The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-20

exist in the minds Of unbiased nen as to their
character and complexion. With one or two
exceptions, they were all fragrant attempts to
rob the country. Whether the attempt was
made in the shape Of an application to renew
the monopoly of millionaire, or in that Of Q
bill to relieve the distress of an opulent resident
of Fifth avenue, or as modest request for mil
lions of acres of wild lands to aid spectators
in issuing moonshine railway stock, the aim of
the applicant was the same, and the results to
the country and the treasury would have been
precisely alike. No reasonable man could fail
to see that, if o firm resistance were not made
by the people, the enormous sum OF five hum
dred millions of dollars, part in money, part in
land, part in lucrative rights, would be absorb
ed and carried off by the politicians and their
friends before the close of the session. In view
Of this mopstrous swindle. all minor questions,
one would have imagined, would have been laid
aside for the moment The most cursory glance
at the state of parties seemed clearly to indi-
cate that this was the question on which the
debris Of the wing party, and the malcontents
among the democrats would unite for the pur
pose of opposing the administration. Firmly
combined on a platform opposed to the spoils
and plumber systems at Washington, it was rea-
sonable to suppose that they would have run
the Cabinet hard, and would have paved the
way for vigorous if not triumphant cam
paign in 1856.
This was what most men expected few
weeks ago. They have been disappointed
The platform on which an attempt is being
made to organize an opposition to the govern
ment is merely the old ground of the Wilmot
proviso comprehensive venerable platform
of the Hartford Convention of 1sl4-a platform
which has been roughly put together at every
political contest for the last forty years and
has never yet assembled around it respecta-
bic minority of voters. The "outs ameng the
politicians have disregarded the practical sub
stantial question Of the plumber at Washington,
to buckle to an abstraction, relying solely on
the prejudiccs of portion of the North for its
strength. The debris of the wing party, with
Edward Everett at its head, have never said
word Of the corruption prevailing at the capital.
They are silent while FIVE hundred millions are
being distracted from the pockets Of the people,
and have no thought for any thing but Nebraska.
Had they appealed to us as advocates Of politi
cal integrity-had they come forward boldly
to deny the right of Congress to vote away
millions of acres of land for railroad projects,
and millions Of dollars in the perpetuation of
monopolies- had they unfinchingly exposed
the reeking corruption of the administration
and their followers-and held out, by implica-
tion. some tangible prospect Of honesty under
different set Of msn-they would have COM.
manded An irresistible majority throughout the
country. There would then have been no reason
to complain Of apathy among the people. Men
of all stations and all parties would have
focked around such platform as this. An op-
position organised on this basis would really
have effected some substantial benefit to the
country, and would have paved the way for
real contest OF principle at the next election.
1t would have resuscitated the whig party,
perhaps under q new name, and given it i'm
mense accessions of strength.
The reason why the disappointed politicians
and disconsolate wings did not take this ground
is likewise sufficient explanation Of the course
they did take. They did not attempt to ex-
pose or check the corruption at Washington,
because they look forward to sharing the pro-
fits of a similar state Of things, when they OBJ
tain power and because its detection now
would have precluded its re-establishment then
They took up the Nebraska question because
they hope to make enough capital out of it to
carry them into Office at the next election.
They are now endeavoring to plant the Debris
of the old whig party upon it, in the hope that
it may prove a serviceable card for 1856.
Our opinion is that this course is as impolitic
as it is unprincipled. We believe it will do no
more good to the politicians than to the coun-
try. However skilfully the prejudices of the
North may be famed, signs are already abroad
which prognosticate clearly enough that the
anti-Nebraska platform will never rally round
it majority even Of Northern votes. This
abandonment of the practical questions of the
day to fight about distractions, and discuss
purely speculative problems is too transparent
to delude. The people see clearly enough that
the whole thing is an electioneering trick; and
would like to know, before they allow the
country to be convulsed on the question, whether
the repeal Of the Missouri compromise would
really bring forth any practical fruits at ALL and
whether Nebraska, if Douglass measure pass,
be really likely to adopt system of slave labor
or not. They want to have these points clearly
settled and invested with immediate practical
Importance before they join in quarrel which
must embitter the relations between North and
South, and may lead to the dissolution Of the
Union.
To the politicians who are raising such an
cutlery about the repeal Of the Missouri COM
promise neither the actual Importance of the
problem to be solved. nor the danger of dis
union its discussion involves are matters of
any consequence. All they want is a platform
on which they may rise to power and grasp at