The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-29

yass under peculiar disadvantages. He had the
dead weight of CON emned administration to
carry upon his shoulders, the antecedents
against him of the most violent, active and de-
structive enemy of the democratic party that
was ever sent to Congress from the State, the
prestige of rev and hitherto invincible patty
to grapple with, and OBJECTIONS and prejuoices
in the democratic ranks sufficient of themselves
to dishearten any other man than Wise As
examples, Messrs Mason and Hunter, of the Sc
nate, although they took the field for the party,
they had little or nothing to say for Mr.. Wise
His success might throw them into the shade,
and they are ambitious of further promotion.
Mr.. Bsyly, too, the member from Accomac,
was decidedly jealous Of his neighoor, and took
no pains to disguise the fact. Mr.. McMulien,
of the southwestern part of the State, an old
democratic Bourbon, had also his active preju-
aices against Mr.. Wise. Besides these, there
we're other democrats, some of them on the
American State ticket, who, soured by repeated
disappointments, had seized what they though
the golden opportunity for revolution.
But the most striking example of open mutiny
in the democratic camp is the case of Extra
Billy Smith. During the administration of
Martin Van Buren,, Mr.. Wise was the active
whig leader in Congress in the getting up and
prosecution of those committees of investiga-
ton which resulted in the disclosure of that cata
logue of defa)cations and extravagances that con-
tributed SO largely to the overwhelming defeat
OF ..tbe little Magician" in 1910. Among these
disclosures it was found that the Post Office
department had expended an unusual amount
Of the public money in various ways, and espe-
cally in the way of extra allowances to mail
contractors. Conspicuous among these con-
tractors and those extras received, was Mr..
William Smith, in charge of several mail routes
in Virginia. Hence his title of Extra Billy.
These extras, however, being accepted by the
people as fair business operations, did not
iDjure the party standing Of Mr.. Smith, but
rather helped him than otherwise, in bringing
him forward more prominently to the public
eye. Some years after he was elected Governor
OF the State; then he went to California on
venture; but after a year or SO, returning to
Virginia, he was returned to this last Congress
from his old bailiwick as an independent de-
mocratic candidate. He was an aspirant for the
Staunton democratic nomination for Governor;
but, although willing to give way to almost
any other man, be was not prepared to knock
under-he democratic veteran-to this "whig
renegade" new comer," Henry A. Wise.
Consequently, as democrat, he took the stump
in opposition to Mr.. Wise, and was thus one of
the most efficient agents of the opposition side.
The result is very curious. Mr.. Wise rides
rough.shod over all distractions, in spite of
Extra Billy, while Extra Billy, as by the COM
mon consent of both parties, is permitted to
have q whole Congressional district to himself
He seems to have been the only Know Nothing
Congressional candidate elected, and he is not
one of their party. 1t remains, therefore,
sort of drawn battle between Mr.. Wise and
Extra Billy; and we can't conceive how the
matter is to be finally settled, except in trial
for the Presidency-Mr. Wise for the democracy
and Extra Billy Tor the Know Nothings; that is
to say, if Live Oak George Law, Gen. Sam
Houston, Mr.. Fillmore, Mr.. Clayton, Mr.. Crit
teDden, Gen. Wilson and Commodore Stock
ton and others are all agreed. "Selling off at
cost
The AMERICAN ORGAN AT WAsHNGToN-HO!
FOR KANsAs.-This paper, established by the pro-
pTietors as the national organ of the American
party, with an eye, perhaps, to the public
printing of the next Congress, has, we sus-
pect, been a losing concern, and especially
on the Virginia election. The question now
arises, will it be worth while to continue the
publication of this american Organ any
longer? for without government pap of some
kind daily paper cannot pay expenses in
Washington. The Organ calls upon the Or
der in the District of Columbia to secure in the
coming election in the federal city, the Corpo-
ration Councils and officers; but even if that
be done, the pap from that source will be but a
drop in the bucket. We would therefore mo-
destly suggest to our Washington contemporary
in question, unless there should be national
reorganization of the Know Notbings at Phila-
de'pha, the propriety of moving his establish
ment out to Kansas y new country, rapidly
filing up; and between the Missouriaus and
Massachusetts, free soil emigrants there is fine
openinQ out there for the Know Nothinps to