The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-28


assembling ef Congress, the opposition ele-
ments Of the two b uses to the administration
would speedily coalesce upon some general and
consistent programme in reference to the ap-
preaching Presidential campaign, has not been
realized. One-third of the session has passed
away, and these opposition materials concen-
trated from all quarters of the Union at Wash
ington. exhibit no symp oms of consolidation,
or system, or policy, in view of the great ma
tional contest of 1856.
A whole month has been frittered away in
scraps and fragments OF resolutions and speech
es upon the naturalization laws, Nebraska, free
soil, the laie elections, the Know Nothings, and
other extraneous issues, leaving the paramount
question of an incompetent, corrupt and imbe-
Gle administration almost entirely out ofview.
From all appearances, too, the adjournment of
Congress in March will leave the anti-adminis-
tration forces in state of confusion worse
confounded" than at present, without unity,
without system, without any thing approaching
q common plan OF action, and worst of all,
without any general leaders. The opposition
will thus be thrown back upon the country in
the condition Of disbanded army, capable of
forming, in the aggregate, an overwhelming
combination, but utterly useless when cut up
into factions, except for the petty local
skirmishes of guerilla warfare.
What then, are the prospects in relation to
the approaching Presidential contest? The
administration has been publicly condemned
Elected almost by reclamation, it has fallen, in
less than two years, into general conSempt
The popular majority throughout the country
against it to-day, is, we doubt nos greater
than that by which it was brought into power
1t began this Congress with heavy prepon-
derance in both houses; and, now, among the
same members the defections in the House
and in the Senate amount almost to an absolute
abandonment Of the Cabinet and its fallen for
tunes. And yet, Notwithstanding these Grip
ping facts, the administration, upon the basis
of the spols, still maintains the nucleus Of
national organization, recognized head, and
the outlines, ut least, of national programme
for the succession. It is still in the field, aud
will contest the field in 1885, upon the last re,
naming chance of slipping in through the d.
vided forces of the opposition. Consolidation
then, is the only safe policy of the opposition
forces: and history and experience here come
in for their instruction.
The first Congress of The administration OF
John Quincy Adams supported him aud his
general policy; but the second was intractable
and rapidly developed the formation of that
powerful opposition which was destined to
crush to atoms the President aud his party.
The popular sentiment Of the country, and the
public manifestations of opposition in Congress,
were far less marked and decided against Mr..
Adams than they are in the case of this adj
ministration; but under skilful management
they were sufficient to crush even Adams and
his comparatively spotless management OF the
government. The hostile coalition of that day
were fortunate in having an able leader TO
bring them into discipline and unity Of action
That leader was no less parsonage than Johu
c. Calhoun, whose timely suggestions We're
ably seconded by others in all parts OF the
Union.
Thus before the campaign of 1928 came on
the issue was substantially decided in the ho-
mogeneous organization of the jackson party
upon the common platform that the Adams
administration was failure that it had fallen
short of its promises and the just expectations
of the people; and that q new experiment was
demanded in view of the great objects of
sretrenchment and reform" Upon this com.
mon opposition platform Gen. Jackson was
triumphantly elected, and the :" extravagant
and reckless federal establishment of Joho
Quincy Adams" the whole expenses Of which,
foreign and domestic, amounted to thirteen
millions Of dollars year, was by an over
whelming popular and electoral majority set
aside.
There was no way in which fight could be
made against Adams except upon the great
principles of ''retrenchment aud REFORM Aad
if these doctrines were successful against an
annual expenditure Of thirteen millions, what
a whirlwind could be raised against Pierce
peace establishment of seventy-fve millions
year!
We have, however, more strikiog example
of the oppos. ton policy of combining to put
down an unsatisfactory administration, in the
terrible overthrow OF Martin Van Buren in
1910 In carrying out the financial policy OF
Gen. Jackson, resulting from the destruction
of the United States Bank aud its branches
throughout the country, Mr.. Van Barren preci-
plated upon us delnge Of bank rags and
shiDplasters. The credit system thus expand
ed into the gorgeous bubble of ls3i-'5-'6, AMI
next came the frightfal collapse OF 1857. Here,
too the first Congress of the administration in
question was with the administration; and here,
too, the second disclosed an intending pollti-
cal revolution. Deserters from rhe admins
tratop headed by such leaders as William q.
Rives, of Virginia. and Nathaniel ?. Tall
madge. Of New York cooperating with
the standing opposition party and their lead
ors, Henry Clay aud Daniel Webster, took the
field as a consolidated national party, on the
simple and commoo issue that ju tice to the
country and the people demanleA that the