The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-18
Signs OF the Times-The Disunion Conven-
tlon Mt Utica.


Signs OF the Times-The Disunion Conven-
tion at Utica.
An Anti-Slavery or Disunion Convention open
ed on Monday at Utica. If it is not worth notice
on account of any novelty or merit in the senti-
ments that were ELECTED from the speakers it
claims passing glance as, a sign of the times.
The successor and, so to speak, the continuation
of the Worcester Disunon Convention, the Utica
gathering shows which way the wind is blowing
in part of the North.
The wave which elected Mr.. Buchanan did not,
as that statesman is reported TO have said, kill
out the abolitionists. On the contrary there is
reason to believe that they never were so conf
dent if not so vivacious, as they will be in the
course of few months The recent election has
given them strength, hope, consistency, union
every thing but numbers They control no more
minds, at present, than they did year ago; but
before 1850, there is no saying where they may
not be. One thing only is certain: they are
alive, they are vigorous, they are hopeful; and
with the help Of the old serpent, they expect to
have good time in 1860.
On the other band, the sectional movement in
he South is equally marked. From various
quarters we note a gradual gathering up Of the
strength for a contest, a silent preparation for a
deadly struggle, a severing of interests which
might interfere with civil dscord, and above all,
in every quarter, noisy frothing of reasonable
talk from the lips of certain politicians: aud we
see, in the journals which affect strong loyalty to
the Buchanan administration. desire to play fast
and loose. q preparation for events which might
necessitate the throwing off all aegiances and the
rupture Of all personal and party ties, which can
not BE- understood otherwise than as preliminary
to jonder Of issue with the national government
on questions Of sectional character. Indeed, in
one sense the Southern sectional movement is far
more noteworthy and more alarming than the
Northern. These disunionists OF the North have
no vital interest in the matter other than poll
teal power. One man attends their conven
tons in order TO have the pleasure OF hear
ing himself speak another in order TO be
abused in the papers; and the mass out Of
vogue general sympathy with the oppressed
and compassion for the negro. But vanity and
pity are very poor materials of war: they
soon wear cut On The other hand, the
Southern interest in slavery is real and
actual The follower of Prudhou, who proclains
that property is robbery, is not more obnoxious
10 the New York or Paris millionaire than the
alolitions, is to the STAKEHOLDER. For the slave
holder. the older he grows, puts more Of bis
money and more Of his heart into his slaves
They are q complement TO his land, as
an 4 mr.
shine. They are his riches; each additional
slave adds to his income, which neither land
nor tools nor machinery nor even capital
| can do The slavery quarrel, for him, therefore
i one for bis bread and bis hearth lie goes into
| Il as a man defends his house with the thorough
consciousness that his enemy is q burglar, Re
| treat for him is ruin. Defeat means starvation
| Such man will fight well and a party consti
tuted OF such men will be very dangerous indeed
When we look around, and try TO find what
basis there is for an opposition on the part Of the
national conservatives 10 these two sectional par
les We are bound to admit that the prospect is slen
| der. The wings are really dead, and we presume
that even Mr.. Fillmore would be satisfied with {
decent suit of mourning for his friends the Know
No,bipps. But are the democrats any better of
So far as can be judged at present. the invincibl
democracy are undergoing process Of disinte
| grafton which will soon make il impossible 4
| find the dcmicl Of the party. II is gradual.
dissolving into lite elements, some men falling u
right, some falling TO left some retreating, an'
some advancing so far as to be beyond the call o
the commander and outside of the piquets.
What then do thcee signs mean9 They meal
that, without some astounding and unexpecte'
change, such as war with England, we shall
have, in 1850, the most terrible sectional contes
that the confedcracy has ever endured That tn
past old parties will disappear from that contes
altogether, and make way for new ones, the tri
umph of either of which will and must be th