The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-21
WASHINGTON. D. c..
THURSDAY, OCTOBER q, 1853.
1856 & 1853.

| The Washington Union takes comfort in
comparing the results of the elections of this
year with those of 1896. The reverses Of
the Democratic Party, it says, were severer
then, the msjorities of the Opposition heavier,
but the reaction came; the Democratic masses
rallied, Mr.. Buchanan was elected President,
and the Opposition was defeated in the Con.
gressional elections.
The Union has overlooked certain essential
differences. The heavy Opposition majorities
in l854-'55 we're the result Of two causes,
Know Nothingism, and the Anti Slavery excite.
ment, acting together and simultaneously, 30
as to disorganize the Wing Party and over
throw the Democratic, but possessing no Atm
| ity for each other. The partial gains of the
so-called Democracy after that revolution, re-
suited, not so much from reaction in its favor,
as from the separation of the elements of the
Opposition, preparatory to new political or
CARNATIONS. 1t was in this transition period,
when the Republican and American parties,
eliminated out of the materials of an incongru.
GUS Opposition, began to act independently of
each other, that the Pro-Slavery Democracy
recovered so far in the free States, as to OBJ.
tain an uncertain, unreliable majority in the
House of Representatives, and to elect its Presi.
dental candidate by minority vote.
This year, it's overthrow in such of the New
England States as have held their elections,
and in Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa, must be at
tributed, not to An Opposition of unknown prin.
ciples, acting under temporary impulse, to
be resolved after victory into conflicting ele-
ments, but to Party, permanent in organiza-
ton, settled in principle and policy, steadily ad-
vancing in power. Even in Pennsylvania,
where it was found convenient by some to talk
of the Peoples Party, the head of the State
ticket was Republican, and Republicans con-
stituted the main body of the Opposition, as
Republicans constitute the great majority of
the members elected to Congress.
Let not the Slave Democracy, then, indulge
in vain hopes for the future. The cireumstan-
ces chat favored its reaction after the reverses
of l854-'5s, no longer exist.
Democrats, who are anxious to know the
truth Americans, who are sincerely DESTROYS
of seeing the most effective means adopted for
the overthrow of the Slave Power, Conserva-
tives of the North and Liberals of the South,
willing to see a change of Administration,
but with no proper appreciation of the kind of
organization necessary to accomplish that end,
ought to study the political history of the coun-
try for the last three or four years.
1t was political opposition to the extension
of Slavery and the domination of the Slave
Power, and moral opposition to Slavery IS
Principle, wheresoever and under what form
soever existing, that gave birth, form, and d.
rection, to the Republican Party and it was
this Party which obtained the control of nearly
all the free States in 1896; and which,
alone, showed the ability in 1856 to contest the
Presidency, with the so.called Democracy.
There was no nondescript Peoples Party in
the held; and as to the American, it was raj
lied under Pro Slavery auspices, and rivslled
| the Black Democracy in its servility TO Ss
very.
Examine the returns of the Election Of 1856
Buchanan had eighteen hundred and fifty thou
sand votes, of which twelve hundred thousand
were cast in the Free States; Fillmore, eight
hundred and eighty Eve Thousand, of which the
Free States gave about three hundred and
eighty Thousand; Fremont, thirteen hundred
and forty thousand, all, with the exception of
one or two thousand, thrown by the Free
States.
| In Pennsylvania and Indiana, the so called
Democrats had majorities, so email, however,
that they we're counted by hundreds in New
Jersey, Illinois, and California, they could boast
Free State had the Americans a majority or
plurality, and in but one, California, did they
number more than the Republicans. On the
other hand, the Republicans had heavy MAORI
ties in Michigan, Wisconsin, aud all the New
Euglaud States large pluralities in New York,
Ohio, and Iowa in all the Free States, one
hundred thousand more votes than the so-called
Democrats, and million more than the Ameri
cans
Can any man doubt which was the dominant
Party in the Free States in 1856, which repre-.
sented their Principles and Purposes7 VIVA,
has since occurred, to encourage the hopes oil
the Slave Democracy, to revive the pretensiona
Of the Americans-(w we mean, once for all, by this
term, to designate those who, arrayed under the
standard of Willard Fillmore in 1856, secured
the election Of Mr.. Buchanan ito discourage
Republicans, or give countenance to the idea
that new Party is needed to overthrow the
ruling Power2
The Slave Democracy gained a few members
In the present House, not from the Republicans
so much as from the Americans. The real Re
publican strength is greater than in the las
, House; but not an American was returne,
from the Free States. And thus far the State
which have held their elections this year, hav
r returned much larger Republican delegation
than that by which they are now, or were il
1856, represented in Congress. The Republ
can Senators that year numbered but fifteen
to-day, they count twenty-three, with prospec
b of speedily adding two more to their number
I all thoroughly Republican, able and de,e
mined-while your Slave Democratic Senate,
! ere divided by feuds, and the Americans ca,
b not boast of single Senator from Ere
8 State.
! What effec. has the reaction" talked of b
: the Union, produced? Have the Republican
a lost single State they controlled in 1856
E. Where are the gains of the Slave Democracy
;. Where is the strength of the American Party
Buchanan carried California in 1856 by pl
T. raiity of twenty-six thousand over, the Repub
e. cans, and Fillmore received twelve thousar
y more votes than Fremont. This year, the R
le pubGcans appear as the chief Party coptest;r
= the field with the Administration, which su