The Nevada journal., 1857-09-25
Prospective Politics.


the object the anxious vision of politi-
clans is straining 10 discover There
are hundreds of ambitious men whose
prophetic ken is constantly attempting
to penetrate the yet misty and uncer-
tain future of politics, and happy would
be he who could discern even the dim
outline, the verieat shadow, which time
is to bring into full development. The
first glimpse of the nucleus of party
organization which is to play an impor-
tant part in controlling the destinies of
the republic = the first view of an or
ganization opposed to the shifting poll
cy of democracy. and presenting the
true elements of success will be hail
ed with delight by thousands and tens
of thousands throughout the Union ex-
elusive of the politician of whom, we
have spoken. whose only ambition is to
be first in the field and foremost in the
party to be organized. But none are so
gifted with prophetic vision as to unveil
the future and read the mysterious Sc
crets there in store. Yet there are
signs in the cloudy events of the day
which all may study and therefrom
draw conclusions and speculate to the
hearts content. For the political as
trologer Kansas is the key to unlock
the arcana of the future. Unless some
great question shall arise involving a
policy towards foreign nations. Kansas,
free or slave, appears to be the sole i'm
portant agent at work shaping the
course of politics.
The great struggle with southern
statesmen is the preservation of the
balance between the free and slave
States in the Senate of the United
States. The balance of power is the
favorite doctrine of the south When
California was admitted the equilibrium
was destroyed. Southern statesmen
opposed the admission with tenacity but
being overcome they had recourse to an
expedient to make up for the loss
Kansas Was to be admitted with slave
ry and thus the harmony of the sections
preserved. But giving Kansas over to
the natural law of emigration is likely
to prove fatal to the scheme. The
Kansas Nebraska Act which the south
so eagerly embraced and on which it
most firmly relied. seems liable to be a
viper in its bosom, for unless the govern
ment prostitute itself to dsfranchise
the people of the Territory slavery will
most assuredly be excluded from the
soil of Kansas. And thus the southern
project of maintaining the balance of
power is banked by. the act of the
south itself, and fatally so, for the half
desert region Of New Mexico, and
Arizona offer no inviting prospect
for the formation of slave States, while
that fertile expanse Of territory extend
ing from Missouri and Iowa to the Pa
cifc, and comprising Minnesota, Nebras-
ka, Utah, Columbus, Oregon and Wash
ington, is destined to add at least six
free States to the American Union
These added to California and Kansas
will give the North preponderance of
eight States or sixteen majority in the
Senate How is the balance of pcwer
to be maintainedl The country lying
west of Texas and now within tho linn
its of the American Union offers no fiat
tering prospects. Texas must be divi-
ded, Cuba acquired, Mexico conquered
or Southern ambition and Southern
hope turned in another channel.
1t cannot be expected that the long
darling scheme of preserving the bal
ance of power will be given over by
Southern statesmen, and it may not be
forced superstition that party may
arise having its strength In the South
among whose principles may be found
the indefinite expansion of the Union,
meaning of course in one direction, the
opening of the slave trade, and opposi-
ton to foreign emigration the North
owing to the latter much of its numeri-
cal and political strength, its prosperity
and influence at the national capital.
On the other hand, the complexion
of politics at the North presents more
dubious aspect. The decision Of the
Supreme Court III the Dred Scott case,
has removed the most p actical plank
in the Republican platform, and left no
probability of an opportunity t" restore
1t In much less than quarter of a cen
tury. A sweeping epidemic, or another
National Hotel affair may shorten the
DPriad and triye fnrca m tho Marty NJ On