The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-05

TAe Defeat OF blair IN MlssouIs--The First
Gun for the Next Congress and the Next
Presidepcy-A Review o. che Field.
There Is something very signifcan! in the
news from Missouri of the defeat of Blair for
the next Congress, in the st. Louis district
AS the first anti slavery member from any slave
State, the election Of Mr.. Blair to the present
Congress was accepted by the black republi-
cans as the suspicious beginning of regular
free soil invasion of the South; and hence, on
all sides throughout the Union the question of
his reelection has been regarded with an IN
common degree of interest His defeat fore
shadows healthy reaction against the anti
slavery sgitators; and not only discloses a fair
prospect for the democracy in 1860, but state
of things which may possibly result in a demo-
cratic majority in the next Congress.
Granted that Blair was defeated By the in
tervention of another opposition candidate, and
that the combined vote of the opposition fac
tions will show a heavy majority in his
district against the democracy, does not this
division Of this majority, for all practical
purposes reduce it to q minority: That is the
point, and the vital point at issue. We have
heretofore shown that at any time since 1886
the democracy throughout the Union have been
minority party, and that their successes from
1886 to this day have been secured, not from
their popular ascendency, but from the divi-
sions Of the opposition forces 1t was so in
1886, in 1874, in 1852, and in 1856. Through
out all this period Of twenty years, the only
Presidential election in which the opposition eie-
meuts Of the country were cordially united was
that of 1910, when they swept the country like
whirlwind True, they elected General Taylor
in Is4S; but it was less from union among
themselves than from the Van Buren, Buffalo
detection on the other side
With these repeated lessons of wholesome
punishment Of 1886, 1874 and 1852, and espe-
cially after the suicidal Fremont and Fillmore
division Of 1856, we had supposed that the op-
position managers Of all factions would be
brought to the principles of common sense, and
to the imperative necessities of a hearty coali-
ton against the democracy, as in q common
cause. There are, however, in the opposition
camps too many captains, and clques, and plat
forms, and grudges, and conflicting little
schemes for the spoils, to justify any hopes
OF practical general reconciliation. The
man who bites of his own nose to spite
his face does not exhibit more ridiculous
spirit Of revenge than was betrayed by the Fill
more managers Of 1856. They now frankly
confess that their object in that campaign was
not the election Of Fillmore, but the defeat of
Fremont; and from all the indications around
us, this same scurvy idea of revenge is now
more powerful among the Know Nothing pipe
layers than all the teachings of experience and
all the arguments of common sense put toge.
ther. This ST. Louis Congressional election af-
fords the strongest proof upon this point that
could be desired
A corresponding spirit Of enmity. bitterness
and retaliation has been created among the
Seward managers against these intractable
Know Nothings, particularly in this State,
which appears to be the headquarters Of all
these intestine troubles Of every party. At this
late day, on the threshold Of our fall campaign,
which will probably decide the complexion Of
the next Congress and the election Of our next
Presidential this crisis, when the fusion Of the
opposition forces of this commonwealth is
matter Of vital moment TO all the factions con-
cerned, what do we zee? Is II spirit of conci-
liation and union. or Of discord and disintegra-
ton. We answer that never was the Seward par
ty in this State in more broken down and
unpromising position Of decay and disruption
than at this very day; and that the prospect Of
q fusion Of the Seward republicans, the Fill
more Know Nothings and the Temperance and
freedom mem upon any ticket or any platform
is exceedingly bad. In short, from all present
appearances, such are the divisions and demo-
ralzations among our opposition cliques and
factions that If the democrats do not secure a
majority of the New York members TO the next
Congress the failure will be altogether due to
their own folly and stupidity.
Passing, however, to the more comprehensive
issue Of the next Presidency, we perceive In
this defeat Of Blair in Missouri and In the first
returns from the Kentucky election, the turning
Of the tide. In the one case we see that there
are other issues which are sufficiently powerful
to override the anti slavery agitation; and in
the other, that even the rump of the Know
Nothing party in the South is falling to pieces.
In 1860, then, we shall probably find the demo.
crscy in the South in full possession Of that Sec
ton, end the opposition Of the North split up
worse than the Northern democracy, into ire.
concileable cliques and factions. In this condi-
ton Of things the necessities OF both sides may
drive both the democracy aud the opposition to
ONE very unexpected proceedings.
II appears to he generally understood that as
the last three democratic Presidential nomina-
tions-Cass, Pierce and Buchanan--were from
The North, the next nominee, If new man,
must be given to the South. But where In the
South can we find the available man Not in
Virginia; for If we take either Wise or Hunter,
or any other man than Wise from that State,
49,. LII a.. - ILL a.aansu Aho Nirninia nhis