The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-14
the Presidential Canvass.

According to all appearances at the present
time, the principal point on which the presiden-
tial canvass will hang, is that in reference to
the nomination which may be made at the
wing convention at Philadelphia, whether it be
Mr. Clay or General Taylor. Let US illustrate
this view.
The candidates of the democratic party, most
prominently before the people, are Mr.. Polk,
General Cass, and Mr.. Buchanan. The perso-
nal popularity of all three, or of any other candi
date, is about equal. The only question of any
moment to the public, IN reference to their no.
mnation, is the issue on which they will choose
to 90 before the people. We are persuaded
that this issue, notwithstanding the profess
sions in favor of peace with Mexico, provided
a government can be found in Mexico with
which to make peace, will yet be the ques-
ton of the annexation of that country. 80
that in the canvass they can assume that
ground with perfect safety during the move
ments of the fall and summer. The only draw
back, or check, to the unity of the democratic
party, are the divisions about the Wilmot pro.
viso, in the State of New York, and the two
conventional in nominating electoral tickets here.
These divisions, however, will, most likely, be
healed up; for, whenever the great day approach
es, the democratic party are generally united,
whatever their quarrels may be. The union of
the democrats in New York, and the nomina-
ton by the convention, will, of course, close up
the prospect which many of the friends of Mr..
CLAY expected in this State, and it will throw the
general election into pretty much the same po-
sition which it was in four years ago. Now, if
Mr. Clay can bring no greater force into the
field than he did four years ago, and with the
position he has assumed in reference to the war,
he stands by no means on better ground for the
approaching election than he did at the last-ln
fact, he probably stands worse chance. There
will be about seven or eight hundred thousand
new voters in the fed, large majority of
whom will be undoubtedly more in favor of the
annexation of the whole of Mexico than against
it.
With this view of the game, it is very evident
that the nomination of General Taylor, under
the belief that he could bring great accession
of fresh strength to the wing party, will be a
matter of deep consideration to the wing con-
vention in June. If it appear that Mr.. Clay
could not, under any circumstances, be elected,
the wings will be driven to the necessity of ia.
king up General Taylor, whether he writes let
tiers to them or not. With him as their stand
ard bearer, their chances, certainly, are much
better, in the present aspect of things than they
would be without him, or with running merely
on Mr.. Clsy's popularity. The great contest,
therefore, will be in the convention, and the
probability of the wings abandoning Mr.. Clay,
and taking up General Taylor, and supporting
him with the same zeal as they would Mr. Clay,
their first choice. There seems little prospect
that peace can be effected, but cesslty has no
law, and few moments reflection will bring the
matter about 30 as to equalize the chances of the
two parties. The old disturbing forces, aboli-
ton, nativeism. kc., seem to be disappearing of
late.