The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-08

Il
such enthusiasm, while in 80 the selection by
the democracy OF one of their best known,
most experienced and respectable statesmen,
should oe received here with such extraordina-
~ evidences of coldpess and distrust?
The solution OF this mystery ia very simple.
In 1852 public opinion looked with hope and
confidence to the democratic party as q break
water against the sediticus schemes of the snti-
slavery agitators of the Nor, h. On the contra.
~, in 1856 the democratic party, as deoaached
and dtDora)iZed by the criminal follies, blum
ders and imbecili,ies OF this Pierce admins
trstop. has LOSE the Conscience OF the majority
OF our thinking and independent men. This &C
counts for the comparative GOODNESS aud dis
trust with which the nomin alton of Mr.. Bu-
chanan has been recsived by tee newspaper
press Of this metropolis. We contend that the
independent press Of this city j. the best living
exponent OF the public opinion OF the day. La
our interior cities towns and villages there is
scarcely newspaper that is not the serTle
organ Of some little great man, or clique, or
committee. placing the poor editor under a
censorship as vigilant and despotic as that OF
France or Austria. No where else on this con-
tinent but in this city of New York does the
newspaper press exhibit or possess those &C i've
qualities of enlightened independence which
characterize the independent public journalism
Of the British metropolis. In Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Boston they have what may
be called al independent newspaper press; but
it is Of a character so contracted and provin-
cial, go poor in intellect, talent, enterprise and
moral courage, as scarcely to be entitled to
the distinction which it claims. The daily
press OF New Orleans, in all the essentials of
the modern school of Independent Anglo
Saxon journalism, stands second in this conn
try only to the press Of this great metropolis.
This is first-by all Odds fret first to comprs.
bend the movements Of public opinion through
out the Union--frst TO give these movements
an independent consideration and EXPIRE sion,
and first to admonish our little great men, and
the little cliques and cabsls of all sorts by
which they are surrounded, Of their real posi-
ton, and strength or weakness, before the coun-
try. Hence the Importance which we attach
10 the first broadside from our daily cotempo-
raries of this city, of all sorts and Sizes III
response to the Cincinnati nomination.
These newspaper commentaries are however,
but the opinions of the parties concerned.
They do not control results. They stand as
sign posts, pointing to future events; but in
themselves they accomplish nothing. It is
only by the practical work of an active can
vass among the masses of the people, face to
face, involving all the labors essential to the
organization of great homogeneous party
it is only, we ssy by such means as these-thst
public opinion can be brought to bear, either
this way or that way, to any definite
purpose AS matters aow stand, there is a
fair prospect for contest in which the excite
ments OF the slavery question Unframed as
they have been by Pierce and his conflict
ing free coil and niger driving policy to the
point OF civil war; may yet be made to as
sumo the character of q peaceable, argumenta-
tive contest before the people.
From the first, we have contended that the
Kansas Nebraska bill embodies the true coDsti-
tutional idea of territorial government-popu-
ar or squatter sovereignty. We have always,
too, contended that the Missouri compromise
was an unconstitutional bargain, ana Of no
valid or binding effect But the KansasNe-
braaka law, under the INSTRUMENTATION Of
our little peddling New Hampshire politician
ar d his good man Forney, has been changed
from its constitutional application into pub
lie nuisance. The mischief was commenced
with the land speculations of the Forney
Kitchen Cabinet, in conjunction with their
special agent in Kansas, Governor Reedsr.
The disorderly bloody and shocking events
which have followed in Kansas may be traced
to this free soil dabbling in the public and
Indian lands Of the Territory by the Governor,
with the connivance Of the administration
itself. Nor does the subsequent dismissal of
Reecer exculpate the real offender or palliate
his offence. Mr.. Pierce in that dismissal made
a virtue of necessity-not really on account
OF Reeder's land speculations but because Of
the peremptory demands of the Presidents
masters the Southern niger drivers and "bor
der ruiiars.'
We repeat, however, that notwithstanding
the frightful condition of hostilities be-
tween bellicose abolitionists and the "bor
der ruffians,' TO which the local affairs
of Kansas have been reduced, there is
still prospect for an honest solution
of the doctrine Of "squatter sovereignty
The people of the South have the constitution
al right to go into Kansas and settle there
the people of the North have the same right.
The law Of the Territory establishes this right,
and leaves the question of slavery to be de.
cided by the Jona yfde settlers of Kansas, yea or
nay. Relieved of the nightmare Of the Cincin-
natl nomination, President Pierce may now be
persuaded that he has nothing TO lose + the
constitutional execution Of the laa-ths' he
may safely exclude all illegal sbolitionists and
free soil missionaries having no bona yfIde resi-
dence in Kansas, and all the Missouri and
other outside "border rufans," as they are
called, from any participation in the local
elections Of the Territory. But II Mr. Pierce