The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-14

sion Of strength. Seward's influence was para
mount. The Van Buren, party weresure Of the
Of most of the Wig leaders, 4
and'at that time the wings hada.lsrger number
ofsvotes than they have ever had since. In
addition to their strength d. the capital,
they possesse . DO y Of adherents through
out the country that has never since been
equalle in numbers. All the Legisla-t
lures in the nee States were openly in their
favor Men of every calling, in every rank of
life proclaimed their adhesion to the Wilmot
proviso> Ithad spread Ike an epidemic over
the lana, and few indeed were e voices then
appraised in the North TO arrest it's perniciOus
influence. No element conducive % success
was wanting to the Wilmot proviso cause.
Leaders of acknowledged ability, ssrong bands
of earnest .partizans throughout the North, or
thorough organization, an active press, and the
prestige Of bold ard, as we said, a triumphant
campaign, all seemed to presage a vigorous
conflict and successful issue to the struggle.
They failed. Spite of all their advantages,
spite of their immense strength in the North,
spite of the favor with which they were re-
garded at Washington, spite ofevery exerton
and every devise, they failed, ingluriously and
tamely, and the compromise measures passed
The Van Buren, party was stunned by the blow.
70 all appearance it lay dead as mummy.
Some struggling leaders, eager for places
- acquiescedn in their SENTENCE; Others sunk in
the waves of the political ocean to rise no
more.
Three years have passed over, and the resur-
rectionis now taking place. 1t must be ad-
mitted that the horizon is netquite SO bright
as it was for their schemes Instead of the
houses which looked SO favorably, or at least
winked at the Wilmot proviso, both the Senate
and the House Of Representativ es are thoroughly
democratic, and by no means disposed to wink
atinfringements on the constitution. The i'm
mense vote which the bill obtained in the
Senate indicates how little sympathy the
Van Buren, freesoilers can expect at Wash
ington. The country throughout the North is
quiet and disinclined to move. Where, six
years ago, every man was favorable to the Will
mot Proviso to-day but spare minority could
be found to coalesce with thu; politicians of the
Coddington and Butler order. A few meetings
of abolitionists with stray whig thrown in by
way of variety-a meeting of stif-necked old
federalists at Boston, who couldn't be expected
to act Otherwise few resolutions passed by
Legislatures under the contre] of such men as
Seward-addresses from benevolent old ladies,
political parsons, and the rums of the old Van
Buren, party-these are the only evidences we
have of popular sympathy with their cause.
They have now been clamoring for months, and
what impression have they produced? Who is
ready now to sacrifice money ortiuhe or comfort
to defeat the Nebraska bill? Is there any sin
gle point of view in which the Van Buren, party
possess as fair prospects of success as they did
in 1913?
We can see none. On every side we see evil
dence Of the decline of their power, the dissolu-
ton of their popularity, the paralysis of their
efforts. And remembering as we all do the ut
ter defeat they met in 1850, when their bolt was
open and frank, we cannot hesitate in predict
ing . still more speedy and ignominious failure
to the half-concealed secession which is to be
commenced tonight
POLITICIANS AND PRNCrrLEs.--The hard shell
organ in this city opposes the Nebraska meet
ing at Tammany Hall on Thursday, under the
plea that cooperation with those who have call
ed it would involve the national democrats in
a support of the federal aud State administra-
TONS This is miserably Pitiful excuse for
unprincipled conduct. The meeting is called to
endorse measure to which the national demo-
Gratis profess to be friendly. The principles
that will be inculeated from the platform win
be those which have hitherto been regarded as
the groundwork of the national democratic par
ty. For that party now to say that it will not
embrace this opportunity of asserting those
principles because others towards whom 1t has
hitherto occupied position of antagonism like
wise agree to assert them, is to postpone broad
considerations Of practical Importance to petty
Spite We are not likely to be charged with
partially to the federal or State administra-
tons; but we should have deemed ourselves I'M
worthy of ever again being read on any topic
of general interest had we allowed our antipathy
to individuals and their policy to interfere with
candid expression Of our opinion on measure
of national Importance like the Nebraska bill.
We have all along believed in fact that the
President and his Cabinet were opposed to the
bill in their heart, and that the outward support
they gave it was mere feint, calculated to
suit their own selfish purposes; and we notice
daily fresh evidences of this fact, such, for
instance, as the cavils of the Richmond En-
quirer, which seems to be shifting its ground,
and opposing the bill on some petty
points of detail But the position assumed by
the administration has not Influenced us one
hairs breadth one way or the other in our judg-
ment on the Nebraska bill. We have supported
it because we approved the principle on which
twas based and the national democracy would
do well to do the same If they believe that
high constitutional principle is involved in the
measure, it would be absolutely disgraceful for
them to allow their spite towards poor crea-
49,. H. l.