, 1859-04-08
From the San Francisco National Of NaFc6l6th
The Issue in 1860. l. r

1t Is difficult matter to determine what
shape the ineongruous opposition to the
national democracy will assume in 1860.
That we have now, as ever, powerful enc
mics, there is no Disgusting. Transcend
emily successful as democratic policy has
proven itself-eminently sound and con-
servatve, and adapted to a wholesome ad.
ministration of the government as our
system has been demonstrated TO be, the
time has not yet come when we will be
able to carry of the wreath of victory with
out struggle. The motley hordes of the
opposition are actively at work. AT the
north and the south simultaneous move
ments are being made, looking to COM
mon purposc-the overthrow Of the de-
mocracy In the latter region it consists
of an effort to resuscitate the old whig
party. We extract tbe following in refer
ence thereto from the Sacramento Union:
From the teegraphic accounts brought by the
Overland mail, 10 appears that real Whlg Conven
ton was in session in Ricbmqnd, Virginia, on the
lth OF February and that It had been addressed by
John NJ. Butts. He advocated union OF all the ele-
nentS OF the opposition to the present Administra-
ton, and the sentiment was loudly applauded IN the
Convention. This movement may prove the first step
towards q reorganization Of the Wing party in she
Southern States. There in those States hundreds
Of thousands Of voters opposed TO the Administration
Most Of them were formerly Whigs and since the dis
solution. rather absorption, Of the party by the
Know Nothiugs the old line Wings the South have
really had no party standard tn rally under. The
party can, in those States be reorganized without
serious difficulty there is no regular organization
Of tie opposition standing in its way, is the in
The Northern States, II the old Whig standard is
raised in those States tens Of thousands will rally to
IT, and an animated canvass may be anticipated in the
Presidential election of lSCO.
There is no question but the renowned
John Minor Bolts is, in his way, very
considerable man. We apprchend, how
ever, that be is afflicted with disease, the
cure for which--thc White House he
never will attain He will fud ont that u
revival Of the old whig party at this time is
a more difficult task than heading John
Tyler, and as he slipped up in the one in.
stance, so we predict will be the case in the
present attempt. No party can exist in our
country, for any time or to any purpose,
without distinctive national identity.
The whig party was nothing without its
platform. We only know it by the princi-
Piles and measures which it advocated 9.
These were high protective tariff-a ma
tional bank-distributio of the land fund
among the States-a general system Of in
ternul improvements by the general govern
ment--the deposit of the public moneys
with private individuals instead of the
sworn officers of the government-opposi-
ton to territorial extension, &c. Now, it
is very evident that platform Of this kind
could command no respectable support in
the present day. Plausible as it appeared
under the commanding eloquence Of Clay,
a Webster, and other great lights Of that
party, including Bolts, during the hight
Of its vitality, all admit that the inaugural
tion of such a system Of measures now
would be inexpedient and out of place.
| Men change with manners-humors with cllmes-
| Tenets with books, and principles with times.
So, too the policy Of parties must adapt
itself to the changing and shifting condition
Of the country. The great mass of the
whig party, sensible of this truth, aud that
their platform had become obsolete, have
formed new associations. They have be-
come merged and lost in other parties.
While a new party, calling Itself whig,
might be organized, on living issues, it is as
impossible to revive the old party, as to re-
animate the mouldering dust Of its great
lights and leaders, Clay and Webster
But upon what principles is the new party
to be organized? In the north the black
republicans have the field. Vain of their
strength and arrogant Of the future, they
are not likely to surrender their organiza-
tion to any southern movement which, at
best, must prove wOeful minority. 1t
was in view of closing the door to all posi-
bility of such contingency, that William
IL. Seward, the great Lucifer of black
republicanism, laid down the law in his
Rochester speech, He knew that much as