The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-19

IN EW IONA dEKALD, I
LscoIcpsoa In Co"gress-ReJoaeiags OF the
Oppo~ssion-T~e South Betrayed by soutn-
esn Men.
In the remarkable speech Of Mr.. Senator
Crit enden, Of Wednesday, on the Lecompton
constitution, o new leaf was turned over in the
history of the Kansas imbroglio. The distin-
eushed Senator from Kentucky has boldly
thrown the whole weight of his name, his posi-
lion and his talents on the side of Douglas,
Wise, Walker and the Northern black republi-
can holy alliance. But still the Importance of
this speech of Mr.. Crittenden does not lie in the
strength Of his argument; for this is but re-
petition of the old story of border rufian frauds
and forgeries. The popularity which makes
this speech the most important of the session is
the fact that it is the first development of the
practical results Of the negotiations which have
been going on for several weeks between the
black republicans of the North and the plot
ting Southern Know Nothings of Congress.
Upon the heel of this bold 1'ronunciamtnso
from the Kentucky Senator, one of our Seward
contemporaries makes the announcement that 1t
is possessed of information which renders the de-
feat of the Lecompton constitution in the House
Of Representatives certain and sure. This may be
20; but as it can only be so through joint stock
combination of the black republicans, the Doug
las democratic renegades of the Northwest. and
the marketable Know Nothings Of the South,
we may safely conclude that this mongrel COM
bination has been made up. A common league
among such diverse and incongruous elements
must necessarily involve some special consider
atoms to the several parties implicated; and We
dare gay that this anti Lecompton alliance, in
its essential features, is marked-6rst, by We
nality, corruption and degrading concessions to
political huckEters; and secondly, by the COM
mon purpose to break down the administration
of Mr.. Buchanan. The exact terms of this bar
gain will leak out hereafter. 1t is enough
for the present that bargain has been
made.
With the delivery of the special message Of
the President upon Kansas affairs, it was ad
mitted on all hands that there was positive
majority in both houses in favor of the Lee
compton constitution. The prevailing opinion
that, more readily than any other expedient, it
would settle the Kansas agitation, satisfy the
South. and still make Kansas a free State, ap-
peared to be too strong to be successfully re
sisted. But delays are dangerous when we
have to deal with factious disorganizers, reck-
less conspirators and trading demagogues.
When detection, treachery, rebellion and de-
moralization are detected in the camp, they
should be dealt with promptly and rigorous
ly. 1t is foolish in the last degree to
tanper and dilly-dally with them after
the fashion Of the present administration party
in Congress Their only policy was to follow
President. Thus they had the game in their
hands; but now, by their temporizing delays
and vacillations, it may be lost.
The rise and progress Of this anti-Lecompton
conspiracy against the administration are very
curious and suggestive. 1t was first family
foreshadowed in saucy letter last summer from
Mr.. Douglas to Mr.. Buchanan concerning the
promotion Of Washington ofliceholder. This
was next followed by more significant warnings
from the home organ Of Mr.. Douglas, the Chi
cago Times. Next followed the coup dftat Of
Walker and Stanton in Kansas, which gave the
Territorial Legislature to the free State party;
next the open declaration Of war from Mr..
Douglas against the administration, with the
reading of the Presidents annual message in
the Senate; next, the Tammany Hall manifesto
of Governor Wise; and 80 on, from step to step,
has this work Of detection and Generalization
been spreading and radiating from Washington
TO every point of the compass. The ignorant,
imbeeile and spoils seeking democratic journals
Of the North have been utterly incompetent to
grapple with the exigencies Of the crisis; the
Richmond Enquirer, the oracle Of Virginia demo
cracy. blows hot and cold in the same breath,
and the representatives of the party in Congress
stand like q beleaguered garrison, afraid Of the
enemy in front, but more afraid Of traitors in
the camp and the enemy in the rear.
Thus, from want Of unity, discipline and de-
cision Of purpose, the Lecompton democracy Of
Congress have lost their Southern allies, upon
whom they had counted. The votes Of the
House upon the late decision Of the Speaker
have betrayed the extent Of this miscalculaton
The speech of Mr.. Crittenden, and the simulta-
neous boastngs and rejoicings Of the opposi-
ton. show very conclusively that those South
crn Bavarians have made their terms with, and
are to 20 over TO the enemy. The disastrous
retreat from Leipsic may follow; but the field
Of Leipsic has yet TO be fought If it should
turn out that the present compact between the
black republicans, the Douglas renegades and
the Southern Know Kothings is upon any such
basis as that by which Mr.. Banks was elected
the Speaker, and Mr.. Wendell the printer, for
the last Congress, IL will prove indeed o base
transaction. For all political purposes, it will
be enough for the Southern people to know that
the cause of the South in this Kansas contest