New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-24

teen Presidential Elections which have occurred In
the course Of the present century, has there Deeh
any div.ion at the South amounting to anything oil
consequence. and on those four occasions and those
only. 10 witt in the election Of John Quincy Adams,
of Martin Van Buren,, of William H. HARRISON and
of General Taylor, has the struggle resulted IN the
success Of the candidate favored BY the Free STATES
Since the extension and performance OF the
Slavery interest became the leading object OF South
ern politics. even that small degree of political dis
sonauce which formerly existed at the South has
entirely disappeared. Upon the great question OF
raising the price of negroes, which Gov. Wise OF
Virginia LAYS down as the basis of his support OF
Buchanan. and in order to raise the price OF ne
groes, extending the area Of Slavery, and thereby
opening new markets, the South is an absO-
lutte unit Not only is the South, so far as
political majOritieS are concerned, unit on
this question, but nobody entertaining diff
ferent opinion is allowed TO express 1t; nor Is
any political organization tolerated for mo-
ment, which does not ayOw itself to have for lts
great and leading object the Strengthening OF the
Slavery interest. At this moment in the Southern
States the Buchanan and Fillmore parties both put
themselves forward as the special advocates of
Slavery and its extension each striving to gain the
upper hand by representing itself as more orthodox
and more efficient on this topic than its rival. At
the same time, no advocacy whatever Of Fremont is
allowed. Fremont hberty-poes are cut down by
municipal authority; members Of Fremont conyen.
tons are banished; Fremont meetings are broken
I'D by mobs; and those who dare to stand upon
Fremont electoral tickets are threatened with the
pains and penalties oftreason.
Considering the superior wealth and intelligence
of Shareholders, as compared with that of most
laboring white men, whom the institution of Slavery
reduces to pitiul condition OF poverty, ignorance.
and hepessness and considering the sort of bloody
and violent abuse of power familiar in all countries
in which Slavery prevails, this union of the South
in favor Of save-breedng and slavery extension is
no more Ia BE- wondered at than any other of the
numerous despotisms in which the few ride rough
shod over the many The only wonder is how, be-
side thus standing on the heads not merely OF their
black slaves-ior every five of whom they east three
votcs-but If their nOminally free white felow-cti-
zens, the slave breeders are also able to keep the
North in check-the North so much the superior of
the South in intelligence, wealth, and almost every
other element of power-the North 80 essentially
democratic in all its domestic and political ideas.
This is done, as we have said, on the principle
Divide and govern. The Free States have all along
been divided into two parties pretty equally
matched, and the Shareholders by always using one
ofthese parties and often both ofhem, have generally
contrivei to have their own way. early and long
proessng an attachment to the doctrines of
political equality and the rights of man 50 much in
vogue at the North, especially among the laboring
class, they obtained a permanent and hereditary
influence over the Democratic party of the Free
States which long gave them the control Of our
tOnal affairs.
Now, however that the Slavery extending poll
tic;sns openly dcnounce the rights of man and the
doctrines Of the Declaration of Independence, sub
stitutng the extension of Slaery in place of dem
ocratic equality, even beginning to set up the doc
trine that all laborers, white as well as black are
substantially slaves, and ought TO be- SO in form as
we'll AS fact they have lost entirely except among
the most ignorant classes, this ancient hold upon
the Democratic party. The Free States were just
upon the point of becoming unit in favor of re-
publican ideas, in opposition TO the union of the
Slave States for the extension of slavery when at
this critical coDjuncture new stumbling. block was
placed in the way Of this union, of which the Slave
ry-Extensionists have adroity awaited themselves
again to divide weaken and subdue the Free States.
Ii must be evident 10 every one that, but for the
Intervention of the questions raised by the Know
Nothing party, and the adroit appeals in reference
10 th, ST. questions made by the greater and smaller
Angel Gabriels who manage tina, party, TO the reig
ions and national antipathies Of the most impas-
sioped and least rejecting part of the public,
the North, instead If trembling in the bal
ance as it now does, i'll the greatest danger Of sue
cunlbing 10 gutta percha, club law and Border
RuFaris1n. would have presented a solid and united
front. such - would have put stop at once and
forever 70 the Entertainments OF the Slave Power,
restoring the national Government 10 the path III
which il moved before Tyler and Calhoun brought
in tbc question Of Texas annexation 10 drive that
Government from lis planetary revolutions about
,be Constitution as lis central sum- into new and
b;cllv scceutrc orbit in which il is fast moving Off
Ike a comet, into unknown depths Of space, the
n,rioJ Of is return from which, if ever. is more
than anybody can ioreteA.
The Know.Nothing party, ike many other par
tjes. is made up of three classes-frst, fools; Sec
ondly. crafty knsves who seek by the use of these
fools TO convert the party into an instrument for
their own personal advantage; and thirdly, persons
Of average sense aud Intelligence, whose po.
Gtical conduct is determined, not by views of
private advantage, but by considerations more
or les. sound. of public benefit. That the
nnrrher ~, t,nl. and OF GRITTY KNIVES In the