The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-26

They must find ii uncomfortable to be always
laundering about in the hot waters of secession
and rebellion.
The "PoliticAl Signs Of the Times--The New
Third Party Movement.
The enthusiastic meeting of the ''old line
wings" a. Hope Chapel, the other evening, to
hear the address Of Governor Hunt on "the Do
litical signs of the tines" belongs TO that class
of political demonstrations which no politician of
any party can regard with indifference. There
was not much in the speech Of Mr.. Hunt, and
nothing in the proceedings Of the meeting, calcu-
lated to give us o definite idea of the plan of
operations for 1860 of these ''old line whigs;"
but II will suffice for the present to know that
they are desircus Of sinking the slavery agita-
ton, North and South. and cordially approve
that general line Of policy indicated in the late
reorganization Of the opposition elements of Vir-
ginia and Kentucky.
We may, therefore, accept this meeting of our
'old line wings" in connection with the late
speech Mr.. Bolts to the rump Of the American
party at the Academy of Nlusic-frst, as the def
mite aud final abandonment by the managers
No'hingisn; and, secondly, as the preliminary
steps to O general reconstruction Of the con-
servative opposition elements of the Union for
the Presidential campaign. Nor cam i. be denied
that there is very inviting opening just now for
tie general organization Of this third party, be.
tween the anti-slavery agitating republican party
Of the North and the pro-slavery agitating de-
| nocratic party Of the South. We autici-
| pate, in this connection, such diversion
of the old wing conservatives Of Connecticut in
| the approaching Congressional elections Of that
| State as will secure to this third party the ba-
| lance of power in the new Congress. In gaining
this important foothold, the party thus directly
concerned will be competent to command the
issue Of the Presidential election should it be
| thrown into the House and competent to throw
it into the House upon On independent electoral
ticket Of their own in every State, from Maine to
| Texas, and from New Jersey to California
In the next place, should the Virginia State
election of May result in the defeat of the dis
ordered democracy there, or in the poll of an
aggregate vote by the opposition showing that
they have regained the popular strength which
they commanded in 1910 or "A, we may con-
clude that reaction has taken place in the
South, which will restore to this new opposition
Union movement at least those old wing States of
Delaware, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina
and Georgia, in addition to Maryland, which
the democracy have failed to conquer. And
why? Because, when local Northern or South
ern election is controlled By the Presidential is
sue, the vote given will afford fair criterion of
the relative strength Of parties throughout the
section in which this local election may come off.
Thus, if from this Virginia election it shall ap-
pear that the opposition have received the full
relative strength Of the old wing party
in its best days, we believe that it
viii show pretty conclusively that the
opposition have only to follow the same general
policy to secure their ancient footing in all the
other Southern States, which will involve the
reoccupation by them of the States we have
named.
Our readers viii remember that the State cleo
ton Of Maine in September, 1856, which was
carried by some twenty thousand majority for |
the republicans, was accepted by all parties as
the infallible proof Of such tremendous popu-
lar revolution throughout the North in favor Of
Fremont that the October vote Of Pennsylvania
would be sufficient TO settle the question of his
election or defeat. The result fully confirmed
this universal opinion. So now, should this Vir-
ginis election indicate the full recovery of the
old opposition comparative vote of 40 or IA,
it will indicate Southern reaction equivalent
to the lcss Of four or five of the largest of the
Southern States to the democracy. But should
Governor, the result will at once suggest the
probable election Of the next President by this
third party, by clear majority Of the electoral
vote.
In any event. the conservative and constitu-
tional elements of the opposition, North and
South may control the next Presidential election,
if they will. To this end, after first providing
for the balance Of power in Congress, they
should proceed to an active, Independent organi-
cation in every State; and an early call of
national convention, in view of q national
organization might prove to be good move
ment We have no faith nor confidence in these
national party conventions. They are controlled
Dy 2anlpiers ana JoDDers LOT the Spots and
plumber, and they have been the fruitful sources
of all the party demoralizations and coruptions
of the day. But so long as our political parties
are controlled by these conventions, why should
not this third party fight its enemies on both
sides with their own weapons and begin the
work by calling an Independent national conven-
ton, within the next six months, for the simple
purposes Of national organization Thus, by
the year 1850, they may present an array of
strength nationality and solidity which will COM
mand the confidence Of the country, and work
out great and glorious popular revolution.
We are satisfied with the administration of
Mr.. Buchanan. 1t affords a safe anchorage to