The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-24


The Third Party and Its Balance OF Power.
There is disturbance among the opposition
| elements of Connecticut which, on the frat Mon
| day in April next, may result in the gain of a
democratic Congressman or two from that State.
In ordinary times this would be small affair;
but ct this particular junctIre it becomes a
matter upon which may depend the election Of
the next President Of the United States, and
therefore subject Of the highest political i'm
| portanee.
1t appears that the republicans, upon very
liberal allowance of fishy democrats to the regu-
lar administration party, have already secured
one hundred and twelve members in behalf of s
| republican organization of the new House Of
Representatives; and that IL they secure the two
members from Minnesota, the two from Rhode
Island, and the four from Connecticut still to be
elected they will have al aggregate of one
hundred and twenty votes, or clear majority
over all other parties and factions combined.
We presume that the Minnesota and Rhode
| Island members will be elected BY the republi-
Gang and thus the great issue with regard to the
| next Congress will depend entirely upon Con-
nectieut. Here, however, as we have indicated,
from the rehellious movements of the Americans
and old line wings, the chances are decidedly in
avor Of democratic instead Of republican
gain Of member or two; and from the present
condition Of our political parties it is the mani
| fest policy of the conservative Wigs and Anne
rieans OF Connecticut 10 cut In so as to cut out
the republicans from positive majority in the
| House.
The reasons for this course are very plain and
| ought to lie conclusive. In all probability we
| shall have scrub race for the next Presidency
which will throw the election into the House Of
Representatives; and, in view Of an election by
that body, the issue may be controlled by the
| party or combination possessing the Speaker and
| the standing committees Thus, by giving the
House to the republicans, the question is decided
at once in their favor, and the loose Americans,
old line wings, &C., in that branch Of Congress
will be as superfuous as fifth wheel to coach
On the other hand, by cutting off republican
member or two from Connecticut, the old line
wings and conservative Americans will hold that
balance Of power in the House which, in refc-
renee to its organization, and in relation to the
Presidential issue may be Of the very highest
value to this third party. PROFESSIONALLY then,
the only policy for the loose materials Of this
third party In Connecticut is so to intervene in
the work Of their approaching election as to re-
tain in their own hands the necessary balance Of
power in Congress required to make up ma
ority on either side; and as this Intervention can
only be made effective by the defeat of two or
three republican Congressional candidates let
them be defeated.
| We do not urge this in behalf of the national
democratic party, for that party we consider es-
sentially defunct During the last five years it
has degenerated from national to sectional
organization. 1t has become the ultra slavery
propagating party Of the South, as the republican
organization has become the ti-slavery and abo-
lition party ofthe North. Our object is that happy
medium between these violent extremes, and
we recognise the primary elements of this inter-
mediate national Union party in the new oppo.
sition movement in Virginia and Kentucky,
and in the conservative old line wing, American,
and other floating materials of both sections.
For the present the country is secure, under the
conservative, middle ground administration of
Mr.. Buchanan; but the official term of Mr.. Bu-
chanan is limited to the 4th Of March, 1861. and
in the meantime the Presidential election of No
vember, 1860, will indicate the shape and color
Of the administration which il to follow.
But in looking over the political field Of bat
tie for the succession, as at present occupied be-
tween the great anti-slavery party of the North
and the controlling prot slavery party of the
South, we can discover nothing Of safety to this
Union, and nothing Of security to the principles
upon which it was founded, but, on the con-
trary, all the elements Of discord sectional strife
secession, disunion, revolution and civil war.
The only resource of safety TO the American
people lies in this intermediate third party
which we have indicated; but here there are
materials enough upon which to build an or.
ganization competent to save the country from
these slavery agitating disunionists, North and
South.
The last Northern stronghold Of the demo-
cracy, Pennsylvania, is now occupied by the
opposition, and will doubtless continue to be
thus occupied, inasmuch az the defeelions Of last
fall in the Pennsy lvania democratic camp appear
have widoned into breach as decisive aa that
between the Cass and Van Buren, factions of
New York Of 1S4s. Thus driven into the OK.
elusive occupation Of the South, can il be sup
posed that the Democratic Convention at Charles
ton will nominate any other than Southern pro.
slavery ultra, and upon any othr than an in
tensely Southern sectional platform. And 20 Of
the republicans Their candidate ard platform,
In opposition to the Charleston Convontion will
be just as intensely sectional the other way. But
in the Middle States, on both sides Of the slavery
line, there IL q splendid margin for this new con
siituiicnai and party movement for 1860, as EN-.