The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-22

the great chapter
The SLAVERY QUESTION AND THE PRESIDENTIAL
EIrcTioN.--The slavery question will exercise a
most controlling influence over the nominations for
the Presidency, that will be made by the two con-
ventlons, wing and democratic 1t is idle to close
our eyes on the present situation of the country in
relation to this abstract notion that prevails in the
North, and the peculiar feelings the subject that
exist in the South The election Of 1874 was de-
termined on that question, and on that alone. Mr..
Polk was nominated by the democrats, almost un-
known to the great mass of the community; and
yet to the establishment of every politician of that
day, he was elected President over Mr.. Clay, dis
tinguished and popular man, known for more than
quarter of century for his public acts, and vene-
rated and respected by the vast masses of the Anne
rican people. This singular result, under the strict
organization of the two parties, binding each fac
ton to support its own nomination, was brought
about, however, by the interference of third prin-
ciple, or feeling, or party-and that party the
liberty party of that day. But for the rise and
wonderful progress Of this liberty party of the
North, during the four years preceding 1884, Mr..
Clay would have been elected President of the
United States, beyond question. The agitation
of the slavery question in the North, for the pur-
pose of creating political party, gave to Mr..
Birney, that occasion, sixty-fve thousand votes
in the Northern States Two-thirds of these voters
were taken from the whig ranks, and to that ex-
tent weakened the force of the wing party, so
much as to throw New York and several other
States into the balance in favor of Mr.. Polk and
against Mr.. Clay
This is brief history of the influence which
caused the defeat of Mr.. Clay in 1874, and the
success of Mr.. Polk, unknown and unheralded, as
he was. What Is the position of the country now!
and is it not probable that similar elements may
produce similar results at the approaching cleo
ton? Since the general election of 1874, the Ii
berry party throughout the country, has continued
its agitations; and has even increased the number
of Its representatives in Congress. At this mo-
ment they are probably organized in all the free
States, to certain extent, more in some, and less
In others. They have, it is true, nomination for
the Presidency before the country; but there is
great difference on this nomination. We perceive
however, from recent meetings of the liberty party
In Ohio, that efforts made to unite them, and
agitate still further during this summer, and prev-
Gus to the Presidential election. The differences
didates, will not, however, diminish the aggregate
vote which they may take from the two parties.
There is, to be sure, violent faction of the iber
ty men, whose headquarters are at Boston, and
whose leaders are Wendell Phillips, Lloyd CARR
son, Abby Foster, and others, who profess
determined hostility, not only to the
two parties but to the United States constitution to
the church itself, and to all cergymen and politi-
clans, in the lump. This faction, however, is
small; and shows itself only annually in the way
of ridiculous and absurd exhibitions in the city of
New York. The great mass of the liberty party
consist of those who have formerly belonged to
both of the great parties, and who are now uniting
and increasing that party, for the next election
Judging from the movements in the Northern
States, should not be surprised to see the liber
ty party poll the Presidential election, in various
ways, perhaps over one hundred thousand votes.
One hundred thousand votes to be poled by
new party are sufficient in certain direction. to
alter the relation of the two parties; but what thai,
direction is may be more difficult to tell. Will
these votes come from the wings or democrats
In the election of 1874, it was generally admitted
that three-fourths of them were seceders from the
wing party. In the approaching election, it is pro-
bable that large additional portion of them will be
composed of seceders from the demo cratic party
in the free States. The agitation of the Wilmot
proviso In this State, has indirectly fostered the
anti-slavery principle here and elsewhere. AL
though the leaders of the movement in this State
may not be sincere in the agitation which they
have commenced and carried on--and we don't
believe they arc sncere-yet there is a vast mass
Of the people that follow those leaders who are
sincere, and should the leaders make bargain.
and be admitted into the Baltimore convention.
and go with the party nomination there, it is pro-
babe that great inroad may be made on the
democratic party in this particular feeling, at the
ensuing Presidential election, as was the case with
the wings at the election four years ago. If a grea,
secession on anti-slavery grounds therefore made
from the democratic party, growing out of the
discussions on the Wilmot proviso, the balance of
power will be more inclined to the wings and
to their nomination. and the chances will
be decidedly better for them 1t is difficult
to make any accurate calculation on these views.
We must first see the result of the Baltimore con-
venton, watch the movements of the wings and
receive the nomination Of the Philadelphia con-
vcnton. In few months we may be able to cal
cuate the materials with tolcrablc accuracy. and
form an opinion of the result of all these matters
before November. The chances at present are de-
cdedly favorable TO the wing party, even if they
were to nominate Mr. Clay; but if they should
take up such popular man as General Taylor,
their chances would certainly be increased, al
though according to all appearances, great effort
will be made among the politicians to defeat the
nomination of that distinguished man, and proba-
bly, with som, success.
DEATH OF TuTpEyTINE TREEs-We learn that
some doubts exist at the north relative TO the death
81 tine voo tpf ,s,b,, IL