The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-21
WASHINGTON. May 10, le<o.
The Pssidency- TIE Baltimore Cowrsmfiow-
in the Ascendant acidcnfs-lNo Chance for fhe
Rnr.alhllrucrs

The Presidency TIE Baltimore Cowremtiow- Cas-
in the Asceudant-I ncidents-No Chance for fhe
Barabrnes.
Gen Cass runs aheed of all his competitors this
evening HIS stock has been rapidly improving
to-day from outside appearances; ''but appear
ances are sometimes deceptive" Ii may be that
his more zeaols friends from the West have been
ule TOO fast in their prognostics-for they boldly
declare this evening that they do not even fear the
two-third rule; expressing their ability and their
determination to defeat il.
The friends Of Mr.. Buchanan, meantime, are
not sleeping upon their oars They are less obtu-
sve, but equally industrious, and express equally
decided opinions of his nomination, with the Cass
people of their favorte. 1t is clear, however, that
Gen. Cass is in the ascendancy. His delegates are
not slow proclaim it, and herein, perhaps, lies
his greatest danger 1t may be that the advocates
of the various other champions, catching up the
ALARM will coalesce upon some other individual,
compromise preferable to the nomination of
General Cass.
ii is perhaps in this view that Mr. Dallas, for
President, and Gen. w. o. Butler, for Nice-Presi-
u-nt, are talked of incidentally among the neutras.
We have never known a national democratic
convention 10 excite more interest 10 bring up TO
the halfway house al Washington more delegates
and alternates, advisers and spectators, than the
forthcoming convention at Baltimore has already
collected in w Washington. The Importance of the
action OF this national convention has at length
fully established itself among the peoples and hence
they have resolved to take a more active partcipa-
ton IN II than heretofore.
1.-The great events IN Europe have also contribut-
ed to wake up the attention OF the American
masses. and to convince them that their own d.
rect agency is the safest medium of popular scve-
reignty The politicians who, heretofore meeting
In conclave to the extent of half dozen, decided
upon whom the American people have had to east
their sufirages-the mere politicians, whose busi-
II has therefore been to make Presidents and
choose cabinets, days and weeks before the con-
venton was called to act are now reduced to the
necessity OF more difficult game. The delegates,
IN this instance, from the propulsion given to the
popular mind from the great events of this eventiul
year. have come up with greater degree of self
complacency IN their own judgments than hereto
fore, and with less snbservlency to the wrepulers
of Washington. The French motto of equality
has had an apparent effect in revivng the principle
In the minds OF the delegates to this convention;
for they talk with mnre independence, and express
their opinions with more confidence, than they did
InllS44 or lS40 They come now as lift were not
only their province to express the voice. but their
high prerogative to dictate the action of the con-
ventIon; and the delegate from his plough feels
that he Is In truth sovereign In his actions, and
has right beyond the practice of obedience to the
wire pulers. We like the indications of this ge-
nuine sovereignty. We hope they will be followed
out, for then we shall have harmony, compromises,
and strong ticket
A resident here cannot fail to be struck with the
numerous Intelligent faces of the delegates. Col
lected from all quarters of the Union, we sec in
the countenance OF almost every man an assu-
rance that he knows what he is about, and an
evidence that he understands the importance of
his business They pass their time quite mer-
rly The lobbles of the two houses were
thronged with them to-day, and they We're in high
favor among the members. Ii was sort of levee
In either end of the Capitol to-day, in which the
members OF the Senate and the House respectively
did the honors OF reception.
Alter the adjournment the avenue was thronged;
w In fnu
meeting In front of each of the hotels with
caucus in the reading rooms, and re- union at
the bar. Juleps and sherry cobbers were in de-
mand, for the day was warm. Vast quantities of
segars were smoked, and the perplexities of the
convention were discussed by everybody.
The candidates to-day looked remarkably we'll
Gen Cass wore perpetual smile; the elegant look
ing Vlce-Presldent was as bland the south wind,
when the sun sets in the golden Occdent. Gen.
Houston looked every inch King, and Mr.. King,
OF Alabama, looked younger by ten years than
It's minister at 81. Cloud Mr.. Buchanan was pre-
eminent in gracious and digniied department
and appearance, as we saw him emerging from
the vestbule OF the Senate. Mr.. Allen wore
more solemn majesty than usual Mr.. Dix, tou
5o,us le meme, seemed equally influenced by the
general presentiment of an suspicious proni,,cid-
mentO.
There are perhaps not less than thousand
strangers now IN this city on account of this
Baltimore convention, and we rejoice to that
there is quite fair proportion OF ladies, old and
young, among them.
The younger class of delegates make a merry
time of the interval to the meeting for business
Many Of the more staid and old fashioned from
the interior follow the good old country fashion of
going to bed at shutdown and getting up at day
light IN the morning, which gives them an inter-
Jude of five hours exercise before breakfast
The President keeps open house tonight, and
many of the sovereigns have gone up to see him,
and to congratul ate him on the success of the war
the great letter of Secretary Marcy, and the
treaty Of Mr.. Trist
The first hard task for tlt convention will be
the question of receiving rejecting the barn
burners. They will perhaps be admitted half and
half with the old hunkers, with the understanding
that they abide the decision of the convention
upon the nominees and the address to the people.
Believing that they will hardly do this, and in
creduous of the prospect of compromise upon
the proviso question, and believing that Cass has
the advantages of the field before him, we are APP
prehensve that the barnbumers will have no voice
IN the convention. The only hope left of a com
promise-the only hope left for New York. is a bar
gain to wit: Give the barnburners the State ticket
for the State Offices for their support of the federal
nominations. Even this arrangement is dubious,
and there is reason to fear that New York will be
thrown out OF the estimate. THE DocToR.