The New York herald., 1864-11-28

scenes OF Friday night and to bring to strict
accountability all suspicious and dsIoyal per-
sons who may have sought shelter in tnis
city only to destroy it,
The Demoiisned Demoe oecncy-sinvory-A
New Departure Demanded.
The Northern rump of the old national demo-
cratic party was demolished in the late Presi-
dental election. The verdict Of "crowner's
quest" sitting upon its remains, would be,
"Died Of the Chicago Shent-per-Shent Conven-
tion." Nothing but the name remains to its
followers, and "a rose by any other name
would smell as sweet" In fact, the mission
for which the democracy were reorganized at
Chicago is ended. They have failed in it,
They may chang their harps upon the willows"
for their silly songs Of peace-at-any- price have
been 'played out" But, as exes from Z,on
or the flesh pots Of Egypt, they will never be
reclaimed while they sit still with their faces to
tho past and their backs to the future. They
must look about them, take careful observa-
take new departure.
From the time Of Martin Van Buren's election
to the Presidency in 1886, the history Of the
democratic party is the history of pro-ssyery
organization. The original notification or
secession movement Of South Carolina on the
tariff question having been snuffed out by Gen.
Jackson in 1928, that restless and disap-
pointed champion of Southern State rights, John
G. Calhoun, began to work up the South on the
slavery question for his ambitious purposes. in
view Of Southern coEfederacy. Thus, whom
Van Buren, was brought out for the Pres-
dency, in 1885, as the kneal democratic success
sor to General Jackson, he was required by the
Southern democracy never to interfere with
slavery in the District Of Columbia or in any
other place, except to give it q helping hand.
He signed the bond and was elected. In 1910,
however, as candidate for reelection, he was
overwhelmingly defeated upon the money ques-
ton. In 1914, the money question being set
tied, he was required again to toe the mark on
slavery, az involved in the project Of the annex
alton of Texas. This time the Southern demo-
cratic leaders asked too much. Van Buren, de-
clined to sign this bond, and SO, with majority
Of the national party convention elected in his
| name, he was thrown out by "Bobby Walkers
two-thirds rule" and Polk, genuine Southern
nee. Polk was elected; Texas was annexed;
, the war with Mexico followed, as predicted by
Clay aud Van Buren both; extensive acquis-
tions Of territory resulted; and then came up
again, in new shape, the old slavery trouble
upon the question Of organizing those new ter
ritories.
This brings us down to 1S48, when General
Cass, on movable patent lever pro-
slavery platform, was set up as the
democratic candidate for President, and
was defeated by General Taylor, assisted by
Martin Van Burcn, as an independent, free soil,
anti-savery candidate on his Buffalo platform.
THUS "Little Van" was amply avenged for that
Southern two-thirds rule--that pro-slavery
| trick Of "Bobby Walker" Of 1914; and thus
| began the disintegration Of the Jacksonian
| democratic party. In 1850 Henry Clay's great
compromise measures on the slavery question
were adopted; and as tho best representative
OF that peace platform, in 1852, poor Pierce was
triumphantly elected President. Had the
Southern leaders Of the democracy been con-
tent with that liberal adjustment, they might
have held the balance Of power in every
department Of the national government now
and for an indefinite time TO come. But they
demanded the repeal Of the Missouri compro-
mise. incorporated in Mr.. Clay's adjustment,
and poor Pierce and the Northern democrats in
Congress basely yielded it. And so General
Grant is besieging Richmond to-day and Sher-
man, with his avcnging army, is sweeping
through the heart Of Georgia.
So too, it has followed from that act OF
repeal that Abraham Lincoln, elected Presi-
dent in 1860, upon the platform OF the cxclu
sion Of slavery from the Territories. IL
reelected in 1864 upon tho platform of
the absolute extinction and perpetual pro-
hibition Of slavery over every foot Of soil
within the jurisdiction OF the United States. II
IL altogether probable, too, that before the
close OF Mr.. Lincoln's second term the inst-
tuition OF slavery will have ceased to exist
from the Potomac river TO the Rio Grandc.
The course OF events is drifting strongly in this
direction. What, then, is the great fact to
which the Northern remnants OF the democratic
party, demolished by slavery. should turn their
attention. IL is this: that their vocation, as
the servants Of their former Southern pro.sla-
very masters, is gone; that there will be no
more dcbasing concessions to slavery required,
no more grovelling in the dust to Southern
pro-slavery politicians for a sop among the fat
things or the government kitchen, no more
Chinese sprawling fat on the ground to the
tbree-t tailed mandarins Of the empire for their
favor. All this is done away with. They could
not see it---they Of the Albany Regency at Chi
csso but they can see il nov, unless they are
as blind as poor old Buchanan was in 1860.
What, then, should be the new departure OF
the Northern democracy! They should take
the initiative in Congress- aud cooperate in the
States for that amendment Of the constitution