The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-15
Tho Next Presideney-Lettcr from William
G. Rtyes of Virginia

w e puOllSn IN lns morning pdPeid WY S"''N"S
and important letter from William 4. hlves, ohl
ted States Senator from Virginia. giving his opin-
ions on the present state of the Presidential ques
tion-decidcdy Withdrawing all support from Mr..
Van Buren, assigning his reasons for that with
drawal, and giving in his adhesion to the cause
and interests of Mr. Clay. This letter first appeared
in the Richmond papers, has been since repubished
in the Washington papers, and in others in the large
cities, and will doubt create very great and
marked sensation all over the country But this is
not all We are also informed from Washington,
that in few days a letter from John c. Calhoun
will appear, equally decided in its declarations
against Mr. Van Buren--although not in favor OF
Mr. Clay. Iii said that this letter of Mr. Calhoun's
is long and powerful one, discussing the whole
question about the Baltimore Convention, denoun-
cling il as ''packed caucus" and recommending
or intimating that another Convention organized on
democratic principles, sprnglng directly from the
people under the district system, will be held, and
that to it other candidates will be submitted for
examination and selection.
II is very evident from these and other move
ments of distinguished men and political aspiranis,
that in few months we will be fairly in the very
crisis of the presidential election. Hitherto Mr..
Van Buren, has been generally considered through
out the country as the principal candidate OF the
democratic party, and as such, possessing the
strongest chance Of success in the approaching
test The movements of Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. Rives,
and also of General Cass in the west, however,
tend very materially to reduce these chances, and
10 bring down the probabilities Of Mr. Van Buren's
success 10 level with those OF his antagonist Mr.
Clay, the time that they present both these
distinguished men in a very doubtful and interest
ing position before the public. We are perfectly
satisfied thus far, that however much talk may be
INDUCED in, In relation TO Mr.. Calhoun, General
Cas- and other so-caled candidates, the only can
dldates run for, will be those we have named
Henry Clay OF Kentucky, and Martin Van Buren,
Of New York and that from recent indications
and movements throughout the country, their
chances are reduced almost TO the same level. II
is impossible to tell which will be successful in this
eyentfpl struggle. 1t is very true that the partizans
of each of the candidates may indulge in the most
confident hopes, and express themselves in the
most confident terms, with respect to the success,
beyond all peradventure Of their favorite. But TO
the candid and dspassionate man, who calmly sur
veys the whole field, the only conclusion which
presents itself is that the contest is becoming re-
duced to terms of more equality, and that the sue
chances and contingencies hereafter to be develop
ed and improved. Certainly, Judging from the re-
suits Of the various State elections during the last
two or three years, Mr. Van Buren's chances were
far superior to those of Mr. Clay But the recent
Indications, and some late elections, have shown
the redundancy of Mr.. Van Buren's hopes, and re-
duced them almost to the limits of Mr. Clay's.
Ia the meantime the movements in embryo with
Ill a. Lc.l, a.la .h..y
will exercise very important bearing and tenden-
cy on the result of the general contest Thus, for
instance, the American Republican movement in
this city, which bids SO fair TO swallow up both par
lies in the spring election here, will strike with
establishment the whole country, and particularly
when so many elements of dissatisfaction are al
work amongst the masses Of both parties, and only
waiting for some favorable moment to show them
selves in the same field with this party in New
York. In this city, we are perfectly satisfied from
what we see, that if things go on as they do Just
now, there cannot be the slightest doubt that both
wings and locofocos will be completely swamped and
overwhelmed by this American Republican party
Then, i, may be asked, after such an event, what
effect will be manifested on the general movement
of the party, and how will they operate on the
chances of Van Buren, and Clay1 We wait until
April before we ian tell. We give the facts, and
our readers may Judge of the various specuations
which these facts are calculated to originate
New Posr OFFICE SYsTEM.-We understand
that new Post Office system is about TO be esta
bshed by q number OF capitalists, under the name
of the american Letter Mail Company" who
found their right to establish mail and post Offices
in competition with those under the authority o
Congress, on the clause of the Constitution Cart.
sec 81 which declares that the Congress shall
have powerto establish Offices and post roads
This clause, this company contends, does not pro
hibt the establishment of post offices and post roads
either by States or individuals. This, at all events
has good deal of plausibrlity, and the effort o
this company will present a very curious sort Of op
position TO Mr. Wicklitfe, they in possession
of sufficient capital TO continue the competitor
until the question is fairly tested in the Supreme
Court Of the United States. They will probably
succeed in establishing, in the meantime, mai
routes in all the principal railroad lines between
the large Cities and W. understand that the rate o.
postage is to be no more than FIVE cents on single
letters.
The question of constitutionality in this case i.
interesting II is certainly remarkable, and moi
without favorable bearing to this company's rea
sonng, that whilst in the old articles of confedera
ton, il was declared that Congress shall have tn
sole and erclusipe right and power OF establishing
and regulating post Offices" when the constitu
ton came to be adopted, this phraseoogy was al
tered and the words "sole" and exclusive
omitted Amongst the various prohibitions upo
the State government, II is also worthy OF notice
there is no one against the establishment OF pos
roads and post offices We shall certainly waite
the progress of this company with interest. The
have presented the matter of post Office reform il
and original aspect.
ANTICIPATED NEws.--The Adirondack has no
arrived after all she was announced below by thu
telegraph which mistook the Pacific for her
Sometime this week, however, we shall receive
news. The steamer Br tannia is out eleven day: