The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-16

federation, will avail nothing; and the wisest
course for Archbishop Hughes to pursue under
the circumstances, is to resign himself to the
march of intellect without gambling
The Nebraska Questionable Armistice OF
the Majority.
On the goth day of August, lS47, Gen. Scott,
in front of the capital of Mexico, completely
defeated the Nexicans in the bloody battle of
Churubusco, and drove them to the gates of the
city. AT this point the enemy asked for an
armistice, with the view to a treaty Of peace.
An armistice was generously granted Hos
tiEties were suspended till the seventh day of
September, when our veteran commander hay
ing discovered that Santa Anna was playing
false, re-opened the war. The terrible conflicts
at Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and the Carl
tas, however, were the price which our army
had to pay for the honest magnanimity ex-
dictator. Santa Anna had treacherously en-
ployed the interval of the armistice in strength
ening his defences for the most desperate Essis-
lance, as the sequel abundantly proved.
The majority Of the Hoase of Representa-
tives at Washington, in favor of the speedy
passage of the Nebraska bill, have placed them
selves in similar position to that of General
Scott, with this difference-that this last ar
mistice between the hostile forces comes from
the side which conquered in the opening battle
upon the main question, and not from the
enemy driven to the gates Of the city. What
are we to conclude from this extraordinary
state of things? The House majority must be
very confident of their strength, or there must
be q screw or two loose in their parliamentary
engineering. The debate on the Nebraska bill
is extended to Saturday next and this csnces-
sion comes from the majority; the Pacific Rail-
road bill is deferred as the special order for to-
morrow "wednesday week, the oath, and this
concession comes from the majority. There is
no understanding with the minority that they
will permit the Nebraska bill to come to vote
before the day set apart for the Pacific Railroad
bill; and we therefore presume that they have
resolved upon another and more desperate
struggle than the last.
The important issues involved in this Ne
braska bill are doubtless fully understood by
the anti-slavery minority of the House. Pass
the Missouri repeal, and their occupation is
gone. They know it. Let the question be held
over to the next session, and the agitation
against the bill becomes the ruling question in
every Congressional district Of every Northern
State. powerful anti-slavery party will be
the result, and a purely sectional contest for
Presidency in 1856. But pass the bill, and the
quss1fsn FOR the North becomes one of simple
and raceful submission to constitutional
| law.
The effects of the repeal of the Missouri re-
| striction, upon the disjointed factions of the
two great political parties of the last twenty
years, will be radical and revolutionary. A re-
| construction Of parties, out-and-out, must inc
vitality follow the passage Of the repeal The
administration and the party or parties sup
porting it must share largely in the general
destruction of the existing order of things, and
| in the general reorganization. Parties in the
North and in the South viii be remodelled
| upon new platforms, new principles, new men
and new measures. The hopes of Seward, OF
Hale and Of Garrison depend materially upon
the defeat of the BILL and upon carrying it over
to the next session. Hence their desperate re-
sistance in Congress, and the violent and trea-
sonable imprecations Of their organs. Pass the
bill, and their newly devised programme for
the Presidential campaign is broken up. Delay
it till next December, and the contest in Sc will
| probably hurry us to the issue of dsunion in a
| grand combined assault Of all the anti-slavery
factions, In solid column, against the institu-
| tions of the South
Are there any of the House majority fearful
of the consequences of the passage of this Ne
braska bill, upon the present rickety organiza-
ton of the democratic party? What is it worth!
Let the last elections in New York, New Hamp-
shire, Maine, and other States answer. 1t is
good for nothing-it can do nothing short of a
reorganization upon a new platform. In one
word, the only way now to put down Seward,
Chase, Hale, Giddings, and the Northern anti
slavery agitators SO as to render them perfect
ly harmless, is to pass the Nebraska bill with
out unnecessary delay, including distinct re-
peal of the unconstitutional Missouri line.
Whatever its effects upon the old parties of the
day, or upon the administration, it win be a
defeat of the anti-slayery agitators and yicto-
~ for the Union.