The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-02
Movements for the Fall Elections.

Movements for the Fall Elections.
On Tuesday evening the hard shells held
their primary elections to choose delegates to
the convention which is to meet on the 9TH
September. On the same evening the Liquor
Dealers Association held their elections like
wise for the same purpose their State Con-
vention meets at Syracuse on the sth. The
bali is thus fairly set rolling.
The old wings, having made an assignment
OF their estate and effects to the republicans,
are confident Of success in etfecting fusion
with the Van Buren, free sellers. True, the
body is not unanimous in approving the assign
ment. A respectable section of the old line
wings, under the command Of the most venera-
able patriarchs Of the faction, refused to be en-
dorsed over and hold themselves aloof But
they constitute feeble minority. The bulk Of
the party are in the hands Of Seward, Weed,
gether with the free soil democrats Their
platform, as arranged at the coalition meeting
held at the Astor House, ignores the tempe
rance question altogether. They intend to go
to the people on the sole issue OF anti-slavery,
if they can.
Now, the question is obviously viii they be
enabled to defeat the liquor dealers by sipping
out the liquor question at the elections this
fall? The answer depends on the sagacity Of
the liquor dealers. II they allow the question
which has been the means of bringing them to-
gether to be shuffled aside, and rendered suoor-
climate to the abolition designs Of the repuhli-
cans, there can be very little doubt but the lat
ter will succeed in all their projects. TIE least
Injurious consequence Of such a scheme would
be the amendment OF the Liquor law in such 9
| manner as to obviate the objections preferred
against it by Mr. Hoffman and the more
eminent of the legal counsel who have pro.
nounced it unconstitutional. On the other
hand, it's clear that, by taking advantage of
the professed lukewarmness of the republicans
on the liquor question, the liquor dealers may,
with the exercise Of little sagacity, replace
matters on the footing which they occupied be-
fore the Probibitory statute was enacted.
Their policy is to refuse to consent, at the bid
ding of the republicans, to ignore the liquor
question; but on the contrary, to thrust it for
V'iu AoiS prominently ANY OeucH III ZIG
electoral canvass This will force the Seward
leaders back en- their old ground, which in the
coming November will be found about as uu.
safe as any which could be selected. IL re.
mains to be seen whether the liquor dealers
possess the tact and the conference to carry out
plan of this kind
They are now party welding great in
fuence, and commanding a large electoral
vote. II is wholly incorrect to represent their
strength as confined to the individuals who
profit by the sale Of liquor. On the contrary,
the party-politically speaking comprises not
only all the persons engaged in the trade, but a
host, who are allied to them by considerations
of friendship, and another large section of in.
dividuals who oppose on principle tyraunical
attempts to enforce sumptuary legislation.
Each liquor dealer is the nucleus OF O little cir
Gle Of persons all of whom--being comparative.
~ djsinterested in the matter will vote to
cave their friends livelihood against any party
whatsoever. With these and the probable
union Of the hard shells, the liquor dealers are
certain to command one Of the strongest
parties at the fall elections. Except the Know
Nothings they are the strongest political party
in the State, that is uuconnected with the old
parties; it will be their own fault if they throw
away their power.