The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-26

W. ott tutt EVtNitliStuuulJlg ali these uTdN-
backs this Washington conservative caucus,
after full discussion, embracing many patriotic
speeches, came to the important point Of 'entire
confidence in the practicablity of uniting all the
conservative elements Of opposition to the present
enteebed and distracted administration in the
contest Of 1850"
With this explicit statement Of the objects,
sentiments, proceedings and expectations Of this
Washington conservative opposition caucus,
there can be no difficulty in determining its ma
ierials Il was not a democratic caucus il was
moi republican CAUCUS; and il could, therefore,
have been nothing else than consultation Of
The ru!np Of the American or Know Nothing fac
ton. And the declaration made in behalf Of
this Getting, to wit, that its object is not to
have candidate elected by Northern votes
alone. bu' by the suiraees Of the people of both
sections. with the belief that with an accepta-
Die Southern candidate we can carry some FIVE
or six southern States jusiGes the conclusion
that The real game Of this movement is to fore
close mortgage on the republican party for the
heueli, Of the southern Know Nothings and their
scattered brethren in the North.
pom this point We arc sorry to confess that
We canno! share IN the ''entire confidence" Of
this caucus Of 4 browning victory. Ii MAJ be a
| good thing for a weak party TO be first in the
field. so rs to secure the choice Of its position;
but Judging from the American experiment with
Mr. Fillmore in 1856, they have but little 70
hope from similar experiment now. The
| party concerned is practically dissoved while
| the republican party, upon the general Issues Of
| slavery, believes itself TO be strong and capable
| Of debating the terms Of union to all the loose
| opposition materials of the country. The initia-
tive movement. therefore, which is to determine
the shaping Of the opposition elements for 1860
must come from the republican party-the domi-
nant party Of theNorih- and not from the broken
fragments Of the American faction, reduced
to the doubtful occup 4tion OF the single Southern
State Of MMyland
We believe that with such candidate and
platform as would BE- represented in the name &C
General Scott. or some such national patriotic
uo-i art, man, the opposition can sweep the coan
fIy IN lsdo as they did in 1870. because Of the
generalization. disorganization and practical
dissolution Of the old democratic party. That
great rarty. as organized under General Jack
son. was substantially destroyed by the despcr-
a'c jugglery Of Pierce and Douglas for the
Southern pro-slavery vote in the Cincinnati Con-
veaton They were foilcd by Northern re-ac
ii n. which compelled that Convention TO nom-
nate Mr.. Buchanan as representative Of the
conservative Union sentiment Of the country
Holding fast to that sentiment his admins
trait n lands firm and strong on the con-
fdence Of the country; Jut where is The
democratic party? Frustrated in the dust
in the North. and All at sen in the
Sorth, from the fierce contentious and hostile
plot AMI coun,erplots &c rival leaders and
scheming dcma.ogues for the honorS and spells
and lunder Of the succession.
Thus, from the present outside position Of Mr..
Douglas as Northern democratic leader on the
one hand. ard from the rampant iilibustering
free trade and African slave trade procvties Of
the Southern fre-eaterS on the other. the demo.
cracy Ia 1850. instead OF a solid front under the
buwarks Of the administration. may ~ divided
into two or three Presidential factions. That
they can lie consolidated upon any other basis
than the administration i ont Of the question:
that they viii be reunited upon this basis no
man. from the existing feuds. dissensions and
divisions in tic camp upon men and measures
sectional and tactiou. can undertake to say
With the democracy reunited upon the platform
Of the administration. thc gates Guild ~ opened
Tor a f,lson Of the opposition factions upon the
practical questions q The day. for the outside
Issues Of slavery and the petty divisions q lae-
tions and parties upon this abstraction. that and
the other. voald he all absorbed in tho practical
acts and tendencies Of The administration and
the democracy upon Cuba. Mexico. Central
American affairs. and the national finances. and
the reconstruction 81 the whole financial. com
mcrcial and business ialiic Of he country upon