The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-12
The New Congress and the Next Presi
dency-Important Southern Opposition



The New Congress and the Next Presi-
dency-Imp0rtant Southern Opposition
Movement.
The organization Of the new Congress which
will assemble at Washington in December next
will go very far to determine the political di-
visions and controlling issues of the approach
ing Presidential campaign. In this connection
the leading article which we transfer to this
paper from the Richmond Wing cannot fail to
attract the attention of the politicians of all
parties. 1t will commend itself especially to
all those of the republican camp who believe
the election of their candidate in 1860 matter
of greater moment than the 'irrepressible
conflict" of Seward with the Southern institu-
ton of slavery.
In the outset of the article in question our
Virginia contemporary rejoices over 'the unani-
nifty which prevails among the Southern oppo-
sition press in favor of union of the opposi-
| ton in the organization Of this next House of
Representatives" in view Of the election "of
suitable persons to the various Offices of the
House. and especially to the important and re-
sponsible Office of Speaker" Upon this point,
this bold and emphatic Southern advocate of
an opposition coalition fatty declares that he
would vote "with all cordially for the very
blacklist of the black republicans for Speaker,
in preference to any democrat whatever"
And the ground upon which this coalition is
urged is ''the solemn public duty" of every
Southern opposition member of Congress to
unite with the Northern opposition 'in view of
| the overwhelming Importance of ferreting out
prevail in every department of the govern
ment."
In the propositions thus clearly stated the in
| teligent reader will discover the most impor-
| tant and the most practical political movement
of the day. The new House of Representatives
will be divided as follows, or very nearly so, to
wit:-113 republicans, 80 regular democrats,
| IL anti-Lecompton and Douglas democrats, and
81 Southern opposition members. The repub-
licans will lack only six of majority, and
coalition with the Southern opposition would
give them a majority of 81 over the regular
and anti-Lecompton democrats combined. With
the full support of the anti-Lecomptonites the
regular democrats will still require l6 from the
Southern opposition camp to make up majo-
rity. But as, with half dozen recruits the
republicans may control the House, they may
choose an alliance either with the anti-Lecomp-
ton democrats of the North or the Southern op-
position.
The game of Mr.. Douglas, however, will be a
fusion of his adherents with the regular demo-
Gratis in the work of organizing the House,;
for the opposite course would rule him
at once out of the Charleston Convention.
His anti-Lecompton disciples, therefore,
| with perhaps one or two exceptions,
will in all probability be found in December
cooperating with the democratic party for a
democratic Speaker, DC. Thus the republicans
may be compelled to look for assistance to the
South, and "the unanimity which prevails
among the Southern opposition press" upon the
subject removes all distractions in that direc-
ton. In word, these overtures Of a coalition
from the South comprehend not only the con-
troll of the House by an overwhelming MAORI
ty, but the basis of Presidential movement
which may be made as decisive in 1860 as that
of 1910.
A share of the spoils and plumber involved
in the House organization which we estimate
! for the long and short session, all told at not
less than three millions of dollars, will be a
| powerful incentive in favor of this opposition
coalition, North and South. Thus, regarded as
simple business transaction limited to the
immediate spoils at stake, the inducements to a
union between the republicans and the South
ern opposition will be almost irresistible. But
if once effected and carried out, this union in
Congress will be the Inauguration of a fusion
movement of all the opposition elements of the
country upon the broad, liberal, national, uni