The Washington union., 1857-04-18
THE NExT HOUSE on REpREsENTArIvEs.

this year. all of which are southern via Maryland Vir
ginia, North Carolina Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi,
louisiana Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee There are
also two vacanciesone in Missouri, occasoned by the
election of James S. Green democrat, TO the United
States Senate and in Indiana, occasioned by the
death of Samuel Brenton black republican These States
and districts represented in the last Congress by ~
democrats, 25 southern nownothings, and niggerite
Should they return similar representatives to the
Congress. the full House would be divided thus Demo-
Gratis, lis niggerites, including northern know-noth
ngs, 92 southern know -nothings 27 total 234 Dem
ocTatic majority niggertes, 23 democratic MAORI
" over southern know-nothngs, 88 combined opposi
on majority over democrats A. But there is reason to
believe that the places OF several southern know-noh
ings will be filled by democrats; and there Is some
chance that democrat will be elected TO fill the vacancy
in Indiana-the niggere majority last fall being only
no. out of vote Of 90 500 Ii three such changes
should occur and in the opposite direction, the
democrats would have majority OF all the members !;
and we anticipate larger democratic gain than this in
the southern States But In any tbs clear that there
will be large majority of conservative men in the House,
as well as in the Senate"
This is all very well as far as ii goes, and we are
even sanguine enough believe that The expectations
Of our Detroit cotemporary will be more than real
ized or, in other words, that the democrats will
have clear and undispued majority Of from four TO
eight in the next House lie must be blind, indeed,
who cannot see that great reaction has taken place
within few months which is confined TO no partic-
uar section Of the Union The recent township
elections in Maine, and the more recent and more
brilliant democratic riumphs in Connecticut, afford
no slight evidence of the patriotic workings of the
public mind of New England, and encourage the
gratifying belief that the day is not far distant when
this portion of the republic will be freed from the
dangerous Vaccinations of demagogues and traitors,
and the grinding tyranny of prestly dictators. The
local elections in New York, Ohio, Wisconsin,
Michigan, and Iowa have been equally as significant
and as decisive as those Of Maine and Connecticut;
and by reference to another part of this evenings
paper it will be that democratic friends in
Georgia and Florida have furnished substantial eyi-
dence of intention to take an active and success
full part in the great work in which the hopes of all
true patriots are now centred.
The signs of the times are peculiarly auspcious for
the growth and spread of democratic principles but
still we would warn our friends particularly in those
States in which congressional elections are yet TO be
held not TO be soothed into apathetic confidence
from the surface condition Of affairs, bright and fiat
tering as it now appears. They have righteous
cause they are identified with principles which in
spite of temporary checks, are enduring and nm
changeable; and we doubt not that they win place
in nomination candidates who are in every respect
worthy of the confidence Of The people. But this is
not enough to secure victory There must be
friendly counsels and deliberations and in many in
stances, no doubt, friendly compromises and conces-
sions sthorough organization, and harmony and CON
eert Of action. Tho opponents Of democratic prnci-
pies must be met, combatted, and overthrown with
unver nT frufb ayultino aloay
should not and cannot be raised as long as single
enemy remains inthe field. Our friends in the States
in which elections yet TO of have il in their
power to make the next House of Representatives es
scntialy and numerically democratic We do not and
cannot believe that they viii disappoint the high
hopes which have been raised everywhere by lively
and grateful recollection Of their past devotion TO The
men, measures, and principles Of the democratic
party.
II is true that the conjectural majority Of the dem
ocrats in the next House indicated by us is a small
one but il is amply large for all practical purposes.
small majority in Legislative body is generally
guarantee Of harmonious counses and unity Of action
on the side Of the dominant party. very large
majority is not unfrequenty attended with the most
mischievous and even fatal results. The evils Of
large and unwieldy majorites strongly pointed
out and so forcibly illustrated in late number Of the
London Times in view Of the overwhelming victory
achieved by the Pamerstonian forces, that we make
room for the following extracts as an appropriate
pendant to these hasty-written remarks:
SIT Is possible to have too much of good thngtoo
much time, too much money too many friends, too
much support and TO have them too cheap and throw
them away Who does not know what ii is to have half
day TO get ready for short Journey and to lose ones
train in consequence Lord ralmerson viii start with
draw upon and ii win be matter Of indifference to him
whether half dozen become careless, sulky or
queer and leave him for somebody else nobod, else
A majority Is thing that must be used. There is n
tide in the affairs of men,. good majority is high
water, which will carry you safe to ii You have
everything ready, and can it without moments de-
lay; but will strand you at the sill OF your dock
break your back the mud before its gates YOU are
five minutes too late. parliamentary majority is moth
ing earth but giant. 1t looks big and strong
but is melting and crumbIng away from the hour it was
made Peel started in 1871 with am imposing and over
whclmng majority OF co. and people seemed to think
IL msst last forever and that conservatism TO usher
In the millennium. But whether majority DC great or
small IL may be observed that in the third fourth
year of Parliament the Minister finds increasing Diff
Guilty in keeping his together Certain feelings not
quite on the surface, evidently at work, which /
undermine the whole outward form of things, and the
party is apt to become like ship the tim
bers of which whole TO the eve but rotten within
The majority must be worked; il must be committed; it |
must be animated and raised in selfrespeot by the con-
scousness Of doing something and being working and
meritorous majority An idle majority will leave You or
bring to grief surely idle SON or an idle