The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-19
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
From ihR Richmond (Va.I South July %.
THE CHANCES FOB 1s6O-POsITI0N OF PAR
TIES

THE CHANCES FOB 1s6O-POsITION OF PAR
TIES.
A good man wrestling with adversely is q
spectacle for the gods. We improve upon the
proverb, and own a satisfaction in contempla-
ting the desperate struggles ola bad party under
an overwhelming burden of popular odium.
So the great epic bard of England EFFORTS q
tribute of admiration for the unconquerable
will and courage never to submit or YIELD"
with which Satan persisted in his war with
Heaven.
Whatever bad or weak things history may
have to tell of the Opposition party, the severi-
ty of her sentence will be mitigsted by an &C.
acknowledgement of their pluck. Observe with
what an air of sanguine assurance they disport
themselves in the midst of their present difficult.
ties. 1t is our contemporary of the Wing who
speaks:
SIN conclusion, the prospects of the opposi-
ton for 1860 are bright, and Frightening with
each succeeding day. We have only to select
men, as our candidates, of high character and
qualifications, and the day will be ours beyond
the possibility of doubt. We rejoice in the
belief that the days of the bogus Democracy
are numbered-that the corruptest and most
despotic political organization that ever existed
in any age or country has received its death
dow, ana VIII soon pass away forever, unre-
GREETED and unlamented."
1t matters not that they have been beaten
times without number-that their most fatter.
ing promises of success have been extinguished
in the sudden eclipse of all their hopes-tkat
their ranks have been decimated in each sue.
cessive assault upon the Democracy, until they
present the miserable appearance of flock
worried by wolves and heeced by the bram-
bles-it matters not that their leaders have fall
en-, their strongholds been taken, and their
principles abandoned in the confusion of pre-
cipitate retreat, still the Opposition are not sub
dued-stil they do not despair of again rioting
upon the spells of ofice-stll they utter q Fee
Bile defiance, aud prepare to suffer another de.
feat Like the "milk white bird" they yet
hope, after all their persecution, to lie down in
peace by the still waters, and to feed securely
in the green pastures. Indeed, our sanguine
contemporary of the Wing proclaims the day
of deliverarce at hand, and rushes upon the
Democracy in a transport of heroic rage.
We have no inclination to dissipate these
dazzling day-dreams of place and power where
with our enthusiastic neighbor consoles itself
under the pressure of actual calamity. Nor,
since its confidence ia the instinct of an magin.
alive temperament, rather than the result of
accurate observation and unimpassioned rea.
soniong, do we spprehend any shock to its feel.
ings from the calmest and most conclusive ex.
posture of the absurdity of its calculations.
The hopes of the Wing are based exclusive.
ly on the chance of rallyiDg all the elements of
Opposition in compact body against the Dem.
ocratic nominees. But is that q possible
achievement?
The Opposition army is divided into three
separate and independent columns. In the
order of power and importance, they are first,
the Black Republican Wings; second, the
Black Republican Democrats and, third. the
Know Nothipgs of the South. Among the Sc
various factions there is but one point Of agree.
ment, and that is hostility to the Democratic
party. By the first class, all the distinctive
tenets of the old Wing party, such as Protec.
ton, Internal improvement, a National Bank,
&c, are maintained with the utmost obstinacy
of bigoted error. Seward is their representa-.
tive man. On the contrary, Free Trade, the
/ Sub Treasury, and Jealous limitation of Fed.
eral power, are the watchwords of the second
wing. The Erening Post is the organ of their
| opinions. As for the third division, they are
not united among themselves upon the ordi.
| nary issues of public policy, while in respect
| to the paramount question of Slavery, thew are
at war with both their allies at the North. Of
this small and impotent organization, the Who
may be taken as faithful exponent.
| Such being the obvious and essential differ.
ences by which the Opposition are separated
into distinct factions, we are warranted in af
6rming the impopibility Of their uniting upon
common platfotu, and cooperating in sup
port of q single candidate. We cannot believe
for moment that our contemporary of the Whi9
will enlist under the Anti Slavery banner of the
Northern Opposition. Nor IL the probability
any greater, that Black Republican Democrats
4 uy;ll for.~vaa~ R.~~
ton principles in favor Of Seward and his Fed
eral policy. 1t is ss little likely that the noun
tain will 60 to Mahomet, The school of Pro
tectionists are too intent upon the plumber oi
the Treasury, to renource their schemes of op
pressive imposition and oozupt expenditure.
If in reply it be urged that the Abolition
Wings and Abolition Democrats of the North
agreed to suspend their jealousies and differ
ences in 1856, we answer, that even then they
failed to elect their candidate. And, Just il
proportion as circumstances are now less fa
vorabie to their fusion, will they be defeated IL
second attempt to get possession of the Gov
eminent In 1856, all political distinctions in
he free States we're obliterated by the wave O
fanaticism that swept over the North. Tn,
enactment OF the Kansas N ebraska bill, tn:
bred Scott decision, the chastisement of Sum
ner, and other incidents of Southern azores
sion, as they were stigmatized, concurred {,
rally the people of the North in compact mas
against the Democratic party. In the Anti
Slavery States, the fire of momentary passion
melted the popular mind into one lava volum
of sectional wrath, and precicipated it upo
the South with almost resistless power. Blu
the inAsmmatory influences of 1866 have a
ready spent their force. A reaction as inev
ably follows great popular excitements, as q
ebb succeeds to food tide. Repose is th
law of Nature, and the constraint of overactio
begets exhaustion. Hence the abortive effor
of the Black Republican agitators, who woul
avail themselves of tie Lecompton coutroye