Washington sentinel., 1854-06-29
THE ApPRoAoHISG ELECTIONS. 4

The activity, hustle, and interest manifested
in this country Of popular supremacy, forms
striking contrast to the stagnant and almost in
animate masses Of the old despotisms Of Eu-
rope. Except when expressions are intolera-
BILE, the working classes imposed upon, or gaunt
famine is staring them in the face, they are
content to lead their tread-mill life, and leave
to their hereditary rulers the management of
State affairs.
Here, each man feels that he is part Of the
State. Each man has vote and other high po-
litical privileges" Scarcely a day passes with
out the happening in this vast country of some
| election, either federal, State, or municipal.
| We see it stated in one Of our exchanges that
within the next three months, elections are to
be held in twenty-five of the thirty-one States
Of the Union. A majority of the members of
the House of Representatives are to be chosen.
In each of the States of Massachusetts, Yer
mont New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louis
lana, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri,
Iowa, and California, one senator will have to
be chosen by the legislatures to be elected in
those States. In the State of North Carolina,
two senator's will be elected making in all
| fourteen. s
In view Of these important and rapidly ap-
| preaching elections, it is not wonderful that
there should be activity, hustle, and prepara-
ton. The fate Of many politicians viii be de-
cided great and grave issues will be passed
| upon, and the administration, that came into
| power under auspices so signally bright, will
receive either the sanction or the condemnation
of a large proportion Of the American people.
The Wing party of the northern States, after
Waterloo defeat, which prostrated for q time
all its energies, and extinguished all its hopes,
begins to recuperate, and to manifest distinct
symptoms of vitality. Men who were dumb
from shame, and desperate from disaster, begin
| to assume confident tone and to exert them
selves with something of their pristine ac-
| tivity. The old organization is being revived
and renewed, and the old commanders have
again appeared on the field, and are marshal
ing their forces. Not only is northern whiggery
to be resurrected, but cunning plan is on foot
to unite and consolidate with it, all who op-
posed the Nebraska BILL all who are hostile to
foreigners, to Catholics, to southern institu-
tions, and all the odds, ends, and isms that
prevail in the large northern cities.
Whether the cunning northern managers
viii be able to unite with their molly bands,
the wings, or any respectable portion of the
| wings of the south, yet remains to be seen.
The leading whig journals Of the south have
not hesitated to declare themselves separated
| from their quondam northern allies but they
have not yet distinctly indicated where they
viii go, or what they will do. Wait, and
watch developments are their words. We would
respectfully suggest that there is little or ne
! time to spare. The elections are fast ap-
preaching, and to wait would be wretched
policy. AS for developments, they already are
numerous and startling. The wings of the
south cannot honorably stand on the platform
that has been erected by their old northern
friends.
All that can be done is being done by the
motley and heterogeneous mass that we have
spoken Of. Their leaders are able, astute, am
bilious, unscrupulous, and untiring. In their
| ranks are men who are either frantic with fana
ticism, infuriated by disappointment, or lusting
after plumber. The most active, general, and
pervading impulse that animates them is d
hatred to the south, because the south demands