New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-02-07
The Election Of senator.

NEW-YORK, "WEDNESDAY, FED. -
The Election Of senator.
Ifthis Journal has taken no part in the discus
sons relating TO the choice Of United states SEN
ator from this State, it was not because we had no
preference. but rather that we did not oe.ieve ex
erton necessary the qualification OF that choice
and did not ISL TO intermedde edlessiy In what
was made 20 assume the character OF an acrlmonl-
ous strife rather than a friendly consultation and
comparison Of views among brethren OF the same
great political family. Always confident that the
canvass could have but one result we could not
consen. 10 aid in producing the impression abroad
that there was any serious diversity OF opinion in
this State as TO the man best fitted and entitled TO
rrcceed Gen Dix in the Senate. We could not
consent that Gov. Seward should seem 70 owe to
the OK ertions OF his friendsto the urging OF his
claims on the one hand or the forbearing 10 press
couatcracting claims on the other-that which
seemed clearly the dictate OF wisdom and OF
public gratitude. And bis overwhelming MAJOR
tiles, both in the preliminary conference aud IN
tire formal election have confirmed our original i'm
pressions
We knew well that he had bitter sdversares
we have never commended and do not now intimate,
that the blame is entirely on their side. Called 10
the Chief Msgistracy Of our State and invested
with an almost boundless power Of appointment
at ar early age, aud under circumstances espe-
clally critical, 1t would be strange # he had not
committed mistakes in the dispensatlon OF thst
patronage strange if he had not, IN the course Of
his four years Administration, committed errors
ASIDE from these Add 10 these the greater num-
Der, even OF the honest and worthy, whom he
must inevitably offend, who, placed il position Of
influence and eminence by their aid, shall dare TO
be IN advance Of public sentiment-to treat the
oatcast, the down trodden and the heterodox as
entitled 10 all the rights and immunites Of a com
mon umanity-and it may be freely admitted that
Gov Stewards adversaries are body respectable
in numbers and in character. We do not include
among them that larger class who having been
constrained to differ from him very decidedly las
we have done) with regard 10 some questions Of
policy like that Of the choice Of Presidential
candidate, have on that account been partially and
Temporarily estraDged from him. Such differences
are unavoidable and while they have furnished
his embittered adversaries with their most formi-
dable weapons Of attack-New York, for instance
having been Overwhelmingly for Henry Clay In
the excited canvass preceding the Philadelphia
Convention, while Gov & is well understood 10
have been adverse 10 him-we do not admit that
this diversity OF sentiment was made TO operate
very powerfully in the Senatorial canvass, as we
are quite sure il should not have done. II those
who have together striven and triumphed in
great political struggle shall make their prelim-
nary diversties of opinion with regard to stand
ard-bearer in that struggle a ground of mutual
denunciation and prescription after the victory has
been won, it must be obvious that all discussion
TO the relative claims OF this that candidate for
the nomination is forestaed and suppressed-that
oil party ties are bubbles-that the free, harmo-
NOUS action and sustained existence OF party
il rendered impossible.
With the new National Administration which
he has so largely aided to call into existence, Gov
Seward after six years Of determined devotion to
his professional pursuits, diversified only by pub
lie addresses in the two intervening Presidential
Elections, returns to public life. He relinqushed
olce and refused to be candidate for any station
whatever when the treachery Of Tyler had rem
dered it impossible for the Wings to achieve any
farther positive good for the country he returns
20 public life when the accession Of Taylor and
Fillmore has awakened in behalf of the party
which he has honored while it has honored him,
new and sangune hopes of usefulness and benef-
ccnce. He takes his seat for the first time in the
National councils, but not as stranger debutant
far otherwise. Probably no man ever yet APP
peared for the first time in Congress so widely
known and so warmly appreciated as William II.
Il a. loft,. ttcfD tch tl,o
prospect of his election has excited will not be
disappointed.
As to the base personal attacks to which he
has of late been subjected-but no, we will not
dignity them even by expression of the loathing
they excite A contemptuous silence is their fit.
test answer.