The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-14
Party Regencies-TerriDle Work Among IN
Democratic Crockery.

Party Regene,es-TerriDle Work Among che
Democratic Crockery.
Eve are in the midst of revolution, great
and glorious revolution, in our political affairs.
1t is a revolution which has been going on for
some time; and we are drawn to the consideration
of its achievements by the results Of these late
Southern elections 1t is revolution against
these selfconstituted and INSCRIPTIONS party
despotisms, under the various names of conveu.
items, caucuses committees, juntas, regencies,
and regular nominations. 1t is a revolution
which is breaking of these shackles of party
despotism, and restoring to the individual his
ightful inheritance of personal liberty, and to
the people the genuine article of popular so
vereignty."
The revolutionary record of the last four
months in this direction is very encouraging.
Beginning with the spring elections in Virginia,
where obedience to the masters and the "usages
Of the party" has, from time out of mind, been
the law of the democracy, what do we see? Four
regular democratic candidates for Congress de-
feated by independent democratic candidates and
votes; and one .outand-out opposition member
elected from strong democratic district These
results in Virginia are very remarkable, con-
sideIing that there they adhere to the riva vace
system of voting, under which every man can
be spotted at the polls by the superintending
party engineers
We next find that In Kentucky, which the de-
mocracy have carried BY heavy majorites for
their State ticket and legislative candidates the
opposition have gained two, and probably three,
of the Congressman, in the face Of heavy out
standing democratic majerities and regular de-
mocratic nominations. In Tennessee, under a
somewhat similar division of the results, the op.
position have. elected seven of Congressional
delegation of ten members-a gain of four. In
North Carolina the general result is four to four
an opposition gain Of two. All these results are
mainly due to the spirit Of revolution among the
rank and file Of the democracy against the des-
potism, here and there, of the party regency
and against those ''ancient usages' requiring the
servle Submission of the party to the edicts of a
knot of juggling politicians. V
v But the most significant and potential revolt
and victory of thisrort is that of General Hous-
ton against the democratic ire-eating regency of
Texas. They had adopted their State ticketAnd
platform, including an awful winking and blink
ing at the African slave trade; and, looking to
the overwhelming ascendancy of their party,
they defed and laughed at the idea of any seri.
Gus opposition. The impotent opposition party
*. NJ had been disbanded and dismissed, and
what had the regency to fear Let Abe election
Of Gen. Houston as Governor by the combined
opposition and independent democratic elements
of Texas answer the question The result is
truly astonishing; for Notwithstanding the per-
sonal popularity Of Houston, party discipline in
Texas was supposed to be equal TO all demands
But the central regency, in winking in their
State Convention at the African slave trade, and
in requiring the party to endorse it, placed tina.
last parcel upon the good camel's back which
breaks him down. The result is complete re-
volution in Texas, involving comp lete prostra-
ton of their late regency despotism.
This popular triumph over party cabal is all
the better from the fact that Gen. Houston
msnfully placed himself before the people as the
defender Of Mr.. Buchanan's administration. But
We are not yet through with our schedule Let
us look next at Oregon. We dare say that ex-
cepting the concern at Albany, more dictatorial,
impudent and corrupt party regency could not
be found in any quarter than tina. of the
high handed poils and plumber regency of Ore
gon, whose candidate for Congress in the late
election there was Lansing Stout He was the
regular democratic nominee; and the party in
oregon was supposed to be invincible
in its blind obedience to regularity. But,
10! and behold Stout is defeated; and