The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-06-28
Preside initial Candidates.


Although there is large portion Of the demo
cratic press throughout the Union who still cling
to Gen. Cass as their first choice for the prcsiden-
cy, yet the various political movements, in the
different states which have given expression on
this subject, plainly Indicate that he cannot be
the next candidate Of the democratic party. In
Pennsy lvana the democracy are divided between
CAss and BUCHANAN, md the feeling manifested
by these two branches towards each other, at the
recent Reading convention, demonstrates that
neither Of these great statesmen can unite them
either would De likely to lose the state. New
Hampshire, IN her recent democratic state con.
ycnon, expressed her preference for her own IA
vorite son, Hon. LEVI WOODBURY.; but although
this expression was made with great unanlmity
and shows that the democracy in the Old Granite
State are harmonms Judge Woodbury. pros.
poets for the presidency are very faint. Ii the
party cannot unite Of man from Pennsylvania,
Zone Of the largest and oldest states in the Union
aud has never had president,) they will have TO
take western man. No e,htem man can, Meth.
" should he, have the nomination. Tie west is
entitled TO the next president Judge VS. chance,
then, is less favorable than Mr. Buchanans. while
at the same time it shows that n, Hampshire i.
not Tor Cass. Indiana ha, declared Gen LAsg to
be her first choice, but would, no doubt, as soon
60 for any other good western democrat rs she
would fol- Cas-, in case Lane is not nominated
Cor nt.rt h,e Er,a nd NTH
and would undoubtedly run well, were it not that
the south has already had more than her proper.
,ion ofpresdents, and will not, We presume, have
q candidate before the convention Gen. HoUsroN
and COL BENTON stand about the same-neither
could carry southern state and, of course, could
not expect to be taken up by the north, as the
same objections to Butler lie against them. In
the south Cas- has many strong frieuds--goba-
bly, more than any ofthe other gentlemen above
named. and We are inclined to think the same
might DO said Of him in the north, but we doubt
whether he could collect strength enough both
north and south to be elected--Now, then, il what
we have thus far said is correct, it is evident that
If the democratic party wish to elect their next
presidential candidate, they will have 30 take a
man who can unite the party in all sections Of the
Unior--north, south, east, a1d west We know
no distinguished man in our party better calcula.
ted to effect such union of the various d.cordani
element, which have more or less distracted Il,
for the last few years, than Hon STEPHEN A
DOUGLASS, Of Illinois. His career 10 the u S
Senate, during the stormy session Of is-9--wher
so many prominent 'uen blasted their politica
prospects, by being carried OF in the whirlwint
Of ultraisms and factions, which ragged so fsariuly
during that session Of congress, was certainly {
brilliant one. Unmoved, amid the contendinl
elements. which, for while, seemed TO shake tn,
foundations Of the Union lie stood, coolly ma
turing lis plane and paving his way in straight
forward course, and after the famous "0mnibu,
Bill" introduced by Mr. Clay. and upon which he
stased both his political character aud the safety
N the Union, bad failed, ard all hopes Of dis
polling the cloud that was gathering thick and
gloomy around the capital, were fast yielding .c
despair. the LITTLE GiAsr came forward
: shoullered the task under which Clay, Cass, Ben
ton, Webster, Calhoun, aud, in fact, lll the grea
rnso of our country. had vainly struggled fo'
weeks, and in u few short days the work wa
done; the many exciting questions, which hat
made perfect mobhalls Of our national eouuci
chambers, were quietly aud amicably---oas si,e
another--settlsd; the dismal cloud which Ia,
sast " sbadows over the whole nation bad van
Isbed ints pure air. and the sunshine Of peac,
Asd hops again illumined the hearts of the people
:. This g(qsjous achievement Of Mr. Douglass Dire
nov Iim the sys Of admiration from all quar-
~ <6AAs Union, and he has eyer since ranked
u Ne ablsst statesmen In The republic. IL
,,th and Ia the south his course on thos,
Ampromiss measures eajoys the hearty up
every true friend VI the Union lllinoi
a. ar dsn,s0acy Of the Uni 0 status, hi
~ rssuss A. DvuslAss Ne her first ehoic
psss'dsoey. snd We ask .ISes Kate can pr,
u,svrs a. <sG1niiS .sae y