The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-06

COnnectlcut ELleCtIoN0-
Prospects OF the Political Parties or rhe
Day.
The elections in Rhode Island and Connecti-
cut have been carried by the new American
party, pretty much after the fashion of New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsy lvanis, Ohio,
and other States: thatis, with the active coope-
ration of the various elements; more or less, Of
opposition to the administration and its weak
and suicidal domestic and foreign policy.
1t is now perfectly clear that there will be
large decentralization majority in the popu-
lar branch of the new Congress; but it is by
no means clear that it will be cohesive and
harmonious working majority. The first duty,
then, of the opposition forces will be the con-
sideration and adoption Of some general legis-
Iative policy upon which their majority may
be rendered useful and effective towards the
establishment Of homogeneous national party
and platform for the campaign Of 1856. This
task will be difficult and delicate; but it may
be comprised by a total abandonment Of all the
old parties and their rotten machinery, and by
the fusion Of the opposition forces into new
progressive, constitutional and conservativena-
tional organization.
Again: The Know NotbiDgs, 80 called, should
not forget that their late series of political
triumphs have been, to . great extent, achieved
by the cooperation Of various outside
parties and factions, on the single ground
Of hostility to the administration. Upon
the passage of the Nebraska bill, the leaders
Of the Seward coalition in this State, and of
the Van Buren, democracy, resolved to seize
the occasion for the formation of . great
Northern sectional anti-slavery party. The
experiment was started at Saratoga, and car
ried thence to the piebald State conventions Of
last fall, at Auburn and Syracuse; and it was
also tried in other States. But the scheme fell
through. An immense body of the conserve
tive people Of the North, decidedly opposed to
any recognition of the men, the measures, or
general policy of the Pierce administration,
were equally hostile to the disunion, sectional
anti-slavery scheme of Seward and his sedi-
tious pipe-layers. These anti Seward conser-
vatives fell back, therefore, upon the indie
pendent Know Nothing conservative platform
and party, the nucleus Of which had continued
to exist with the remnant Of the little native
American party from its first ftful and indie
cisive outbreak in 1874 Instantly, with this
late reaction, the new American movement
rose to the control of the balance of power
throughout the North; and in some States,
particularly Massachusetts, and New Hamp-
shire, to the complete swapping Of all the old
parties Of the day.
The results of this American conservative
-
the administration, from Maine to Missouri,
and an Independent popular diversion, which,
for the present at least, has defeated and
paralyzed the sectional disunion schemes
and policy of the Seward coalition. The all
important test remains yet to be tried, and that
is, the unity and han mony Of these anti
administration forces of the North in reference
to the Presidency Will the extraneous free
soil elements which have been thrown in the
ate Northern elections in the same scale with
the Know Nothings, and will the wings outside
Of the mysterious order, who have gone the
same way, adhere to this new American party
and its ticket in 1856? Doubtful-exremely
doubtful. In fact, there are symptoms already
existing Of division Of this great Northern
coalition anti administration majority into at
least three distinct and separate organizations
the native American, the Northern whig, and
the ultra free soil parties. There are also some
perceptible symptoms Of defections and divisions
in the Know Nothing camp, which may posi-
bly, result in the old story Of the New York
democracy before the great battle comes on.
Briefly, from all existing indications, we shall
have an exciting, indescribable and most extra
ordinary scrub race for the succession; and the
three highest candidates carried up to the
House will probably be SO carried up more
from their personal popularity than from the
strength of the party or parties supporting |
them. Ignoring the administration, the demo-
cratic party may possibly even yet be the
strongest in the field. But should the oppoei-
tion forces secure majority of the States, as
they will undoubtedly have majority Of the
members in the new House of Representatives,
they will only require union to cleo. their
man.
In this general view, it is important for the
opposition forces, first, to secure Q majority Of
the States in the new House because, in vot-
ing for the President in the House, each
State casts but one vote, plan which
makes Florida and Arkansas as heavy as New
York and Pennsylvania. Next, it will be i'm
portant for the opposition to have at least one
candidate from the people upon whom they
may mite in the House. Such man may
perhaps be found in George Law, Sam Hous
ton, j. J. Crittenden, William @. Rives, or in
some available and popular candidate still in
the shade.
The late elections do not determine the Pre-
sidential issue, nor will the elections Of the
current year. The Presidency will most pro-
baby remain an entirely open question till the
spring Of 1856.