The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-27


church OF The Annunciation in this city.
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the Political Chess-board-The Whig Gam
didatcs for the Presidency.
The chances of politics are like those of
campaign, they often falsify the shrewdest cal
culations and predictions. The discussions in
the ranks OF the democrats, in 1874, and their
selection of "a candidate, whose name was by
no means national name, threatened to give
Mr.. Clay an easy run over the couroe. Party
cohesion prevailed over popular enthusiasm in
the election of Mr.. Polk. 1t is questionable if
party cohesion will ever again be so strong as to
secure the success ofany man who has not been
prominently identified with the history of the
country.
Since the Presidential election, in 1874, party
organization has received many shock. The
Oregon questionable river and harbor i'm
prov. r,ent questionable tariff questionable
wilmot proviso; for it may as well 60 by that
nickname as any other-and the war question,
have broken down the barriers of party-have
conglomerated the odds and ends of faction, and
have forcibly converted democrats into wings,
and wings into democrats; not alone indivi-
dualy, but by districts, and by States, and divi-
sions larger than States.
Since the last election, Mr.. Webster, General
Scott, Mr.. Mclean, Mr.. Clayton, and Mr. Crit
tenden, have, each, been spoken of as the choice
of the wings for the Presidency lin ls48 Mr..
Webster, although pre-eminenty the most la
Tented, is, perhaps, the least available of the
prominent members of the wing party. He Is
obnoxious TO the entire Southern section OF the
party. He suffered himself to be drawn too far
into the muddy stream of nativisnl, for his senti
ments on that subject to be soon forgotten.A year
ago, his friends united with those of Cen Scott in
a design to take up the latter; but that scheme,
like many others, was soon abandoned. 1t was
rumored about that time that Mr.. Clay's friends
were determined to nominate him on condition
that he would decline in favor ofMr. Crittenden,
a man little less popular than himself; and it was
probably TO check this move that this coalition
was formed between the friends of Mr.. Webster
and General Scott.
The war suspended for time the prosecution
of the game on both sides; the players wisely
concluding that ali ;heir combinations might be
defeated by something arising cat OF the prose-
cution Of the war If popular, or its opposition, If
the reverse Mr.. Clayton was never seriously
regarded as an available candidate, and he him
self would be the most astonished man in the
country if he were. At one time Mr.. Mclean
was looked upon as the strongest man In the
party--not because Of any extraordinary polit-
ical services, but that having always been iden-
tilted with the democratic party prior to his.re-
tirement from the political arena to the bench OF
tie Supreme Court, and having received his ap-
pointment from General Jackson, he would be
least obnoxious to the democracy. We regret
70 add, that Mr.. McLean's friends counted upon
another element Of success, which should never
enter into political calculations. They relied
upon the unanimous support OF the religious body
Of which Mr.. Mclean is a prominent member.
We mention the f-ct---not in derogation OF that
gentleman, whom we believe TO be too pure TO
build single hope of success on so unwor-
thy foundation but as an inst of the
unhallowed means by which party works
out its ends. But Mr.. Mclean is in fact
too fautless q politician, and it may be
be, too little unprincipled, to be available can
didate. He is, perhaps, too much the fotus teres
otqus rotunlus, to succeed in enlisting warm
support. To have chance of success man
must have some projecting scandal attached to
his name, whereby he may be taken hold Of and
raised into the Presidential chair-some glazing
fault, the objurgation Of which by his opponents,
may draw round him host of friends, indig-
nant at what they regard a wanton persecution
Of a righteous citizen.
But while these names were publicly mention
ed in connection with the Presidency, large
section of the wing party was deteminedly
bent upon the. nomination of Mr.. Clay. They
cluna to him the more fondly for the reverses he
had sustained, and late events have given fresh
impulse to their efforts. The section of the whig
party now in power in this State are undeniably
the advocates Of Mr. Clay's nomination. But
hitherto they have contented themselves with
toastng him at anniversary dinners, and keep
ing his name prominently before the people, not
as connected with the Presidency--for that
would have been prematurs-but as a man who,
having retired from public life, deserved the re-
spect and gratitude Of his country for his mani
fold services.
This was the position of the wing candidates
until after the battle of Buena Vista. The name
Of General Taylor was then on the lips and in
the hearts of his countrymen. The people felt
deeply grateful to the old General for his MASTER
ly soldiership, and the glory he had shed on
the American arms. The politicians took ad-
vantage of this enthusiasm, and endeavored
10 force the old hero TO minister to their
sordid and selfish purposes. For while
all sections of the whig party held their
breath. If General Taylor should accept the
wing nomination it was probable that he would
be preferred TO all the other candidates, and to
oppose him was to run dangerous risk. For
some time they went with the current. But
lately 1t has been discovered that General Tay-
Tor VIII accept no party nomination. He has
given the strongest indication of desire not TO
be candidate at all, by honestly declaring him.
self unacquainted with the merits of the various
questions Of domestic policy agtating the pub.
lie mind With honest Indignation he has
spurned the trammeIs with which interested