The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-22

"A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF. so ne D.
The ultra presses in the service of the Pierce and
Buchanan party are beginning to turn sharply
around on their own friends. The present canvass
in this respect is perfect curiosity, for this con-
fusion of opinions, and these many slips OF the
tongue, observable in every corner, gives US the
idea Of political Babel and are a forerunaer Of
the dispersion Of its builders.
Our readers will doubtless remember how in
their childhood they were delighted with that
curious toy, mounted on the top Of house. re-
volving In the wind, composed Of figures of
men, each armed with long swords. At every
revolution they would thump each other Justify
on the head, sometimes slashing away in front,
and sometimes cutting six i'm the rear The
partisans of Pierce, Buchanan and Fillmore are
just in this position. and engaged In similar COM
bats Their assaults upon each other. their rapid
gyrations and their unexpected blows are mar
vel TO all beholders.
One of the last of these performances is for
the benefit Of Mr.. Senator Hunter.
The Charleston Mercury is belaboring him in a
pretty rough manner, and now charges him with
:. looseness and regeneration of principle"
1t really seems" says the Mercury. !. that
spell Of bewiderment has fallen upon Southern
politicians, and that their principles, instead
Of gathering force and clcarness with the emer-
gences which surround us. seem TO have caught
only the wildness of the times"
The cause OF this jercmiad Is found in speech
of Mr.. Hunter, in which he declared himself
ready to repeal certain infamous laws passed by
the Kansas Legislature. lie was not alone in
this readiness; other democratic friends of the
South and of Mr.. Buchanan were quite as willing
as he, and gave their votes accordingly for Mr..
Douglas pacifcation bill Mr.. Hunter said very
well and wisely. that Congress could not give
Kansas the power to pass unconstitutional laws,
and had not granted them any such power by
he Kansas-Nebraska act. This is one principal
ground on which the supporters Of Fremont and
the friends of the constitution take issue. These
illegal acts Of the Kansas Legislature would
never have passed but for the illegal elections
preceding them. and the fixed constitutional pow
CT Of Congress, expressly reserved to It, 70 lcgis-
late for the Territories cannot be cut of by the
original Kansas Nebraska bill. II 80. the Mis-
souri, compromise could never have been touched
by any subsequent resort to the constitution. It
would have mastered that instrument. No won
der the Charleston Hcrc0y is embarrassed by the
inconsistencies which consequently press upon its
political friends Turn which way they will,
there is no escape. What does it say, then, in
this heart breaking emergency
We are as completely sea upon this MON ertous CUES
ton as the compromise Of 1850 and the Ncbraska bill
Rad never passed. We adopt and laud one principle
10 day; we sanction n very opposite 10 morrow. such
the present craftsmanship Of the South vacaton and
Inconsistency pervads the language and acts OF her repre-
septstvcs, bringing weakness and contempt upon her
policy And why this Has the south no clearly de
bned rights uncer the constitution Are there no iand