The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-19

The terms OF the following named members
of the United States Senate expired on the
fourth Of March las', and their seats remain
yet vacant =
NEW HAnpsmRE-Meses Norris, deceased. Vacancy
Of Mr. Atheron deceased also to be nled whose term
expires in 1862
PENSsYLyANA-James Cooper, (whig)
ALAnAMA-Benjamin Fitzpatrick, (dem)
IspnxA-Jobn Petit (dem
NnsouR-David R. Atshison, (dem.)
CALHoKMA-wm N. Gwin, (den)
In New Hampshire, at the last meeting Of the
Legislature, the administration democracy
made an effort to Mi one of their Senatorial
vacancies, but it failed, the various elements OF
the opposition being too strong for them. The
late Know Nothing victory having carried both
houses by large majority, will be followed up,
of course, by the return Of two antiP Pierce
Senators from Concord.
In Pennsylvania the Know NothiDgs had the
power in the late Legislature, but unfortunately
hey nominated that slippery old politician by
trade, Simon Cameron. The result was mu-
tiny in the camp; and after repeated ballotings,
the programme of elec,ing Mr.. Cameron was
abandoned. The Legislature, therefore, to be
elected by the people in October, will have to
fill this vacancy, and the probability is that all
the old fogies will be dropped in favor Of some
new man who can be elected.
The vacancy in Alabama will, no doubt, be
duly filed at the next meeting of the Legisla-
ture, as also that in Indiana. Mr.. Fitzpatrick,
the late Alabama Senator, may possibly be re-
turned; but there is little hope of John Petit
the Indiana man. His Legislature is too strongly
anti. Nebraska and anti administration for that
Possibly his place may be as well filled by
new man. more perhaps, Know Nothing, but
not 60 much an infdel. Since the departure Of
Robert Dale Owen as Mr.. Pierces Minister to
Naples, the infdel element in the Indiana de-
mocracy appears to have been sunk with the
administration.
In Missouri, between the wings, the Benton
democrats, or hards and the Atchison demo-
Gratis, or softs (the terms bearing precisely che
opposite meaning to their application in New
York;, the game in the Legislature was blocked.
After balloting feom time to time to the extent
of forty or fifty trials, they gave it up in des-
pair, and the job goes over to the next Legisla-
ture. When Benton's last term was expiring
the Atchison democrats joined the wings, aud
elected whig to supersede him; the Benton
men viii most likely return the complimen mt
next winter, should Atchinson persist in run
Dirg. It is said, however, from the active in
terest he has been taking in the affairs Of Kan.
sas, that Atchison may possibly move over
into that Territory, aud lay his pipes for
Senatorial election there, upon the cd.
mission of Kansas into the Union. Ia any
event. this war between Benton and Atchison
affords striking illustration of the tenacty
with which these old professional spoilsmen
cling to the public plumber. For eight or ten
years the jealousies between these two men
have kept the Missouri democracy in regular
stew; and as there can be no peace till both of
them are shelved, we presume the Know No
things will act accordingly.
In California there has been "scrimmage"
among the democrats concerning DR.. Gwin
similar somewhat to the Missouri feud. The
Office of United States Senator from California
counting in the milage-ten thousand miles
year, eight dollars for every twenty miles-is
worth something. Many hungry politicians
out there, too lazy to work in the mines,
fight for the Senatorship correspondingly
strong. Great efforts are being made to
Get up q division OF Ell Dorado into two
OF three States, SO as to have more
Senators and members Of the House, more
mileage and more public plumber. Meantime,
after some fifty odd ballots with ,ut an cleo
to have been elected upon the first ballot on
the ground that the State constitution declares
plurality shall elect. We spp,ehend, how
ever, that if the Doctor comes to Washington
on that plea, he will be sent back without bis
mileage, on the ground that the Legislature of
California has declared that there has been no
election.
The chances are that new men will fill all
these vacancies, excepting, perhaps, that Of
Alabama. The aggregate result will doubtless
be, from the pressure OF the anti Nebraska
agitation in the North, o considerable accession
of agitators to the free soil faction ia the
Senate, as well as in the other branch of Con-
gress. Such ere the bitter fruits of the mi.era
BILE spoi]s policy aud treachery, duplicity and
imbe cility OF this wretched administration,
scattering the great democratic party into
fragments, throwing the politics Of the whole
country into chaos, and giving such an impetus
to the Northern anti slavery movement that
nothing but genuine American Union party
can arrest it In the North, in the South, in
Kansas and in Congress, have thus been sown
The seeds of confusion and trouble. But the
people, in the quaint disguise of Know Nothing
ism, haye been entering into the work OF
thorough going revelation and before they
ore done with it, confused and conflicting as
things may nov appear, we believe that it win
assume the shape and substance Of consistency,
nationality, harmony, security and peace.
Let the Philadelphia National Council, con