The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-27
The Pssstdemcy-The Slavery Agitation
The Counter Revolution Begun.

The clouds are beginning to break away, and
there ale already some bright CLEANS Of clear
sky in the political horizon. The embittered
protracl.d and disastrous sectional agitation
Of the slavery question, resulting from the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise, has reached
its eliminating point. The country has had
enough of it. The people desire rcpose-a
change OF music, u reconciliation peace,
harmony, and return to the constitution, aud
10 the ark OF that covenant. the Union. There
will sooD be q great revolution in this direc-
ton, for it is already begun. Its manifesto
lions are abundant ON every side, from the late
Union demonstrations in the imperial city OF
the North TO the more recent and still more
sign ificant, Union speech Of Gov. Wise in Vir-
| ginia-a State which speaks with an imperial
voice to the South.
| In this connection, the analogy between the
| Kansas agitation and the sectional uproar re-
altiDg from the annexation of Texas and the
Mexican war is SO very remarkable, thus far,
hat we are confident the parallel will hold
good to the conclusion. In 1876 the universal
belief that the Mexican war would inevitably
esult in the acquisition of new and extensive
erritories by the United States, raised the ques-
ion in Congress whether slavery should
or should not be excluded from the
anticipated acquisitions. The first impor-
tant consequence was the defeat, 10
1S4S, of the democratic party, and the
election of General Taylor the opposition can
didate for the Presidency. But his election
settled nothog On the contrary, the Terri
tories anticipated having been secured by the
treaty of peace with Mexico, the question what
shall we do with them" assumed its most alarm
ing symptoms after the Inauguration Of Gen.
Taylor.
1t was not till near the close of the long and
exciting session of Congress of 1850 that the
Compromise measures Of Henry Clay settled
the controversy But then commenced po-
pular reaction in favor of that settlement,
which, being dexterously seized upon and sea-
sonably appropriated by the democratic party,
gave them the Presidential election of 1852,
almost by the unanimous vote Of the several
States, North and South. Thus that election
was foregone conclusion, regardless Of the
candidate on either side. 1t was the grea.
paramount idea of the Union which brought
up the heavy reserved Union vote of the coun-
try to the democratic party, and SO the result,
to the democratic party and to the whig party,
was reduced to mere formality. General
Scott was brought forward after that vote was
lost to the wing party; and with this loss, and
the dead weight of Seward upon his back, no
other wing candidate could have polled SO
large a vote as that commanded by the national
popularity of Scott.
At all events, the election Of 1852 defeated
end destroyed the whig party, and promised
long lease ofpower to the victorious democracy
But their victory was delusion, for its fruits
were like those tabled apples of the Dead Sea,
which are beautiful to the eye, but which turn
to ashes upon the lips. The repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise in 1854 precipitated another
sectional agitation of the slavery question, of
tenfold more bitterness than that arising from
suit would have been, not the defeat, but the
humiliation Of the democratic party in 1856,
had any other man than Mr.. Buchanan been
their candidate. In general parallel, how
ever, the election Of 1856 will compare with
that Of 1913; and from all the popular move
ments and signs Of the times we shall have
repetition Of the great reactionary election of
1852 in the election of 1860.
There is a reserved popular vote throughout
the country Of atleast million and half, which
has not been heard of for several years. There
has been no great occasion to call it out But
now it is beginning to manifest itself in these
Union meetings, and it appears, as in 1852, to
be going over to the democratic camp 1t is
also apparent that our democratic Presidential
aspirants and party leaders are disposed to ad-
vance to meet these expected Union reinforce.
ments, and to give them cordial welcome, as in
1852. This idea will explain the late
great Union speech Of Governor WISE He has
had the sagacity to discover the coming change
in the wind, and he trims his sails accordingly.
He may not be the Charleston nominee; but his
new and emphatic position as Southern Union
man-frst and last for the Union-reveals the
policy upon which the democracy may repeat
and will, we think, repeat their splendid Union
game Of eight years ago.
Meantime the only hope for the opposition is
sLAOo6A . SChOA"i ~ oeCiA Va puOilC OulOu NC
| monstrations, and universal movement upon
some such unquestionable and popular Union
| man as General Scott, without further delay.
| II they await the action of the Republican Ma
| tional Convention of the middle of June next,
they wi = TO late; for the popular balance of
power commanded by the reserved Union vote
of the country will in all probability be found
by June in the democratic ranks in default of
any other national Union party.
Some Of our republican organs, with whom
victory and the spoils are the first considera-
tons for 1861 are confessing that Seward is the
Jonah who win sink their ship unless they cast
him overheard; but something more than this
will be required to save them. They are in
danger of losing the decisive reserved Union
vote Of the North, and they can only save it by
dropping the niger and their niger flag, and