New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-19
THE STATE OF PARTIES.


1t is a most significant Circumstance, aud one
which throws strong light on coming events, that
the Republican is the only political party in the
country whch exhibits any appearance of unity,
firmness, solidity and vgor.
The American party, sO-called, has, to say
the least. greatly declined from its once
powerful condition. In fact in nearly
all the Southern States its organization has
been abandoned. In those States the opposition
to the present National Administration has at
tempted to rally itself anew; in some of them, as
in Tennessee on mere questions of local policy;
in others-in Virginia and Kentucky, for example
as especial guardians of the slavehOding interest
The late Northern section of that party. thus
abandoned by its Southern allies, has lost, with
those claims to a national character which 1t 30
loudly Wanted, its main hold upon the bulk Of its
adherents, and all claims to any decisive influence.
The Democratic party is split up into three
hostile factions, between which there exist
almost irrecOncilable breaches At the head
of one of these factions stands Mr.. Douglas
with bis doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty. To
this doctrine large proportion of that remain
ing fragment of the Democratic party to be found
in the Northern States il understood to adh"r'
What gives to this faction and It's leader a very
great importance is that they control those lew
Northern States in which alone there Is any chance
of obtaining a Democratic majority az the next
Presidential election, and the votes OF which are
absolutely essential to the success OF the Demo
cratic candidate should that party be so fortunate
as TO be able to agree upon candidate over
against Mr.. Douglas and the Squatter Sovereignty
faction stands the faction at the head OF which
Governor Wise has lately attempted to place him.
self, that which demands actual legislation Oh the
part of Congress for the protection of slave prop
erty i'm the Territories There is still third faction
which may be called par excellence, the spoils
faction, of which Mr. Hunter aspires to be a lead
er, and which enjoys the smiles and assistance of
Mr. Buchanan, who possibly might be persuaded
to accept denomination. This faction, regarding
the possession of power as the main thing after
all, and platforms and principles as Of but little
comparative consequence, is anxious to contrive
some means for stepping in between the other two
factions and carrying off first the nomination OF the
Charleston Convention, and then the votes of the
rank ard file of the party.
But apart from these differences as to what shall
be done with the question of Slavery In the Terri
tories, another question is fact looming up, which
threatens to give the Democratic party vast deal
of trouble This is the question of the legalization
of the African slave trade by the repeal of the acts
| of Congress by which it is prohibited and pun
shed. This idea is making such rapid progress at
the South, that it is already becoming a serious
ueston whether it can be kept out of the Charles
| ton Convention. Mr.. Douglas, in his late letter
| in relation to that body aud its doings, ap-
pears to refer to this AS one of the subjects on
which the Convention may undertake to act The
introduction of this question into our national pol
itics involves not only new point of controversy
between Northern and Southern Democrats; il in
wolves internal division in the South ITSELF the
slsye-breeding States leaning to one side, aud the
slaye-buyiDg Ststes to the Others it involves also
collision between the aspiring poor and the
contented rich fatal to that Southern unity of cen
tment ON the Slavery question SO loudly boosted Of
and upon which what calls itself the Democratic
party has of late yesrs rested for its main support
To all these internal differences and dissensions
add the great number of Presidential asplrants,
of which there is scarcely State not able to fur
nish its quota ard the bitter feelings Of personal
hostility with which they regard each other, and 1t
is impossible Dot to see IN the Democratic party
abundan. signs of decIepitude, decay AMI dissoll-
ton.
1.-THE Republican party, on the other hand, grows
every day more solid, compact, united and vigor-
Gus. Composed, as it was in the beginning, Of
materials drawn largely both from the old Wing and
from the old Democratic parties, and portion of
those who formed it having been temporarily con-
nected with the American party, il was naturally
to be expected that at first it should exhibit GER
tain want of uniformity and solidity growing out
of this composite character. Bat already all these
diverse materials are firmly united together, and
the party has certain distinct principles, aims and
objects as to which all its members are agreed.
The Republican party is properly entitled, and