The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-03
The Clay Mecting-MOvcment of Part les.

We give in another column, a report of the meet
ing of the friends Of Mr. Clay in this city, which
was held last evening, the site of Niblos thea
tire and garden. The tone of the meeting was cer-
tainly warm and enthusiastic for Mr.. Clay In
numbers it outstripped any the Taylor meetings;
but the popularity of Mr. Clay, among the whig
masses, here or elsewhere in the North is no ind-
cation that he will be equally popular in the wing
convention.
According to all appearances, the unavailabity
of Mr.. Clayis beginning to make very formidable
impression on the country in the Middle and
Northern States. From all quarters, we hear that
General Taylor is the favorite of the Southern and
Western delegates. The wing masses in this re-
gion, undoubtedly for Mr.. Clay; but if the con-
venton should nominate General Taylor, they will
go for him, with few and inconsiderable excep-
tons
The unpopularity of General Taylor among the
whig masses here, has been the cause of much In
curry and much curious speculation. About year
ago. the name of &c Rough and Ready" operated
like talisman, among the masses of the demo-
Gratis, as we'll as among those of the wings This,
we believe, was acknowledged in every quarter-in
the Northern States well as in the Eastern. What
is the reason, therefore. that after the lapse of
year, such change has taken place in this city,
in this State, and in this part of the country!
One of the most prominent of them, we believe
springs from the squabbles and disreputable pro-
ceedings which have taken place among our
| military men in Mexico, which have thrown a
stigma over military reputation in general. The
affairs connected with General Pillow and the
courts martial, have made many of our generals so
utterly ridiculous that the unpopularity arising from
them has reached the popularity of all military
men, even that of General Taylor This may be
one of the causest that affect Gen. Taylor among the
masses of sensible people, belonging to both par
ties at the North. Another cause no doubt, arises
from the busting lmpertinence, land mpudent loqua-
city, of many of those would-be leaders who have
| put themselves in the front ranks of the movement
in favor of General Taylor. Take, for instance,
| the facts connected with this view of the matter,
occurring in this city. The popularity and power
| attached to the name and fortune of General Tay-
lor a candidate for the Presidency, have attract
| ed all the wrecks and waits and castings away of
all former factions, for period of probably quar-
! ter of century. Look at the Wall street COM
mittee and the leaders of the movement who meet
| at Lafayette Hall. They are principally wrecks
OF former factions in this city, who have been cast
off and thrown aside by half dozen parties in the
course of the last twenty years. Federasts wings,
democrats, locofocos, peoples men, high-binders
low-binders, nationalists-all figure in this move.
ment, and are all well known and extremely dstase-
full to the masses of the honest of both parties The
| same may be said of the faction which meet nj
Military Hall, in the Bowery. They consist
! principally of the rump OF the native party, who
| produced much excitement and so much dis
grace in this city, and in philadelphia, Of more
recent date. Tyler men, Tamadgc men, conser.
vatives, natives, all sorts, who have been broken
down and thrown off from the great movements
OF the people, have attached themselves 10 the
wonderful popularity of General Taylor--as a
handful of big flies will fix themselves to the name
of the lion, and think they can rise into emincnce
hereafter by sticking TO the chief OF the forest.
These are some of the causes which have i'm.
paired in this region, the popularity of General
Taylor, who originally excited so much enihu-
siasm among the masses of the democrats and
wings. The same difficulties, we believe, do moi
attach to the Taylor movement in the Southern
and Western States; and hence General Taylor's
strength among the delegates of those parts Of the
country is much greater than it is here. The con
venton, however, next week, will settle all these
difficulties, and regulate and push them away, so
that honest men will be able TO form an honest
| opinion.