The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-21
The Presidential Eicction-rh Preparations
for the Contest.

T'hc Presidential Eicction-rhc Preparations
for the Contest.
On and after to-morrow-the anniversary of
the birth of Washington-the great civil revolu-
tion in the United States, which will decide
who is to be our next President for the next four
years, will commence in real earnest; and from
that day forward, until the month of November
next, the whole country, from the Atlantic to
the Pacific, will be in state of effervescence,
turmoil and agitation. The interest which is
taken by our people, from the highest to the low
est in the election Of our presidents is not great.
er than the Importance of the subject demands,
and is the best guaranty we can have of the
permanence and prosperity of our free institu-
tions. There Is man, matter what his
situation is, who has not direct interest in the
result of our presidential elections; and he who,
through apathy or from any other cause, neglects
to fulfil his duty in this respect, is unworthy of
being freeman
From the position in which the United States
are now placed In regard to Mexico, the ap-
preaching Presidential election, will be of more
Importance than any that has preceded it. On
former OCCASIONS, matters of purely domestic
character-such as high tariff and low tariff,
the bank, SC, &c.-divIded the parties, and
but in this instance, our relations with people
numbering over one-thlrd as many as our
selves, and with soil unequaed in fertility
and minerals, are TO be settled and shaped,
for all time to come. From the present con-
dition of those relations, there is every pro-
liability that the question of annexing the whole
of that vast and rich country, with it's eight mil
lions of inhabitants, will be the issue on which
.Ii ala Mill I'D II Ill H.
things will sink into nsignifcance in comparison
with it. This issue will arise from the necessity
of the anomalous condition that this country is
now in. Mexico is conquered and beaten. She
lies PROSTATE at our feet, unable to organise an
army, and divided by factions. Yet she will not
make peace We cannot get rid of her-we can
not get out OF the position we now stand In
towards her. Meanwhile, the seeds of perma-
nent occupation being sown broadcast, and
the project of annexing her, entire to the United
States, is discussed by our citizens and by the
Mexicans themselves. The question has made
itsel(-shaped itself-without the agency of poll
ticisns. 1t will be forced on the people, and must
be decided by the people at the approaching cleo
lion.
1t is this, then, that makes the approaching
Presidential election more important than any
that has preceded it, and it will be viewed In
this light by foreign nations, as well as by our
selves. The annexation of such country as
Mexico, will place in entirely new posi-
ton as regards the old world We would &C.
quire by it a vast accession of the cotton growing
soil OF tae world vast mines, and hold in our hand
a controlling influence over the financial opera
tons of the whole world We would obtain
possession of the means Of connecting the At
iantc with the Pacific ocean, thereby giving us
control over the commerce Of the East. The
benefits OF such change in our position are
painted in the most snowy and gorgeous colors
by the friends and advocates of the measure,
while there are not wanting those who prophe-
sy, from such a consummatIon, the worst evils
that could befall a nation.
Several of the States have already taken the
initiative in the coming contest, which may lead
TO this great result. The following States have
held State conventions, aud nominated their
candidates
THs DEoLARArIOS STATE CONVENTIONS ALREADY
For Zachary Taylor. Iowa;
.......... Illinois
Alsbama
For Henry Clay. ...... -. .fhode ltlaud
Eor Daniel Webster. ...' .Msssachusets
Fer Lewis Cass.. Michigan
Ohio.
Conventions will be held in the following
named States, during this month and March,
STATE CONVENTIONS HELD
State T0cn. Dem. Taylor Whie.
Virginia Richmond Feb. as, Feb ~, Feb %.
Kentucky Frankfort, Mar. is, Feb. ~.
Louisiana, New Orleans, Feb %,
y Carolina, Rsleish, Mo-, Feb a.
Pennsyy'a. Harrisburg, Feb. ~,
The following named States have, through
their legislatures, declared in favor of certain
candidates.
THE DgoLAEATIoNs or THE STATE LEeIsLATUREs
fof laehsry Taylor. ....'''. Virgins.
......... Tennessee.
....,,.. Georgia
......... =. Florida.
For James DuchAn an, 80. ,Pennsylvapia.
For bewbCsse' Michigan
And festivals and mass meetings are to be held
tomorrow, in favor Of General Taylor for the
Presidency, IA the following places -
Mass MsErrNos AND Festivals TO nr HELD
For Zachary Taylor. New York City, Feb %.
/" 81 Lo OILS Mo- Feb %
..... Philadelphia Feb %
..... Cincinnati, Feb a.
Thus, then, it appears that the great contest, if
not already begun, will begin in earnest to-mor-
row, IN many OF the States.
All these meetings, and conventions, aud fes-
rivals, are designed 10 operate on the nominating
c5nyention Of each Of ihe two great parties
ghLgs sad democratic; bul who will ~ ths nomi.