The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-18

cotton were engaged for LIVERPOOL at 5.32d.. 10
cluded with which vera 300 bales SEES Island At
932d., and 10000 bushsls corn were engaged at
private terms. There was q fair business doing for
Hamburg ana Bremen
The Seward Anti. slavery League and the
Northern Know aothinss-A Plain Case.
The important question whether the ap-
preaching Presidential election shall be de-
cided by the people, or shall be thrown into
the House of Representatives at Washington,
depends entirely upon the policy Of the North
ern Know Nothings. Ii they boldly follow
up the national programme foreshadowed at
the late State Councils of this State ami New
Jersey, they will secure the hearty co-opera-
ton of the South, and may command the
election Of any Presidential ticket which they
may choose. II, on the other hand, such mea
as Wilson Of Massachusetts,, and Chase Of
Ohio, are permitted to manage the machinery
of the Know Nothipgs Of the Northera States,
the result must be a divis on of the Order into
several sectional factions, confused and revo-
]utioDary scrub race, and the transfer of the
election TO the indescribable elements Of DIS
cord of the next Congress.
The Seward organs are sorely perplexed at
the evident tendencies of the New York Know
Notb,ngs to sound and healthy nation-
alizasion And well may these anti slavery
disorganizers be alarmed The American
party of this State comprehends au az.
gregate of over one hundred aud eighty.dye
thousand voters, ready to move together in
solid mass at The tap of the drum, ana their
numbers are still increasing. Thus, with very
few additional votes, they will be able next
fall to carry New York against the entire
strength, r.pk and file, of all other parties ana
factions combined. As it is impossible, now
ever, that such fusion Of wings aud demo
Gratis, hsrds and sotts, Cabinet spoilsmen aud
anti Cabinet outsiders, treesoilers, abolitoniss.
liquor and temperance men, eau be made upon
any terms, it is safe to say that the Know No
things, from an actual census of their members,
hold now The control Of our nszs November
election 10 their hands, and wiA carry it by an
oveIwbelmi ng plurality. Such, too, Will proba.
bly, be he case in New Jersey ana Peonsyiva-
mia. But let US examine the Importance of
holding the State of New York. at least to a
decisive national platform, satisfactory TO the
South ana based upon the Fundamental law Of
tie constitution end the Union
The whole number of the votes of the elecso-
raj colleges is 296. OF these the fifteen Souih.
ern States have 100, and the sixteen Northern
States 176-Northern majority Sc. Thus, upon.
an absolute sectional issue, the South is as the
mercy of the North But the vote of the single
State of New York is sufficient 10 turn the
scale. A majority of the electoral colleges re
quirsd to elect the President is l49. Ado
the vote of New York 35 to the vote of the
fifteen Southern States, l20, and it gives us
155, OF eight votes more than the required ma
jori,y. This strikinely exhibits the mpor alce
Of the Empire State in any Presidential contest
of ectional character. With New York stand
ing by the South, State rights, the Union and
the constitution the rest OF the Northern States,
in a solo body, including even Pennsy lvania,
may go for the anti-slavery coalition, ana they
will still be defeated.
Now, we venture TO say, from the ascertainsd
strength of The Know No,hings in Vrgiois, in
South Carolina, and NJ ssissippi three States
heretofore of the most inveterate Southern de
mocratic type--tbat they will only require New
York 10 take a decided position, in order to
carry every Southern State 10 the Union. Nor
can we perceive any other plan tor an election
BY the people. considering the free soil proci'
vties of Massachusetts,, Ohio, Indiana aod some
other States, than the acquisition of the whole
South upon common national Uuiou 'ickes.
The conservative Know Nothing- 81 New York,
therefore having ihis State already secured,
and being certain Of the entire South upon an,
reasonable Union platform, have at this moment
the issue OF The Presidential election il their
keeping. Let them act accordingly in this
forthcoming National Council at Ph,l,dei phia,
ard they may dispense with Massachusetts
Ohio, Ipdiana Michigan Wisconsin, &c. and
even with their brethren of Pennsylvania,
should they prove refractory.
This accounts for the dissatisfaction Of tie
Seward oraags concerning the late able Know
Nothing pioclamstioD OF Mr.. James W B,rkec
IL il too conservative and constitutional -
suit the vie and purposes If the Seward Goa
lion. Their programme ia to sednce the
Northern Know NotbiDgs into the euti.~avers
Holy Alliance cr 70 split this powerful nut 40
tried ard inexperienced Am ricas pirsy upon
the slavery question. Hence the declaration
OF General Wilson, that 10 party opposed To
the sniislavery agitators can iive--hence the
cor ference at the Aston House the other day
between Messrs. Wilson, Sumnfr, Corwin Chase
and Seward II is dispensable 70 the success
of the anti-slavery movement that the Know
Notbings be demoralized or sectionally divided
upon this vital question Of slavery. Let the
Philadelphia National council then, decide be-
tween a se6itious and doubtful alliance with
the anti-slavery league, or the unsnimous sup
port of the South upon Union principles The
New York delegation to this council will bold
the balance OF power We believe them TO he