The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-16

Mt The institution ID progressing, but needs
aid. More than sixty six unfortunates were relieved
during the year, at a cost of $3,34s The balance on
hand now amounts onlv to about IS. A larger house
and more furniture are wanted.
The Crisis-Know Nothing National Conven-
tion-The Test Question.
On the fifth day Of June the Know Nothings
OF new American party, are to hold grand ma
tional council, or convention, at Philadelphia.
Every State in the Union, it is supposed, will
be there represented by delegates duly appoint
ed for the occasion. From the numerical
strength of this wonderful aud mysterious party
in every section of the Union; from the col
lapsed condition of the two great parties of a
quarter of century gone by; from the pres.
sure Of the renewed anti slavery agitation, and
its dangerous tendences-in fact, from all the
incidents, accidents circumstances and indica-
tions of these revolutionary times, the proceed
ings of this Philadelphia Know Nothing assem-
bage will, in all probability, for good or evil,
become the most important of any political
council held in this country since the adjourn
ment of the convention which framed our fede-
raj constitution.
The grand question is to be taken up at Phi
ladelphis Of public national platform for this
American party-not that mysterious and un-
satisfactory platform embodied in the secret
"third degree" of the lodges, but public plat
form-clear, distinct and specific upon the great
constitutional issues of the day, and espe-
cially upon the slavery question Dele
gates Of different opinions and sentiments
will be there, from that rampant abolition
list, Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, to
the active slavery propaganda of the Atchi-
son school; yet, overriding these clashing
extremes and uitras, we have reason to believe
there will be large and Harmonious majority
in favor of solid live oak constitutional princi-
pies. Should this convention thus prove itself
equal to the crisis and the exigencies of the
day, we shall secure from it the organization
Of a national party SO powerful in unity, mum.
bers and principles as to guarantee the over
throw Of all sedtious sectional cliques of the
country, and the speedy restoration of the peace
and harmony of the Union, in the complete
success Of this new and true American al
lance.
Where do we now stand? The old wing
party, after having been defeated aud super
seeded from point to point by the democratic
party, till the wings had scarcely a distinctive
measure or principle to stand upon, was finally
broken up in 1852, in the vain attempt at a
| coalition between Seward and the South. Vain
the nomination Of the first soldier of the age,
vain the adoption at Baltimore, in his behalf,
of a string of conservative resolutions The
attempted unholy alliance between Seward
and the South was too much, even for the
broad shoulders of General Scott. The national
wing party collapsed; it was dispersed, and it
is disbanded. In the South it is fusing with
the Know Nothings or is still adrift; in the
North it is scattered into all sorts of fusious
and coalitions--free soilism and abolition
ism being its prevailing instincts. The re-
naturalization of the late national wing party,
therefore, is fixed impossiblity. The thing
cannot he done.
Ard what of the great national democratic
party? Coming into power with Gen. Pierce,
as with a whirlwina, upon the Union sentiment
of the country, where is it now? 1t is my tn
| and a mockery. There is no such thing as a
national democratic party. 1t is defunct. The
administration which was to have perpetuated
its asceudapcy, has brought it to sudden des.
truction. Disorganized and broken up where
are the fragments Of this mighty party We
find the Pierce. Van Buren, free soil faction of
the North tending to an alliance with the Sew
ard coalition; while here aud there in the
South, the remnant of the great army of 1852
keeps up but feeble show of organization
upon the basis of the public plumber, while the
nationals" of the party have been rapidly
FILTERED away. There can be no re-organiza
ton of the national democracy, then, short of
the total abandonment of this treacherous aud
ruinous administration and as there is no
prospect of general movement to this end,
while the spoils hold out at Washington, we
must look elsewhere for a great national Union
party for 1856.
We look to the Know Nothiugs, therefore.
and to this Philadelphia National Council for
this great desideratum. Spontaneously, the
American people have been looking in the same
direction. Shipwrecked upon both the old par
ty hulks Of whiggery and spells democracy, the
people have seized such floating planks as pro-
missed a chance Of safety, and Of these an ark
that will weather the waves Of sectional agita.
ton, and the winds of controversy, may yet be
constructed at Philadelphia. IL is the only
living chance for the immediate establishment
of an invincible national party; and the only
requisite for this impregnable position is
sound, consistent, and public constitutional
platform.
The conservative delegates, in this view, will
appreciate the necessity Of cutting off all s1ch
seditious broncbes cf the Order as that OF Mas
sschusetts, and oil snch disoreaniziug and
sbolitionists as Mr.. Senator Wilson.