in the quarter for which il is best suited
by nature on such conditions as will involve
injury to neither. We regard the maintenance
Of this principle as absolutely indispensable to
the due progress and prosperity Of the republic;
and we therefore demand that our rulers
should, without exception, be chosen from
among those who not only acknowledge its
binding influence, but who are solemnly pledged
to make it the basis and main guiding rule Of
their policy.
The Cabinet wastes time in quibbling about
there being no necessity for q party on the