The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-13

The Presidential COntes st.

The Presidential Contest.
Clouds and darkness still obscure the political
horizon, and this state of uncertainty may con-
tnue for some time to come, till the free soil
movement, and also that for Henry Clay, shall
have been developed, in their full length breadth,
and thickness OF the four candidates in the field,
We still think the chances looking somewhat
better for General Taylor, and worse fer General
Cass. The chances of Mr. Van Buren, and Mr.
Clay, notwithstanding the noise that is made by
their patizans, are, OF course, utterly worthless,
IN the present contest, and will be in every addi-
tional one. Mr.. Van Buren, engaged In this new
political career out OF revenge towards General
Cass, and for the purpose of defeating his election;
of course, the result, TO be gratifying to him,
be the election of General Taylor. The friends of
Mr. Clay, In this quarter, for we doubt whether
Mr. Clay himself eniertains the same opinion,
have similarf feeling towards General Taylor, but
as far we can learn, the Clay movement, be-
ginning IN this city, will not make much Roadway
elsewhere, and will, most probably, end in a SINH
lar abortion TO that which followed the nominal
ton OF General Taylor, and which was attempted
IN this city by the same persons who got up the
recent meeting.
General Taylor's chances amidst the confusion
of political parties and candidates, the disorgani.
zatiod of the old parties, and the reorganization
of new ones are still In the ascendant. He may
not be elected President in November next. No.
thing is certain. Contingencies may take
place utterly unforeseen and unapprehended,
but at this present moment, the hero of Buena
Vista undoubtedly stands very fair. The YER
mont election has developed a truth, fact,
that will have a most important bearing
the contest The free soil element in that State
only disorganized the democratic party. Now,
when we reflect that, IN most of the free States,
the same element will most probably work the
same way, the inevitable result will be, that 1t
will favor General Tayo chances 1t is, how
ever, supposed by some politicians, that in some
OF the other States, the free soil abolition ele
mentor they are synonimous-wIll dlsorganize
the wing party more than the democratic, or at
least as much. We doubt the accuracy Of this
view. The abolition clement, In 1874, was then
started into active existence, and Its operation
confined at that day, principally IN the disorganl-
zatlon of the whig party IN the free States. The
disoJganization amounted TO sixty-ive thousand
votes, which were gwen for Biney. We believe
that the free soil or abolition element can go no
farther than that, and the disorganizaton of par
ties by the Van Buren, or free soil movement, will
be confined, TO the free States, and prime pally
10 the democratic party, or the party that supports
General Cass. In this case, the chances of &C.
neral Cass diminishing, and those of General
Taylor increasing-Mr Van Buren, and Mr.. Clay
being merely couple OF neutral tints to give color
to the re suit, in either case. The nigger fever,
like the yellow fever, seldom attacks the same
flesh and blood twice.
The Clay movement, intended to counterfeit the
natural result of the Van Buren, movement, and
to diminish the chances Of General Taylor, COM
menced in this city, has not, as we have said be-
fore, shown many signs Of strength or power.
Notwithstanding the endorsement of John M.
Bolts, who seems not 10 know his own mind on
political matters for three days IN succession,
this movement has made but little Roadway
out OF the city of New York. a few inconsidera-
bic meetings have been held In Poughkeepne and
elsewhere, and some others have been called
but its operation, In this State will dwlndle
down into insgnihcance. Thurlow Weed and
the Albany junta who month ago attempted a
similar movement and failed, are showing the
cold shoulder to it, The cid wing politicians find
il better to preserve The integrity OF the party, for
State purposes and State Offices, TO elect their Co
vernon, and WELD the power Of the State, than 10
crafty mere feeling of revenge, because Mr..
Clay did net get the nomination ut Philadelphia.
The Clay element, therefore, presents no insur-
mcuntsbe difficulty to the legitimate operation of
the free soil movement, working as 1t is, in favor
of Gen. Taylor at this election.
In the midst of this confusion, however several
movements are On foot in the neighboring States.
winch, as soon as developed, will enable us to
form a stronger and mere accurate opinion on
the SUBJECT The Maine election, which took
place the day before yesterday, will tell to what
extent the free soil movement operated there, and
in what direction. A State Convention Of the
free soil party, a. to be held at Utica day, and
probably John 4. Dix Will be nominated as their
candidate ior Governor The wing convention of
this State will NEE. tomorrow, also at Utiea, for
sbe purpose Ct nominating their State and electo-
1al candidates. These conventions will coneen-
trate much political Int lligence and throw some
leht on the contest. a convention j. also TO be
held tomorrow, al Reading, in Pennsylvania, for
the purpose OF organizing general free soi move
ment in that state. If this movement should
be agltated to some extent, and II has already be-
gun with some force in Western Pennsyly ania
ans down towards the North, it is not improbable
that The Van Buren, party may take away sufficient
votes from the Cass party TO give the electoral vote
OF Pennsylvania 10 Gen. Taylor Another free soil
State Convention Is TO be held in Trenton, New
jersey, this week. All these conventions, elections
and movements, will throw light on the general
subject, and enable US 10 see our way little more
early up 10 November. AT present, although mat
tets stand somewhat IN doubt, yet they are more
favorable 10 General Taylor than they have been
lpI lie few last weeks,