Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-01-06


WAsunssoS, D. c.. Dec. 81, 1858.
The Republicans assem6led at Washington with /
fI conftence that they ere about to reap the first
frniis Of te eiumph q .heir party by an easy and
speeay orgaaizati0nof the House Of Representatives.
This result they regarded as merely prcparafosi -
the victory which they felt sure Of achieving in
eighteen hundred and sixty, in the election cf Mr..
SEWARD to the Presidency. The Democrats came to-
gether with feelings Of despoHdeney approaching
evento despair both as to the eiganzatioa 81 tie
House and the next Presidential election
Within the past month pareeptible change has
been GONG on ID the tone and feeling Of both par
ties The ore las been losing whilst TIC other has
been gaiiing confidence. The Republicans eoonf3nnd
tliat they had ogerestmated their strength i the
House. They ascertained too, thas tleir candidase
for Speaker was involved il The recommendation Of
sn incaniia1y book, 50 infamous in its character t
it cut Of sl chance for assistance from the southern
wing Of the Opposition whilst tie indications Of
reaction IN Che Northern mind produced By the man
hestaaons Of sympathy for the murderer and raitor
BRoES, disappointed the Republicans "a their hope
Of being joined By four or ave -Iecompt9nites
whom they had helped to elect
+ A most persistent and 1aking FIRE was opened in
both ends Of the Capitol on the BnowS raid and the
! HELpEH Book, which forced the Republicans either
70 ayow or to disavow any completely in, and re-
spsnsiblty for, these evidences of extreme hostility
to the soath-
/ The Republicans were in diienna-if hey
squared up to the charges, and saouldered the re
sponsibility, they knew. they would shock the more
l conservative portion of their own party if they
repudiated and denounced BRowy and IiEIFgR, they
knew they would offend the abolition wing q their
party. In this predicament they prevarcated hest
tated, blowed hot and cold, apoogized some, and
clustered little but in the longrun failed to sat
isfy either extremes of their party.
In thu midst Of their troubles, the more national
men Of the North set about getting up large anti
BRowS meetings, for the purpose not only of rebuk-
ing the BNowx sympathizers in the Free States bat
of showing to Che South that the Republicans in
Congress were not rejecting the true sentiments Of
the northern people.
The most palpable Indication of change in the
Republican tone, is seen in regard to Mr. SEWARD.
At the beginning Of the session his seeetona as the
Republican candidate for President, was regarded
by all as foregone conclusion, and his election was
looked upon by his friends as matter. of course.
Now, however, his termination Is scarcely deemed
probable, whilst his election is REGARDED as an I'M
possibility.
You viii readily see how the causes that would
operate to depress the hopes and weaken the conf
dence Of the Republicans, would have the effect Of
aniEiatng the Democrats with new courage and
inspiring them with fresh confidence Four weeks
ago you could fni no DemocratAgho did not look to
the future with gloomy foreJodings now you can
meet none who does not express strong hopes Of a
brilliant victory in 1860.
Such are the changes that few weeks have
brought shout in the tone and feelings of the two
great parties.
The American party has had its change Of feel
ing also. They came together with some hope that
they might held the balance Of power IN the House
and thereby that they might secure some consider
alton in its organization. They soon found, how
ever, that the Republicans were looking to the anti
LecOmptOnites for the additional strength which
they needed. They therefore assumed to Be pecu.
larly patriotic and independent and Union-,oving-
standing of in small squad to themselves, the
Representatives of all the political integrity and
national conservatism left in the country But
when they say the popular meetings in the North
ern cities, bright idea struck them-they saw in
these movements UniOn-saying party into which
they could go as leaders. On this phantom they
are now living.
There is still another fragment of another party
in Congress known as anti-Lecomptonites All Of
these came to Washington processing to be friends
of Judge DOUGLAS, and with the exception Of four
or five, have acted steadily and faithfully with
the Democrats with the approval and counsel Of
Judge DOUGLAS. CyH4s.