The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-08

Our returns from the elections in Tennessee,
North Carolina, Kentucky and Alabama, are
too scattering, confused, conflicting and unse-
tisfactory for any definite judgment upon the
actual results. From the general complexion
of the reports received, however, the Know
Nothing or American party appears to have
achieved good fight in North Carolina, very
active one in Tennessee, bold invasion into
the democratic stronghold Of Alabama, and a
most decided victory in Kentucky. See our
telegraphic dispatches.
The embarrassments and drawbacks against
which the Know Nothings have had to contend
in these elections, would have driven any other
party from the field in despair. There was
their recent overwhelming defeat in Virginia
operating against them in every possible way;
and the various fusion movements of Northern
Know Nothings and Know Something's with
Tie general anti-slavery coalition, since the
late National Council at philadelphia, have
been thrown as o dead weight upon the new
party in every hole and corner of the South.
And yet, against the trosshery of their North
ern allies, the depressing. influences Of recent
defeats, the re-awakenihg hopes and activity of
the democracy, and the unorganized condition
of the new party in reference to any national
movement, the Know Nothings, in these late
Southern elections, upon the whole, have been
doing as we'll as could have been expected.
After the Virginia election, when it be-
came manifest that there We're two sides
and two sections involved in the present
agitation OF the slavery question, and that no
party giving aid and comfort to the abolition
league Of the North would be tolerated for a
moment in the South, and after the split in
the Know Nothing camp at Philadelphia, upon
this vital and exciting issue, nobody supposed
hat there could be any such thing this sum-
mcr az the sweeping Of North Carolina, Ten
nessee, or Kentucky, by the Know Nothing
ticket. 1t is pretty certain, however, that they
have polled very large vote in every one
of these Southern States; and how and from
what causes they have succeeded in doing it
becomes now a very interesting question.
II does not appear that the democracy, either
in Kentucky, Tennessee, or North Carolina,
fought the battle upon the merits Of the ad-
ministralion They seem rather 10 have thrown
the administration out Of the account, as they
sive system Of operations against the proscrip-
tive principles OF the American Order as Mr..
Wise, and The same policy Of holding them re-
sponsiblc for the doings Of the Northern Sc
ccssionisis, they have kept the Know Notbings,
from first to last, upon the defensive. Thus
the acts and omissions, the blunders, follies
and imbeciltics Of the administration, have es-
capped that severe public ordeal through which
they will yet have to pass, and under which
our present Pierce dynasty and their spoils-
men will have to stand or fall. Major Donelson
essayed to bring out and hold up the dement's
Of Mcssrs. Pierce Forney, Marcy g. CO., in
the canvass; but the salient points Of attack
presented in the proscriptive oaths and uncon-
stiiutional objects of the American party, quite
overshadowed him. And what is the lesson
herein suggested? Let us see.
The great substantial object Of this new
American party is to get possession Of the
general government Before that can be done,
the party in power must be superseded by a
vote Of the American people. This vote the
American party desire to obtain; but instead
of making the practical issues of the unGtness
Of The present administration for the duties Of
its position the basis of their claims, they de-
clare War of determination against Roman
Catholics and alicns-born, as their great cardi-
nal principle This throws them at once upon
the defensive against the rank and file of the
democratic party, and the aliens by birth, and
Catholics III religion, of all parties. A party
may thus be organized Of q very select and
decided character; but a. numbers in political
elections are Of some consequence, they should
not lie overlooked rs an object Of the first
consideration in any party aspiring to the
government Of this country, and the control
OF IFS seventy five millions of public pluudcr
per annum.
The lesson then. which these late elections
have taught, is not that the people Of the
South have any confidence in this administra-
ton, notwithstanding Governor Johnson may
be reelected in Tennessee, and a majority Of
democratic members Of Congress may he re-
turned from North Carolina. This is not the
meaning Of these elections; for the admins
tration was not practically an issue in the
controversy: but the lesson suggested is that
these rigid Catholic and native tests Of the
Know Nothings require the sacrifice of too
many votes to he available for political par-
poses. except as Know Nothing makc-wegbt
or balance of power between other parties, as
in most Of oy NortheYn elections last fall.
With those aforesaid unconstitutional religious
| aud national tests Of exclusion from the honors
aud emoluments of all public Offices, the
Know Nothings, as long rs they adhere 10
them, VIII bc limited in their operations TO
| merely local elections. Upon oaths and doc
irincs overlapping and reyolutioniging the
plain American principles OF the constitution,
they can never Succoed--thcy can never ~ CON
solidated as 4 national party.
They must prunc these unconstitutional and
nnti- American lcycStcs from their oaihs and