The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-08

Regular democrats. ......... SO 90 9s
Republcan8. lO4 3 101
North Americans ...........
South Americ ans. .......... Is Ii
Anti Lecompton democrats. IL 1:
Total members of a full House. ..............2S i
Now, as the whole strength of the regular de-
| mocracy in the House (allowing that with the
| Southern elections still to come Off they will
stand as they did in the last Congress) will only
be SO members, what chance have they to elect
| the Speaker, &c? From the present activity Of
the new opposition movement in the South, we
can perceive no indications Of any democratic
gains in that section, but some very strong pro-
liabilities of the loss of member or two here
and there. But assuming that in these Southern
elections still to take place parties will stand as
they were and that the republicans will gain al
least one member in Minnesota, from wha,
sources are the democracy to obtain
the twenty one additional men required
on their part to make up bare
majority of the House? Are they likely to get
any achievements from the Northern anti-Le-
compton or fishy democrats, whose great hobby
is popular sovereignty" in the Territories,
while the new dogma of the Southern democracy
is the duty of Congress to protect the institu-
ton of slavery in the Territories by special
legislation? We must answer that there is very
little hope of any assistance to the Southern de-
mocracy from these anti-Lecompton deserters.
The prospect is equally bad, if not worse, if
we look to the five North Americans. Lastly, in
regard to the fifteen South Americans or South
ern opposition party, it is manifest, from the new
platform proclaimed by them in Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee and elsewhere, that the de-
mocracy in the new Congress will be denied
their party cooperation from first to last. On
the other hand, the republicans already possess
plurality of the House, and with some such
understanding as that which resulted in the cleo
ton of Speaker Banks, they may command the
organization Of the body. We dare say that
such will be the end of the struggle for the
Speaker-that for day or two, or week or
two but not for month or two, as in the case OF
Banks, the outside parties, commanding the ba-
lance of power, will defeat an election by ma
jority, but that, in the end, sufficient number
of fisby democrats and North Americans will be
found to pass resolution by majority in favor
of the election of Speaker by plurality vote
1t is possible that, by some adroit caucus
management, the republicans may be able
to command the election Of the Speaker by
majority vote, and the pressure of the late
Northern elections will be very apt to operate in
this direction among the floating Northern mem
bers casting about for the chances of 1860. In any
event, we think the question Of the organization
of the new Congress may be considered as de-
initely settled by this late Connecticut election
against the democratic party. Had they gained
member in Connecticut, had they even re-
tanned there the two members which they have
lost, they would have done something to arrest
the general retreat Of the Northern wing of the
party, and to recall the deserters into line. But
this adverse result is decisive against the ma
tional reunion Of the party, in any effective
shape.
What then? Why, then the chances of an
intensely sectional, dangerous and disastrous
struggle between the Northern anti-slavery repub-
licans and the Southern proslavery democracy
are reduced to certainty. In view of such q
contest in 1860, our only alternative of safety is
ip third party--a constitutional and Union
party competent to cut in between these two
sectional parties, and to gain the balance Of
power For the present the country is safe,
under tie calm, sagacious and conservative
administration of Mr.. Buchanan; but Tor the sue
cessiop the democratic party is broken reed, and
the general movement of the republican party is
that Of d revolutionary army. In their treacoer-
ous and rsbe,,,ious courses towards an admins
tration which would ave saved them and their
u"ooh "HhOn "ouiu n~ ~ Ia
party, the insane and reckless leaders OF
mocracy have substantially destroyed the party.
From an all powerful national organization it
has been reduced TO Southern sectional camp;
and between it and the republican Northern par
ty the collision may be fatal to the Union, unless
arrested by the interpostion Of the sober minded
American, people through some such new and in
dependent national Union party movement as
that foreshadowed in the great conservative
States Of the South.