The New York herald., 1851-08-22

tion from each State respectively, should constitute
an advisory committee, in reference to the time
and place for the National Convention of 1852
This correspondence, it will be seen, is addr sssed
to several of the members of this gener committee
and chiefly between them; and that the most con-
spicuous among them-the controlling spirits Of
them all-are Mr.. G. Donaldson, Of Texas; and Mr..
Nathaniel Greer, Of Iowa 1t will farther appear
that, at the suggestion of Mr. Treat, Of St. Louis,
a number of the members of this National Com
mittee met, in this city, short time ago. quietly
and unobtrusively, that neither the sachems of St.
Iammany, nor even our vigilant reporters, were
aware of it, and that Baltimore was resolved upon
as the place for the convention. The time is a
matter OF more importance-it may be best to wait
until the wings have shown their hands-at all
events, the time remains yet an open question: al
though Mr.. Donaldson insists upon the first Mon.
day in June next.
In the aggregate, repeat, these letters disclose
the preliminary movements of a deeply concerted
plan for the nomination Of General Houston the
free soil or barnburner platform. The name of
Prince John is only wanted to make it complete.
But, individually, in this matter Of fact correspond
ence, there are many amusing and apparently
hopeless contrarieties.
MIR. Croswen goes for standing square up to the
Fugitive Slave law Mr.. Treat recommends that
every thing should be kept dark till about January;
MIR. Hallett of Massachusetts, gives some good
advice, and thinks the old Bay State cypher; Mr.
Ritchie, of Virginia, goes heartily to business,
totally unconscious that there is anything but meal
in the tub Mr. Andrews, of Maine, knows all
about it, is quite enthusiastic declares that Texas
is some pumpkins" and that General sam
Houston is the man for Maine; Mr.. Forney, of
Philadelphia is brief and cautious; and Martin
Van Buren,, as usual is decisivey non committal,
though quite happy at the auspicious complexion of
things Judge Woodbury. thinks the party ought
not to stand upon trfes, but should unite for the
essentials, which is most excellent advice; Joshua
Il. Giddings, of Ohio (and how he got into this
strange company it behooves the wings to inquired
seems to be very well pleased, upon the average,
with the outlines of the democracy for 1852, but
turrs over the subject to Colonel Samuel Medary,
an older and more popular member of the demo
cratic family; General Commander, of South
Carolina (the delegate of Iine votes at the last
Baltimore convention), is rather of the opinion
that another national democratic convention may
very well be dispensed with-that South Caro-
lima will secede SON etime next winter, unless
Congress should reconsider the California boundary,
and run through the ompromise line Of $50.
he is quite serious the Prophe. Miller in pre-
dieting the day of judgment, though not quite as
exact as to the day. One thing, however, is evil
dent, viz Upon the platform indicated, General
Houston will never receive in convention the nine
votes of General Commander, in behalf of South
Carolina. Mr.. Britain, of ALBANIA, is in doubt
where he stands He thinks the Southern rights
party of the South is the democratic party, and
that Clemens, Cobb, and Foote, and the Washing
ton Union, have gone over to the Southern wings
And to tell the truth, this is difficulty very curl
Gus and perplexng; and quite natural, therefore is
this embarrassment of Mr.. Britain. Mr.. King,
the presiding officer Of the United States Senate,
embraces the opportunity for an instructive dsser-
tation upon Southern rights. Mr.. Browne, of |
Rhode Island, is fat footed and explicit and talks
like man Of business. Suspecting that, if Gen.
Cass were re-nominated, Martin Van Buren would |
contrive to swamp him. he did before, he thinks,
upon the whole, that Gen. Houston would be pre-
ferable, which, indeed, is very likely. Gen. Hous.
ton, from his wounded arm, (San Jacinto, don't |
forget that,) can't write, and has Mr.. Yoakum to
present his apologies.
But tie crowning sheaf is the letter of Mr.. Do
MADISON to Mr.. Greer. 1t is frank, and candid,
and open as the day. So far from needing an
explanation, 1t Is the key to the whole cores |
ponderce. His views are consistent with his pro-
gramme, and his purpose is promptly defined.
Whether be and his friends have commenced at
the right time, or in the right way, or not, the
future alone determine Their plot, like that |
of King Henry, may be a very good plot, and |
their army may be as good, though we can only |
apprehend mischief from too much reliance on |
their free soil mercenaries.
Appended to this correspondence will be found a |
letter from General Cass, and it also embraces
certain newspaper extracts, which harmonic with |
the letters, and throw good deal of light upon the
whole subject. The whole mass Of papers have
been furnished to us for publication, partly, we |
suppose, account Of the universal circulation Of
the Herald, and partly because there is no demo- |
cratic organ in this great centre Of the commerce
and politics Of the country. What other object the
party furnishing the documents may have had in |
view 1t is for the politicians TO conjecture As the
letters, however, involve matters Of the greatest
moment to the country and the sovereign people,
we but discharge our duty in diffusing this cor
respondense among them. And thus to-day we
open the campaign of'52.
Loss or THE STEAMSHIP USIoN.-The loss Of the
steamship Union, on her passage from San Fran