The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-02

nut 1t Is not very likely tnAt tney VIII 90 3D.
Obstinate enough in defeating a good work, it
is not their way to take the trouble of correct
ing an evil one.
The Impending Connecticut and Virginia
Eiections-Thc Present and the Future.
On Monday next the Connecticut election will
come off, involving four members of Congress,
and in the latter part of May the Virginia State
election, comprehending thirteen members Of
Congress, will take place. In ordinary times,
the success of either of the contending parties in
either of these States would be comparatively
trihing event; but at this crisis, when all the
political signs Of the times indicate sharply de-
fined, ferocious and revolutionary sectional con-
test for the next Presidency, the case is widely
different. We thus believe that the defeat of the
republicans in Connecticut, and the defeat of the
democracy in Virginia, in these spring elections
of 1859, would be among the best things that
could possibly happen in behalf of the peace and
harmony of the Union in the great Presidential
struggle of 1860
Since the Presidential contest of 1856, nothing
has occurred in any of our State elections, North
or South, indicating OH abatement Of those sec
tional divisions upon slavery which utterly ex-
cluded Fremont from the Southern States, and
which limited the hopes of Mr.. Buchanan in the
Ncl tn to the October vote of Pennsylvania. On
the other hand, while the opposition, in all the
local Southern elections since 1856, have been
nearly annhilated the democracy, in nearly all
our Northern State elections of the last twelve
months, have been disastrously defeated, includ-
ing the loss of Pennsylvania by an overwhelming
vote. Indeed, we cannot now assume to
certainty that the democratic party is in the
possession of single Northern State and we
know that the only State of the South which has
remained in the occupation of the opposition is
the little border State of Maryland.
We know, too, that although the Kansas agi-
tation has died out, it has left an impression
upon the Northern public mind which can only
be obliterated by time, or by some wholesome
popular reaction upon the great practical issacs
of the day. But, against this reaction, we per-
ceive that the republican presses aud orators
continue to feed the fire of the antislavery agi
tation with the bred Scott decision, with the
late pro-slavery proceedings in New Mexico and
with the African slave trade, fiIibustering, and
other ultra proslavery movements in the South.
From day to day, on the other hand we per-
ceive that the ultra leaders of the Southern pro-
slavery democracy are narrowing down the liues
of demarcation between the two sections, until.
at length, the two great parties Of the day
stand before MS, stripped of all DISCUSSES, as
purely sectional organizations slavery and
pro-slavery.
In this view, while the success of the republi-
cans in this Connecticut election, and sweeping
democratic victory in Virginia in May, will only
serve to confirm our apprehensions of sectional
fight in 1860 which may destroy the Union, we
do believe that a republican defeat N
the one case, and q democratic defeat
in the other would be equivalent to
the Inauguration Of wholesome popular
revolution against both these dangerous
sectional parties. North and South there is an
abundance of materials for new constitutional
and Union party; but they want an opening for
definite action. To this end we understand
that should these Connecticut aud Virginia
elections, and especially the latter, furnish any
substantial aid and comfort to the movement
national and simultaneous new party movement
will Immediately be proclaimed, from Boston to
New Orleans, upon the general basis Of the new
Virginia opposition platform. In view of this
projected national enterprise, let the conaerva-
tive men of Connecticut give lift to the cause
against the sectional anti-slavery republican
party, and its defeat will strengthen the hands
of the constitutional opposition party Of vir-
ginia against the sectional pro-slavery demo-
cracy in that quarter.
Thus an opening will be made in both sec
tons in behalf of this proposed new third party,
for definite national movement, and in season
to gather up the rank and file of powerful Or
gapization before the great battle of1S60 comes
on. Otherwise, as the bulk Of the American
people prefer fixed and powerful local party
to loose and weak one, the republicans North,
and the democracy South, will have very few
loose materials anoat from which, in 1907 to
form a third party Of national character.
From these views the reader will be at no loss
to comprehend the Importance Of this April
election in Connecticut and the Virginia election
of May. They will foreshadow to great
extent, the shaping of the Presidential contest,
and go far to settle the question whether
we shall or shall not in 1860, be visited with an
unmitigated sectional conflict which may tear
the Union to pieces.
Let the good people Of Connecticut on Mon
day administer wholesome rebuke to the
sectional party Of the North, through the
Intervention of the third party in the fight; and
the chances will be increased for defeat OF the
sectional party of the South in Virginia, which
will at once bring into the field great third
party throughout the Union, equally opposed to
both these mischievous sectional parties, and
competent, between them, to command saving
balance Of power.