The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-26

Liverpool. For grain In bags 3d. wN asked 0lloake
was tai len for London 1t s0e.
Revival OF the Slavery Agitstion-Signs of
the Times.
The malignant agitation Of the late pro slave
| ~, but constitutional, decision of the Supreme
Court-the late significant border rufians' doings
in Kansas-the resignation of Governor Geary-
the bred Scott proceedings in the New York,
Pennsylvania and other Northern Legislatures
| the renewed fulminations of the Puritan pulpit
against the Southern slavery propaganda" are
conspicuous among the signs of the times of a
sectional CONFUSION in 1860, more violent, viru-
lent and dangerous than anything at present
dreamed Of, even by the most hot-headed and
crack-brained fire. eaters and fanatics of the day
Every reader will remember the general calm
which followed the Inauguration of Mr.. Pierce.
The old wing party had been utterly destroyed;
there was but one party left in the countryside
victorious democracy-standing upon the solid
platform Of the Union, and the peace of the
Union, as established by the compromise mea-
sures of 1850. For nearly two years this hopeful
state Of peace and democratic nationality and in
vincibility continued until democratic rival of
Mr.. Pierce for the Cincinnati nomination fright
ened him into surrender upon the Kansas-Ne
braska bill. Then followed that sec.
tional agitation which has reduced the
democratic party to popular minority in
the country Of over three hundred thousand votes
according to the test of the late Presidential cleo
ton. AT this critical juncture, and with all the
elements enumerated of an aggravated slavery
excitement in full play, Mr.. Buchanan has entered
upon the Presidency, and taken up the broken
and tangled thread of our foreign and domestic
affairs, as left on the floor by his imbece and I'M
fortunate predecessor.
Such is the violent contrast between the OPEN
ing of the late administration and the present.
II is the contrast between day of balmy airs and
genial sunshine and day black and heavy with
the gathering elements Of a fierce tornado. The
spoilsmen of the party camp, aud their conflicting
clamors for Office, can have but a contemplate
influence upon the public mind at such crisis
and whether this or that place is given 70 Tom
Dick or Harry the result will be substantially
The same-the disappointed to the appointed will
stand as ten TO one. The public mind Is Indifferent
upon this subject, for the public soicitude is d.
rected to the great pending issues between the
North and the South. Here, too, among the mode
rate, reasonable and conservative masses of both
sections and all parties, there is very generous
disposition towards Mr.. Buchanan. Indeed, the
most violent leaders Of the opposition forces do
not contemplate any special hostility TO him,
inasmuch as he has officially declared
hat be is not, and does not intend
20 become a candidate for another term.
His administration is accepted as a thing estab-
Iisbed, and as a thing which will end four years
nence. Bn the succession is the question; and
1t is to the contest of 1850 for the succession
iha, the public anxieties and all the opposition
movements OF the Interval will be directed.
This interval to 1850 will be a sort Of arms
tice like that between q belesguering army and
a beleaguered garrison. The regular lombard
ment may be suspended for a space; but in the
meantime the army within the walls will be kept
under arms and at work repairing their defences,
while the army without will be advancing their
earthworks, and bringing up their reinforce
ments, munitions and materials for carrying the
place by storm. Thus, although Mr.. Buchanan,
like Menschikoff, may escape the consequences Of
any mistakes which be may commit, the party
leader appointed 70 succeed him. like Gortscha.
koH will not and cannot escape, except by
bridge of boats to the North and commanding
side of the harbor.
With these views of the present, the opposition
forces are preparing for the future. The immi-
nent hazards Of another bloody outbreak be-
tween the pro slavery and no-slavery squstters
of Kansas, the prospect Of the hurried and VIC
lent conversion of Kansas into a slave State
by the border rufiians, have been actively seized
upon by the Northern anti-slsvery presses; while
the bred Scott decision, by the Rev. DIR. Cheever
has been denounced already, from Sabbath to
Sabbath, from the pulpit as invoking the special
wrath and vengeance Of the Almighty. Aud
this is but the beginning of this renewed agita-
ton; for there are yet over three years remaining
for the full organization of the battle among the |
Northern antislavery forces As the hue and 1
cry increases. the mouths Of the three thousand |
clereymen Of New Eogland will join In the wild
,borus against The Southern slave oligarcby'-
be odds and ends Of the various Northern fac
ions will be gathered together including. no
loubt, some very active recruits from the dsap-