New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-22
The Pre.idency-Geu. Cas-.

OF all the absurd lnfatuatlons OF OUT time,
that of three or four ex-Poiiticlans who
cluster about the Detroit Free Press Office
seems least excusable. Judging from the
columns of that paper, these beioSged ones
would seem to Imagine Gen. Lewis Cass
probable. or at least a possible, candidate
for the Presidency, when he has not back
ers enough in the whole Union out OF Mich
loan 10 Give him show. In this City and
State. the Cass party is reduced to the per-
con of orr friend John MckeOn, VINO main
tains the fight lust as heartily as If he were
Io.t-wbich he almost is. The rest of
the crowd that once hurrahed for Cass are
now all in for Douglas, secretly or openly
as they can work most efficiently, or else
having back with Gov. Marcy for the chan
ces that " something may turn up that will
make said Marcy the candidate himself.
So far as we can Judge, they are looking
sweet at Old Buch, just now, but with no real
intention of nominating him, but only OF
securing his friends help for their game
whenever it shall have become evident
that Buchanan has no chance. The Con-
nectcut leaders have been figuring for
Houston, but several Of them are secretely
in the Douglas arrangement-one (IouceV
for Buchanan at present, but never soul
who can carry even township for Cass.
In all New England, there is just one no.
table Cass man-tO wit, the Soldier Oh
Fortune'-and he has keen eye for the
chances. Cass is already undermined In
Ohio--we know who plowed at her state
Fair, and where the first premium went
and in all the States South of the Delaware
there is no Cassism alive except mere
shadow in Pennsylvania, which means moth
ing but hostility to Buchanan. The author
of the letter to the Chicago River and Har-
Dor Convention has no more chance to be
nominated at Baltimore for President next
Spring than we have, and our chance Is 0,
as the following correspondence VIII show
The Tribune 10 Messrs. Greer DonaldsoR
NEw-YoRK, Oct. 2jth, SS5l.
GENTLEMEN Pardon this intrusion. have seen
YOUR names In the newspapers in way that Justlhes
the belief that you are very well posted up with Ne
gard to the next Baltimore Convention. Being
shrewd you are aware that the Democracy is IN
tcklis position-that its outward show of strength
is hollow and deuslye-thdt the coalitions with
Free. Solers and Barnburners, by which It has made
a show of strength in Vermont, Massachusetts and
New-York, are elements of fatal weakness next
vear-that Secessonism has eaten out the vltals of
the party in the Souththat, IN short, 1t is IN afr,
and must go overheard unless something decisive IS
done promptly.
Delicacy will forbid my speaking of the chances
and running capacities of Its rival candidates for the
Presidency, but your practiced eye Will see at a
glance that of them will DO. Cass has been once
badly beaten, and is load Buchanan Is an old Fed
eralst, and running him will pull the wool of good
many eyes as to the partys Democracy Douglas IS
about the pattern for a Minnesota or Utah Governor,
and 1t is the Presidency we are talking Of Besides,
the friends of these are already undermining each
other, and will succeed Kilkenny-ca fashion before
next June
What would you say then, TO taking me up as a
Compromise candidate Compromises are all the go
nowadays, and belong TO none Of the cique> which
are now getting the party into hot land dirty water
by their scrambles for the spols I've read the story
perfectly agree with what Niebuhr's theory ought to
be on the subJect-namely, that Curius conseniedto
take the First ConsulShip III order to the coun
try. Well why shouldn't be patriotic and make
sacrifices as well as Curtlus or Webster You un.
derstand the unfegned reluctance personal sacrihce,
&c, DC, which keep DaCk fOr leUeI OF dC-
cepance suffice il that am willing TO be laid sacri
fee on the aitar OF our bleeding country Don't you
think I'd be the very man to hold on to the partys
Free Soil allies In the North And do you know
that I'd answer remarkably for the Secession wing Of
the party as | am decidedly In favor OF letting any
State ak out of the Union that wants TON fact,
I'd show em the door and open 1t If | found any
States addicted to tanrums-thc Surest cure IN the
world. They'd be careful not to go out and Al one
ever did, If would mighty soon be knocking at the
door In short, think I'm just the man for the per-
picking emergency-eonty YOU
Yours, considerably, ED. TRIB.
4 Messrs Greer 8 Donaldson's Reply.
Mop, Nov. @ 1851.
DEAR SIR Yours received. Good idea, but won't
DO. We want Democ rat, of course regular
nomination. and all that-but one with his eye-teeth
cut. NOur Democracy isntthe Sort-you really seem
to belere IN IT, We must have a man who goes his
length for Liberty IN Europe and twice ms length
for Slavery in Amerlca-one who reyerences
chie Kossuh and stands ready to burn al the stake
a HACK one-one IN short who regards the Federal
Constitution as formed expressly and entirely TO
enable and help the Southern planters 10 catch
their runaway negroes. SO you see you would MT
do at all and would certainly be beaten In the Con.
vention. We must therefore advise you as friend
not to offer for, next to Gen. Cass you would be
the suTest and worst beaten of ali who let their
names 90 before the Convention.
Yours, extensively,
{. Ii. DONALDSON. of Texas.
NATH'L. GREER, of Iowa.
We shall take Messrs. G.. e. DIS dis
interested advice, and keep out of the way
of defeat Be it known of all men, there