The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-31

the time is approaching, and the politicians, poll
tieal ciques and party wire.workers are beginning
to look up their candidates for the grand Chevy
Chase Of 1852. Attempts have already been made
in various quarters to put forward various military
heroes, on both sides. Movements are still in pro-
grcss here and there, in favor Of Gen. Scott, Gen.
Houston, Gen. Cas-, Gen. Butler, Of Kentucky, and
we know not how many more But as these expe-
riments seem to be conined to particular cliqaes,
outside organs or obscure localities, it not likely
they will have any decisive effect upon the national
conventions Of either Philadelphia, Baltimore, or
Buffalo. newspaper military nomination Is from
time to time proposed but it cxctes neither in
ercst nor curiosity, it is generally abandoned the
next morning. Military glory is evidently in Ian
gushing condition !. and to make the matter worse,
We have military candidates plentiful as black
berries. Take, for example, the following list
Gen. Winfield Scott, 1t New Jersey-whig.
Gen. Lewis Cass, OF Achigan--delnocrat
Gen. Sam Houston. Of Texas-demoerat.
Gen. VIM o Butler, of acknowledgements.
Gen. John l.. Wool. Of New York-democrat.
Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, of Tennessee-democrat.
Gen. John A. Quitman. Of Mssissppi-dcmocrat.
Gen. Jefferson Davis. Mssissippi-democrat.
Gen. Joseph Lane Of Indiana-democrat
Gen. Persifcr \. Smith. Of Louisana--dcmocrst.
Gen. Bennett Riley. Of California--whig.
Gen. David L. Twiggs, of Gcorsia-dcmocrat.
These are some of the real fighting Generals, who
have sinet gunpowder to some purpose Then we
have the Generals of the peace establishment, the
Fourth Of July Generals, the political and philoso
phcal generals, list, ifanything, even more for
midable than the last. Here they are
Gen. James Watson Webb New York-dipomatic can
ddatc
Gen. George p. Norris. do-poetcal candidate.
Gen Jas Arlington Bennett. Long Island-indepcndent
Gen. " $. Footc Mississippi-compromse.
Gen. w. H. Chaplin, New iork-fugtirc candidate.
Gen Lucrctia Mott. Philadelp hia-woman's rights.
Gen. Geo. I Downing, New York, (colored) african
rights and choice oysters.
GenlGi Davis New York-Concy Island candidatel
Gen Tom Thumb, New York-Barnums candidate
This list embraces some very able, capable, ia
Tented, and distinguished individuals, while most of
the real sulphur and saltpetrc Generals, have no
other capital than their military glory. 1t is their
stock in trade for the honors and responsibilities of
the Presidency. And what is this military glory,
after all Reduced to the strict principles of mo-
raliy, war is but the science Of cutting threats by
wholesale; and the greatest butcher has always
been the greatest hero. The bow-string, the gal
lows the guilloine, end in the same result-the de-
struction Of human life-with this difference, that
where, under the civil law solitary man aud cri-
NAL is executed, whole hecatombs of innocent vic
Tins sacrificed upon the bloody altar of yar.
We admit, however, the continued necessity Of
the necessity of good stock of the supplies and
snews of war always on hand the necessity of able
Generals snd brave soldiers; and their duty to make
clean work Of the enemy when they come together.
But the necessity of a gunpowder candidate for the
Presidency and the policy and expedency of such u
candidate, exclusively upon bombshell and gun
power reputation, are quite another thing. Past
experience in this thing has given the country some
useful lessons. IL is manifest that hereafter the
American people will require something more for
the White House than the trophies Of New Orleans,
Tppecanoe, Buena Vista or Chepultepec. The pre-
yalng apathy in reference to military candidates,
indicates revolution in the public mind this i'm
portant subject The public interests, the impor-
tant position of this country and government before
the world will hardly justify the continuance of the
practice Of bestowing the White House a u reward
for military services.
Within the last twenty-five years we have had
three exceedingly popular military chiefans elect
ed to the Presidency. When Gen. Jackson was u
candidate, Mr.. Clay declared that he would sooner
have ''war, pestilence and famine" than Presi-
dent elected upon mere military reputation. And
however satisfactory the results Of the Jackson
administration, he certainly, from the disturbance
and confusion which he brought upon the banking,
financial, commercial, and general business of the
country, created the most bitter and unrelenting
opposition with which any any party was
ever assailed. When Cen. Harrison Wa. nominated
at Harrisburg, John Tyler wcpt; yea, he wept
that a merely military candidate should have super
seeded the STATESMEN, Henry Clay. Those were
prophetic tears for the results of the adminstra-
ton Of Gen. Harrison, though President but
month, very clearly betrayed his incaPacity. After
the nomination of Gen. Taylor, Mr.. Webster.
in a public speech, declared deliberately, as his
opinion, that it was "a nomination not fit to
be made" We thought otherwise; We believed
Cen Taylor would make good, capable, straight
forward, independent President and when the
whig convention seconded our nomination, We
counted upon the most splendid results We were
wrong. Mr.. Webster was right. The results Of
Cen. Taylor's brief term in office proved him to be
the most lamcntable and Notifying intellectual
failure In the history Of the government. Indeed,
some supcrstious people have declared their belief
that his death was Proyidential, and saved the
country from the horrors Of dissolution an1 civil
war. However that may be, while We admit the
honest motives and good ntentiOns Of Gen. Taylor,
BIZ. administration was a failurc-a complete and
mortif,ing failure. lie was ont Of his element.
Mr. Webster was proved to be right; aud Gen.
Taylor himself was If the same opinion.
OuTTast experience, then, in military heroes, lets
,ath,r agansi them. Moreover, the rapid growth
and imme nscly increased national Importance Of the
United Staics--the increased importance and com
IlcAity Of ous foreign and domestic relations, de-
mand in the person ofo President al the qualities
ofthe highest statesmanshiY. What Il to be the
result in the approaching campaign. no man can
tell one fact, however, l. very spparen,-that
while our military heroes are seaing upon every
occasion Of a public festival, public dinner, or
public ball. Tor the introduction Of patriotic letters
and spcech,s, fishing Tor popular favor, they arc
making very lttle Roadway among the people.
Experience teaches wisdom; and one Of the best
evidences Of increasing popular Intelligence Is in
the popular apathy and indifference to military can
datcs, whose only political capital Is their military