The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-24


day night, is an interesting episode in our poll
tics. 1t is far more remarkable as a slide from
the general embankment of anti-slavery than
for any intrinsic influence it is likely to exert
upon the popular mind of the country.
Two years and half ago, General Pierce
undertook the task of consolidating the Ameri-
can people in great union party-a party
that should be based upon the constitution. He
issued an inaugural address in which he avowed
primary attachment to the conditions of the
federal Union and an unalterable purpose to
stand by its compromises. He assumed execu-
tive duties appauded by the democracy,
praised by the wings, and condemned only by
the abolitonsts. This was all very we'll. 1t
gave high promise of a peaceful. national, cons
servatiye and successful administration. The
country had just issued from an agitating con-
| test If that contest had served no other pur-
nose it advertised to Gene1Al Pierce who might
be relied upon as friends, and who should be
distrusted and avoided as enemies. The Presi-
dent had bis own way of serving his purposes
he determined to obliterate the landmarks
Of party, and to sweep the country into kind
of Monroe millennium. In order to effect
this end be adopted the singular course Of
buying up traitors. He relied upon the inte-
gritty of those who had stood by the cause
through good report and through evil report;
he had only to throw out the loaves and fishes
to the free soil abolitionists to draw them Into
his administration surround them with its in
auences and it's rewards, and he would, Of
course, have everything his own way.
Without tracing out all the effects, it is
enough to say that the utter disintegration
and decentralization of the triumphant demo.
crazy was the result, and the inevitable result
of his policy. We predicted it at the time.
We undertook, as the prudent friends of his
administration and as the ardent well-wishers
of its success, to point out to him that every
aid be gave to the enemies of the Union
would ultimately be employed to effect its
overthrow. We warned him that the great
party which placed him in power would be
dissolved by the influence of his Insane policy,
and that npon it's ruins would be erected
daring abolition organization, with the dis
tinct purpose of overtbrowing the constitu-
ton. In this light General Pierce, more, even,
than Mr.. Seward, is responsible for the repub-
lican abolition league. Without his aid Chase
would never have been Governor of Ohio
without mis- aid the democracy must have tri-
umphed in Wisconsin; Vermont, alone (and
perhaps Massachusetts,) would have been the
sole representative Of distlnion.
The Nebraska-Kansas law was forced upon
Congress. It's principles were quite in harmony
with the spirit of the legislation Of 1850. 1t
was strictly constitutional measure--it was
measure of essential intervention. 1t re-
ferred the whole question Of slavery to the
people whose character aud interests might
be effected by it--a measure giving practi-
cal effect to the democratic idea Of the unity
ofrepresentation and taxation. It withdrew
q subject from Congress which, since the or
ganization Of The government, had been a bone
Of contention and strife between the North
and the South.
But the effect Of the policy of Gen. Pierce
upon the democratic party had been such that
even that party, with all its power, was unable
10 meet the storm of denunciation which the
abolitionists visited upon it. They denounced
the Kansas act as a concession to slavery-the
repeal Of the Missouri compromise as a faith
moral position Of the democracy had been
lost. The administration was thrown upon the
defensive. It's adherents disguised by its
policy, either remained quiet or abandon
ed its ranks for some other association
II was manifest, strictly speaking, that there
was no longer any party or any party obliga-
tious. This was period of chaos-of anarcb I
ba III In al
favor of the opposition. Fusion was the order
of the day. Mr.. Seward and his friends mista-
king the weakness of the democracy and the
apparent defeat Of the Union men all over the
North for an expression Of hostility to sla-
very, promptly organized his republican party
solely upon that point. He made issue upon
the repeal of the Missouri compromise, and
everywhere denounced slavery as a moral and
political crime. Discussion followed. He
abandoned his issue and with all his party fell
into the ranks Of Garrison and Tappan.
Meanwhile the Know Nothings came into ex-
stence They commenced operations in the
midst of the Kansas controversy. In the North,
early in the day the abolitionists got into their
lodges, and, temporarily obtaining power
sought to lure them in The gulse of Know
Nothingism into the republican ranks, and
obtain public confidence and endorsement
upon that basis. Their first signal triumph
as Know Nothing party was in Massachu-
Sets under Gardner and Wilson, but it
promptly extended to the South, threatened
Tennessee, carried Kentucky, and fought
hard battle in Virginia They thus assumed
national aspect.and had national hopes and as
prations. They held convention in Philadel-
pha and put forward union platform, which
was adopted but it was denounced by the
free soil Know Nothing leaders of the North.
The cheat was then discovered. While oil
this has been going on, the pnblic Judgment
has been rapidly moving towards the union
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