The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-11-03
The Presidential EIection-CIosing or the
Drama.

The Presidential EIection-Closing OF the
Drama.
We are now closing up the drama that has agi-
tated, andin some degree dsgraced the country for
the last six months-we mean the election OF Pre-
sident or Chief Magistrate OF the United States,
forifour years to come. The returns have begun to
pour In upon us from Pennsylvania, and in a few
days we shall have them from Ohio, followed up
quickly by those from all other parts Of the Union
The complexion of those returns excites no less
interest, from its peculiar character, than did that
OF those which uriousy agtated the country in the
contest which resulted in the election OF General
Harrison. Let US come to particulars
During the last six months the contest has been
conducted on the part of the wings with a want OF
policy-with a profusion of expenditure-and with
folly and delusion that even exceed the same
traits in the camp Of the locofocos According to
the results Of the State elections the question
narrowed down to a single point, and that was,
what, in the Presidential election, is going to be
the extent of the popularity of Mr.. Clay-his per-
sonal popularity in comparison with the strength Of
his own party? If Mr.. Clay can poll more votes
than his party can, then he had reasonable
chance of being elected President OF the United
States. II will be recoected that when General
Harrison was elected, it was exhibited very clearly
that his personal popularity was greater than
that of the party which sustained him. 1t was tba,
which carried him so trianphanty But so far as
we have ascertained, according to the present re-
turns, we see that Mr.. Clay has not the popular ell
ement, and the probability is that every additional
return will distinctly body this forth more and
more to such an extent as to destroy all chance o.
his election. No doubt the democratic presses and
the democratic party have perpetrated great many
falsehoods and have committed outrages against
decency in the management of the canvass /; but,
we believe that the palm of superiority in forgery
and fraud must be given to the Wing party, for they
have outstrpped all former effort in that way
either by themselves or their opponents On the
very threshold of the contest, it was educed to
certainty that the abolition vote and the native
vote in those dstricts,sor portions Of the country
where these sentiments prevailed, held in their
hand the balance Of power, and we already
thus far that both these local feelings and sent-
ments have failed to ensure the expectation of the
wings In fact, there is every appearance now that
the abolition party, throughout the free States, will
cast for Mr.. Birney vote greatly over that OF last
year. and hence the dimInutIon of the whig vete
will be the only result from all the attacks upon
Mr.. Birney by the wings.
Ia the city Of Philadelphia, the Native movement
has failed to the expectations of the friends
Of Mr.. Clay. This feeling will to certain extent
have a similar influence in the election here next
week, and although the wings in this city have
abandoned all their local tickets in the hope Of gain
ing the aid Of the "Native" forces in the election
of Mr. Clay, but it is very doubtful indeed whether
they will be able to carry this combination into
effect at the poles. We think, therefore, that the
results thus far indicate great doubt about the city
of New York, and equal doubt about the State
At all events the chances Of Mr. Clay are fading
avery hour and the strongest probability exists
that Mr.. Polk will be elected next President.
We will begin now, in a day or two, to specu-
late on the probable consequences of Mr.. Folks
eection-the selection of his cabnet-the probable
course OF his policy--the measures which VIII be
carried into effect under his administration, and
all the other effects which may reasonably be .ex-
pscted to flow from such a termination Of this
great contest