The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-21

N aker, ana endoavored TO enlist him In It,
Walker resisted and brought forward the
written views Of the President. Calhoun
Insisted that his plan was the programme
of the administration, and 1t was forced
upon the Convention. he could produce
no authority for his assertion from tho
chief of the administration, and
in November, when Governor Walker re-
turned to Washington, the President assured
him he had never authorized anybody to say
that he had approved of the programme which
was carried out at Lecompton.
But in carrying 1t out in that Convention the
clique had partially obtained their object, al
though their views could never result in the
triumph of the party. They had diverted the
legitimate popular expression in their favor,
by their control of the action of the Convention,
and the forms of law being all fulfilled, the
President had no escape left from their tolls.
Respect for the legal and established forms of
popular expression is one Of the vital necessi-
ties of our political system, and the chief exc
cutive Of the government could not refuse to
send to Congress constitution that had all the
forms of legality. The shortsighted and ultra
pro slavery clique that had created it failed in
the attainment of their object, and succeeded
only in bringing their own party to the brink
of ruin. The first mistake was committed
when President Buchanan did not dismiss every
member of his Cabinet that he found did not
agree with him in opinion, on the very
instant he ascertained that fact. he
should have tolerated no cliques in his
Cabinet, nor should he have permitted any
public expressions of dissent like those of
Thompson on Southern questions, and those of
Cobb on the tariff. General jackson made
the democratic party strong, because he began
by making his Cabinet a unit, and that at once
produced union in the party.
In these Walker revelations we have seen,
and the whole world sees, that there exists in
the democratic party the same antagonism be-
tween pro-slavery and anti slavery that has
broken up the old wing and the American
party organizations. The whole system Of
party suicide is laid open, where the cliques
for the want of q master spirit and discipline,
foment quarrels among themselves, TIL the
masses, finally divided by, and Disguised with,
their leaders, fall away from them and leave
the party organization nothing but a hideous
skeleton. This same aatagonism in the demo-
cratic ranks may break out with more violence
than ever in the Charleston Conventions; and
that body, instead of renewing the vitality Of
its party and saving the country from the I'm
pending danger Of fanatic rule and revolution
by pursuing a moderate and conservative
course, may itself shiver into fragments, or by
bending to the dictation Of ultra and intriguing
cliques, accept for itself and party the merited
fate of the Lecompton folly. If 1t wishes for
life vigor and success for its principles and its
candidates, 1t must rise superior to these party
cabals, which invoke in their own ranks pro-
slavery and anti-slavery preferences, and ex-
hibit energy, determination and discipline In
behalf of the constitution and the Union, ire
spective Of fre.eaters or free-soilers. Let the
country, and, above all, let the delegates to
the Charleston Convention, read the Walker
revelations Alright and they will comprehend
the philosophy of party suicide, and avoid its
perils.
The New AIMsHoUsE LAw.-The law sbo-
fishing the Board of Ten Governors and substi-
tuting four Commissioners, to manage the pub.
lie institutions of the city, is in the main agood
measure, but its beneficial effects depend q
great deal upon the kind of men who are ap-
pointed to perform the onerous and responsible
duties attached to the Office. The stories told
of the Board of Governors, and the scenes de-
scribed as having taken place in the differ
ent institutions, were perfectly disgraceful to
the city-scenes more licentious and disgusting
than ever were witnessed In the worst haunts Of
crime, and they resulted from electing low,
grog. begotten individuals, walters at taverns
and such like, to the Offices of Almshouse Co.
vernors. The power to appoint the new Com
missioners is vested in Comptroller Haws; and
we hope that he will select them from the best
class of our citizens. We perceive that gang
Of politicians, calling themselves the Republi-
can Central Committee, have urged upon Mr..
Haws the propriety Of appointing four party
men-republicans, of course-but we earnestly
hope that he Will do nothing of the kind. Mr..
Haws is a man Of integrity and discretion, who
knows very well what class of persons are best
fitted to perform such important duties as de-
volve upon these Commissioners. We would
suggest to him the names of Hamilton Fish,
W. Il. Havemeyer, John A. Dix and Moses H.
Grinnell, or some gentlemen of equally good
social standing and responsibility, under whose
government the disgraceful scenes which have
been enacted under the grog.begotten regime
Of the Ten Governors could never take place
again.
The HEROES OF THE DAY.-The illustrated
newspapers are devoted entirely, just now, to
the two great contests of the time-the inter-
national prize fight in England and the coming
Presidential battle at home. We see nothing
but portraits of the leading fighting men, and
nOrtraitS IF tho proaidon<;ol corS;Soxo. Ar