The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-15

able condition again.
The Republican Party ana Its Princi-
ples-AbolittOnism at the North and
Spoils nj Warrington.
The searching cross examination upon the
slavery question to which the leaders of the
republican party have been subjected in both
houses Of the present Congress has disclosed
the important fact that this party is party of
two sets of principles while in the North
1t is an aggressive, rampant abolition party, it
is at Washington nothing more nor less than
polls party, limited to the seven principles of
the mere spokesman, as described by John Ran
dolph-"the five loaves and two fishes"
This general Indictment is supported by
host Of testimony. Ever since the virtual set
Element Of the Kansas Territorial question
against the South and the institution Of slavery,
the republican party, in its Northern election
eeriDg operations, has been drifting into an
organized crusade against slavery in the slave
States. The Rochester manifesto of Mr.. Sew
ard, Of 1858, in this connection, may be said to
mark the official Inauguration of this crusade.
Browns raid at Harper's Ferry; Helpers in.
cendiary programme Of a servile and agrarian
conspiracy in the South against the monster,
of slavery; and all the Northern John Brown
sympathy meetings, and all those republican
certificates and subscriptions in behalf of Helper
and his handbook of treason are only SO many
Developments of the practical advances OF
Mr.. Stewards comprehensive programme for
the extinction of slavery and the "slave
power"
Mr. Clay, of Alabama, in the Senate the
other day, reproduced some Interesting exam
pies OF the sweeping denrnciations uttered by
the republican leaders In their Northern cleo.
pioneering speeches. Thus, Mr.. Senator Wilson
was reminded that in the North he had de-
nounced the shareholders Of the South as rob-
bers; while Senator Wade, of Ohio, had de-
nounced them as Vandals, and while Seward
had declared them to be perfidious privi-
legged class, guilty before the world OF per6dy,
fraud and dishonor. And when these evil
dences are brought against these republican
leaders in the Senate and in the House, and
when they are called to account for their mani
festations of sympathy for John Brown, and
for their endorsements of, and subscriptions to,
Helpers incendiary book, what do we see?
We find these republican preachers and teach
ers of abolition treason resorting to lame
apologies, explanations and denials, and really
affecting in their professions of love for the
Union, the constitution and the constitutional
rights of the slave States.
And why this skulking and Sinking away
from their responsibilities at Washington?
Why do these valiant men among their anti
slavery constituents at the North shrink, in the
face of Southern Senators and representatives
at Washington, from the task of facing the
music?. Why do they eat their own words, and
show themselves the most pliable of dough
faces? How are we to account for this remark
able softeniDg of the principles and purposes
Of the republican party? The explanation is
very easy. This party is hungering and thirst
ing for the spoils involved in the organization
of the House, equal to two millions of dollars
in the gross amount, including pickings and
stealings. But the republicans in the House
require some half dozen recruits to make up
majority. These recruits they cannot obtain
upon the abolition platform of Seward, Brown
and Helper. And so Stewards conflict, is re-
duced to mere figure Of speech, Brown to Q
vagabo1d fanatic, and the republican endorse
ments Of Helpers book are either fatty denied
or put upon the plea of ignorance or other miti-
eating circumstances.
Thus we find the republican party at Wash
ington, in its official capacity, dropping its real
character Of an aggressive sectional anti
slavery camp, and assuming the comparatively
innocent, but pitiful and treacherous, form of
mere spoils party party with no other OBJ
ject and no other purpose in view than the
spoils and plunder-first of this Congress, and
secondly Of the next Presidency. Is this ele-
venth hour repentance, and are these eleventh
hour protestations of devotion to the constitution
and love for the South, to be trusted? Perhaps
they are, in the exact degree to which the game
for the spoils may compel backing down from
the "irrepressible conflict" The q.vution is a
critical one to the republican camp, however;
and with the organization of the House we
suspect their war will be renewed even at
Washington, against the "slave oligarchy" and
the ''slave power" Their first object is the
spoils Of this Congress, and their immediate
necessity is the half dozen anti-Lecomptonites
who cannot yet subscribe to Seward Brown
and Helper. But the paramount necessity to
the republican party is that one idea of hostility
to slavery, and their professions Of an armistice
will end with the organization of the House.
Let us await the issue.
THE BEAUTIES OF THE LAWS DELAY.--One of
the most extraordinary instances Of the laws
delay in capital case is, perhaps, that of Ste
phens, the wife poisoner, upon which a final de-
cision was had in the Supreme Court, General
Term, before Judges Roosevelt, Sutherland
Strong and Igraham, on Tuesday. Stephens
was tried, convicted and sentenced to death for
the murder of his wife, by poison, as far back
ho fa11 of 1879 upou cfrnn0 orrov IF