Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-20
3E- AS an Indication of the prevailing
ointment amongst leading Republican Jour

sentiment amongst leading Republican jour
nails. we laid before our readers yesterday
the views of the Tribune. National Era, Courier
and Enquirer. and Cincinnati Commercial. In
furtherance of our desire to keep our readers
posted, without endorsing, we republish this
morning an article from the n. Y. Herald, in
which that leading Administration organ,
| artfully sets forth the advantages which it
thinks might accrue from a coalition between
the Southern Opposition members of Con-
gress and the Republicans. The article is
pointed and highly suggestive.
The New COngress-The Twenty-one
Opposition NJ embers Of the South.
The twenty-one Southern Opposition MEM
bers. in the all-importsDt business Of the or
ganization of the new House Of Representa-
tives in December next. Will occupy posi-
ton of the highest responsibility. They Will
hold the balance of power between the Re
pubicans and the Democrats and this power
NAV be exercised in the work of organization
to the solid advantage of the Unicn for many
years to come. To this great end, should
the occasion require it, these twenty-one
Southern conservative representatives against
the slavery agitating disunion movements OF
the day. will be expected 10 STAND as Leo
midas and his handful of men stood In the
pass of Thermopyle. each and all prepared
TO die in defence Of their position. But
thong these Southern men Will hold this
position. they will not be required to sacrl-
fee themselves to defend II. On the other
hand, il will enable them to control the entire
field of operations, and to dictate the whole
Opposition programme of the PRESIDENTIAL
campaign.
In this important view of the subject we
have already indicated the proper line OF
action. Nobody can expect these Southern
Opposition men to enter into any coalition
with the democratic side OF the House. Nor
can it he supposed that they will capitulate
to the republicans as a simple matter OF
choice between two evils. These Southern
Opposition members are the representative
of a Presidential party and Presidential
movement. Upon something analogous TO
the national platform of the old wing party
they would be the natural allies of the Oppo-
sition elements OF the North. They have
been separated by the slavery agitation.
Remove this obstruction, and these broken
fragments will be reunited. The Southern
Opposition fragment, weak in itself and for
itself, is yet strong rs a national balance OF
power. From its local weakness it desires
reunion with the North; from its national
Importance it has the right to demand some
concessions And as the concessions which
it asks will have to be made oy the republic
can party TO secure. in 1860, the vote OF
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we see no
reason why these concessions should not en-
ter into the practical business of the organi-
cation of the coming Congress.
We may safely assume that, for some DAYS
and nights at Washington before the mOmen-
tons first Monday in December next. there
will be some caucuses and caucusing OF each
of the several parties and factions OF the
House. The republicans, the plurality par
ty, will probably first procaed to take their
sounding for the plurality rnle, which would
give them the undivided control OF the or
ganization. officers and spoils. To cut of
This game of the Seward managers, 1t VIII be
well for the Southern opposition members to
be early on the ground with their Overtnres
to the republicans, including the Speaker.
Printer and other House officers, all well
considered and well adapted for the basis |
OF a coalition Thus, from the necessities |
Of their position, and from the immediate /
and prospective advantages which this Goa |
lition will secure. the republican members of |
Congress in December next may be induced |
to abandon w. III. Seward and his ''irreprcs- !
sible coan ct' with the South. for Northern |
and Southern opposition alliance upon a |
practical aud Irresistible national platform.
In this connection, the greatest danger to |
he apprehendcd by the Southern opposition |
party is the plurality rule; but this they may |
ward of by the superior advantages of |
powerful majority coalition. The response |
bilily first belongs to these Southern OppO- |
sition members We believe they can effect |
the ends proposed. We think they can ar
range the organization of the House upon |
terms which will open to them the doors of
the Republican National Convention OF 1860, |
and thus give them the power to- organize II |
nrtonal Presd initial movement which will |
make either Bates, OF Missouri. Critienden, |
of Kentucky. or Bell of Tennessee, a. ac-
eeptablc to the republican party as Banks.
Chase or Fremont.
For all practical purposes we may set down |
the auti.Lecompton democratic faction OF
the House as good for nothing to either side.
1t cannot help the democrats and 1t canpot |
afford to support the republicans Tue T
balance of power, competent TO command an
majority upon all practical
questions. as between the opposition and the
democracy, belongs to the Southern opp"si-
ton members. With the coalition suggested
they will rise into distinction and strength;
but with the adoption of the plurality rule
they will sink into comparative insignil-
canoe. Let them look we'll, therefore, to
their responsibilities; for in the organization
of the House they may win or lose the Presi-
Dental election aud the shaping of the party |
in power tor the next quarter Of Century
". T. Herald.