The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-19
The Barnburners' Ratification Meeting.

We give in another part of our journal, full re-
port of the ratification meeting held by the barn.
burners yesterday afternoon, In favor OF the nomi-
nation of Mr.. Van Buren,, of kinderhook, as q
"free soil' candidate for the Presidency, or, in
ether words as the first candidate of the new aboli-
lion party of the North. For the last two or three
weeks, there has been considerable effort made
blythe barnburners to get up great and tremendous
meeting; but on the whole we do not think that it
was by any means equal to the first meeting held
m the Park-a meeting which, by its novelty and
the expected cracking of nuts by John Van Buren,,
drew great many persons there. In fact, apathy,
20 a great extent, prevails, not only among the
hambumers, but among all the political parties of
the day, In this region, well in other parts of
the country. This apathy cannot arise from the
warmth of the weather for summer has, IN fact,
only begun during the present week The month
Of June, and what has escaped of July, have been
unusually cool-sometmes rainy, sometimes wet,
sometimes disagreeable, at other time quite agree
able. The potatoes have grown rapidly; bat the
politicians seem to be effected with the rot. Corn
has sprung up tremendously but conservatism has
been very slow and backward.
What can be the meaning of all this general
apathy and indifference among every political
1dIty vi mC udy' w HiSs, iOCOlOCOs. DdIHDuIueIS,
iberty-men, and ALL seem to be affected with the
disease The rot has left the potato, and actually
aseailed the politicians, at last. Thanks be to hea-
ven for this much To the best of our belief, this
happy change IN the political temperature of the
day may be attributed to the growing intelligence
m the mass of the people, and to the revolution
which has gradually taken place, for some years
past, in the newspaper press of our large cities
throwing of the shackles of ofice-seekers, of all
kinds, and determining to think and act for them
selves, in the selection of candidates for the Pre-
sidency, and every other important office. 1t is
fact that the independent press is working a
change, and healthy revolution, in the public
mind. The great politicians of the day, as well
the smaller ones, beginning to treat their own
organs with much indifference, and to quote the
newspapers of independent growth, in every pos
sible way. Wings, democrats, barnbumers, and
agents from all the factions of the day, have APP
Piled to us to aid and assist them in the publica-
ton and PRONUNCIATION of their Opinions, as the
best mode of furnishing the public with what
they think, and mean to do, in relation to public
affairs. We treat them all alike. When they be-
have themselves decently, we treat them accord
ingly when they make fools of themselves, we
treat them to look in the mirror.
We are disposed, therefore, to think that good
deal of the force of Mr. Van Buren's power has
been spent, and that he will not come out of this
singular contest with much popular strength as
many Of his friends give him credit for. The
FIRST onset was furious as well as curious but the
effect is slackening every day. AS an evidence Of
this and other views it is only necessary to state
That the famous campaign papers issued by several
Of the parties, which generally expected TO be
Aled with all kinds of abuse, virulence, and
SANDER, have most generally become total fail
ures, without reference to the political factions or
eligxes that started them. The community are
beginning to Judge for themselves, read all
newspapers, and determine how they will vote,
without aid from the rascally politicians and
vapid travelling orators of the day. According
70 all appearances, General Taylor has the best
chance of being elected to the Presidency in the
coming election, although no one can predict
what changes may take place between this day
and the seventh of November next. The eliques
among the wings, as well as the cligues among
the democrats, are all at odds and ends The
prospects Of General Cass have been nearly ruined
by the movement of Mr. Van Buren, and this
movement seems to be going on to sufficient ex-
tent TO effect the defeat of the Baltimore candi-
date.
Thus matters stand at this particular time
When a change takes place, we shall note the
complexion of its character.
kIRwAN Us. HUGHEs-HUGHEs Us. MCMURRAY