The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-01

ano IN congress, throughout every department
OF her State organization, becomes a free State,
There can be nothing to agitate against the"sla
power" with the 'slave power" and slavery en-
tirely removed fir m Kansas. In this view the
Lecompton constitution would hardly serve a.
bueaboo to frighten the most nervous of the
old women Of the Northern abolitionists, much
less to weaken the ranks of the Northern demo
crazy. In fact, with the admission Of Kansas
and with her people thus left perfectly free tc
regulate their domestic institutions in theil
own way" this senseless agitation will cease
The South will be satisfied in having carried
their abstraction, and the North will be content
with the full possession of the prize. A power
full prestige to the administration, the harmony
Of the party, and the peace Of the Union, will
follow in their regular order.
Thus, looking to the campaign Of 1860, we
regard the success Of the democracy, from pre-
sent appearances, as lying in the opposite road
to that indicated by Mr.. Douglas. We believe
that the adoption of the Lecompton constitu-
ton, instead of breaking down the Northern de-
mocracy, will result in re-uniting all the scat,
tered fragments Of the party, North and South,
uponthe general policy of Mr.. Buchanan's ad-
ministration. and in great democratic victory
in 1860, upon new and leading practical
issues which will be brought into
the foreground. But it is perfectly
idle to talk Of the future of the democracy if
the party abandon the administration, and
break up into little sectional cliques before the
expiration of the second year of MI. Buchanan s
term Of Office
The States admits that "ihe South is almost
unanimous in favor" Of the Lecompton consti
tuition. And why so: Clearly because of the
great constitutional principle and the great po-
litical issues involved. If the said constitution
j. rejected. Il will be because of its recognition
of slavery. Mr.. Douglas may plead different
plea; but this will be the real cause The South
will thus constyue il as the verdict Of the North
against the introduction Of any more slave
States. For if the North cannot concede the
empty abstraction in this case, what can the
South expect in any new case involving the
substance as we'll as the shadow Of slavery?
We may safely assume, therefore, that the re-
lection of the Lecompton constitution will be
but the beginning, instead of the ending, Of the
troubles of the democracy and the dangers of
the slavery agitation. Reject this constitution,
and the first result will be the humiliation
of the administration as the visible head
Of the church. The next thing will he,
from the course which will inevitably be pur.
sued by the Southern democracy, the complete
n ,vet,ov of s,,t1
tional factions. We might contemplate all
this with comparative indifference if the mis-
chief would only stop here. If one administra-
ton is rendered powerless for active service,
we can substitute another and as our existing
parties fall to pieces there is no difficulty in re.
organizing their fragments into new parties.
But the great danger to be feared is the organi-
cation Of purely sectional parties upon the
slavery question. Let things be driven to that
pass. and We are at once, North and South,
thrown into the broad down hin road to
destruction.
Away the Mouth against the South, and the
South against the North, upon slavery, with no
intermediate half way ground u compromise
and the South must soon be pushed to the wall
or pushed out of the Union. The consequences
of such step we have before us in the con-
tinually fighting military republics of South
America. The greatness, glory and moral
grandeur of these United States, as they now
stand, would thus be dissipated among, per-
hsps, half dozen ittle republics North.
South. East and Wcst-perpetually in state
Of war with each other or in a state Of civil
war between two or three military chieftains
Let US. Of all things, avoid the rocks and
shoals which lie in the way to such terrible
disasters. Give the South their abstraction in
reference to Kansas-it is all they ask. What
cause Of complaint will there be to the North.
with Kansas practically organized at every
point rs free State? Pass the Lccompton
constitution, and the administration will be
strengthened and the party will come together
again, North and South; but reject this con-ti-
tuition, and the real war of the sections begina
Kansas IN CoogreHs-Incopsistspcie OF Sena.
tors Seward md Douglas.
The Kansas question will practically occupy
the attention Of both houses Of Congress this
week, and we believe the result will be a solu-
tioH Of the whole difficulty upon the broad con-
stitutional basis which the President has advo-
cated-the absolute rights of the people of
Kansas, as represented by their official acts to
regulate and adjust their own local affairs. A
caucus of democratic senator's is to be held in
the Senate chamber this evening, TO determine
upon the plan Of operations to be pursued. and
il is therefore o fit occasion for a rtsssa of the
facts Of the case, showing the position occupied
by the two principal leaders of the opposition
Senator Douglas and Senator Seward. The dis
cussion in Congress will doubtless be acrimoni-
Gus and personal, and all the more so from me
fact that the record proves directly upoa Mr.
Douglas the truth OF the charge of his having
abandoned his former nnsifinn and now adxocaI.