Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-01-14

Mr.. EDITOR The present, as it seems to
me, is an interesting crisis to all who regard the
next Presidential election as having any neces-
sary influence upon the welfare of the country,
The parties are preparing TO range themselves
under their respective banners for the contest
In the issue ofthat contest, will not deny that,
as Wing, feel a deep interest, and that in
terest is heightened by the conviction that the
necessity for, and the indications Of a change
in the National Administration, are becoming
every day more apparent. The important ques-
ton now or soon to be decided by the Wing
party, is, who is to be their candidate for the
presidency in the approaching struggle. With
out desiring to precipitate matters or bring for
ward before its time, question which is AREA
dy strongly agitatng the public mind, beg
leave 10 present a few hasty thoughts upon the
subject.
And, allow me Sir, here at the outset, to
put the question, Is Henry Clay any less
available, or any less worthy TO be our candidate
now than he was in lSli? Is there solitary
reason that existed for his nomination then, that
does not apply with still greater force now p
Has he lost, in the interval, any one of his EN-
inent qualifications for the Office of Chief Ma
gistrate? Has he less political wisdom and
experience Qualities which usually increase, not
diminish with years. now, than he had four
wears ago! Has his craftsmanship deteriora-
ted, or his patriotism declined ? Are his emf
nent public services forgotten? Or, is it, in the
mind of the Director, his defeat in 1914 that is
to be the insuperable obstacle !that is to be de-
cisiye against his availability as a candidate in
the approaching trial. But this objection, be-
fore the slightest investigation, vanishes into the
air. There is no soundness in it. Under the
peculiar circumstances of the case, he, as the
phrase is, " run ,eeH in spite of misrepresenta
ton, calumny and detraction, and all the othe
elements of the hydra-headed foe which was ar
rayed against him, receiving if am not mista
ken, more electoral votes, than have been re
ceived by any other unsuccessful candidate il
any similar election since the formation of on
government, and, with an addition of 5000 il
the popular vote of New York. would have beef
elected, Such a defeat is no disgrace, AM
should be deemed no " kncll prophetic" to fu
turc hopes and future efforts. But, aside from
this, If ones defeat under any circumstances, il
to be deemed conclusive against his re-nomina
ton election, why was Harrison, after his de
feat in 1886, so available and triumphant il
: 1910. The truth is, it was not the popularity O
, General Harrison that gained the victory il
1910, nor any unpopularty Of Henry Clay tina
lost it in 1914. In 1910 there was in the pub
lie mind profound and earnest desire for
, change in the National Administration. Tn
, whole country was laboring under heavy EN-
barrassments, and heaying to and fro with a
y, irresistible tendency 10 a revolution. The pee
= pie were resolved ON change, and the cry {
, change went up in one continuous shout fror
every quarter Of the country Under such Gil
sumsances, the result was inevitable. Now