The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-20

TYR PRESIDENTIAL MOVEMENTS TnRouahour
nm CotrNrRY The movements throughout the
country towards the next Presidency, begin TO be
more easily understood than for some time past
The principles involved in the contest between the |
two old parties-whigs and dcmocrats-tend to d.
mipisb TIE power Of both with the people, from the
fact that they plant themselves upon the same issue
the support Of the compromise measures, and
particularly the Fagitiye Slave law.
The excursion Of the Presidential candidates Of
the wing party to the western portion Of this
state, over the Erie Railroad has brought to light
the fact tina. Mr.. Fillmore seems not to be the
choice Of his party. Mr.. Webster in this move
ment, seems TO be the victor; and the contest for
nomination win most likely be between him and
General Scott-the latter standing upon the plat
form Of great military chieftain, and the other
upon the platform Of high intellect and exalted
craftsmanship In this struggl. mere is great deal
Of doubt which these qualifications will prevail in
me Convention. The election Of General Harrison
IL is0, and that Of General Taylor in sis followed
by dsafection ana discord, may havethe effect to
turn large portion of the whig party against the
nomination Of a military chieftain-the two former
experiments having resulted 50 unfortunately to
that party. But yet no one can calculate on the
governed by the worst motives and influences
Against General Scott there is an objection urged
by portion Of his own party, and which will
have powerful influence in those States which
hold and claim strict adherence to the compro-
mise measures In the West, South, and South vest,
it win be impossible for General Scott to command
the support Of the whig party, though he were
nominated by national convention, unless he pro-
L.. ~
Of the Fugitive Slave law, and gives that measure
his warm, thorough, consistent, and patriotic sup
port The Louisville Journal and 50. Louis Reprb-
dcan-the most prominent whig papers OF the West
have declared against Gen. Scott, unless he COM
plies with this requirement; and Col. Humphrey
Marshall, whose letter We publish elsewhere, OPP
poses bis nomination, on the ground that those
most forward in heraldng the claims of that can
didate have been the most conspicuous opponents
| Of the Fugitive Slave law and other kindred mea-
sures This alludes to the exertions Of Seward
& Co., in support of Scott. General SCOTS opn-
ions entirely unknown, except upon the IA; i've
American question, Of which he is an ayowed adyo-
cate.
We see, also, that the tour Of General Scott
through the south and West, has added very little
to his prospect Of success, while that Of MIR. Web
ster at the North, where the opposite opinion pre-
walls, is marked by demonstrations Of increasing
popularity and the compliment Of public dinner
is rendered him before MIR Fillmore, in Buffalo, the
home of the latter gentleman. Indeed, throughout
the North and East the reaction in favor of Mr..
Webster has been very great, and in Yorktown,
Virginia, his name has already been proposed for
the Presidency in 1852 80 much for tae wings.
The democratic party, at this time, seems to have
no particularly prominent candidate. Mr.. Bu-
chanan has been proposed ip Georgia; but that is
small matter. General Cas-, upon whose name the
party has heretofore rallied, seems to be little
thought Of, while Mr.. Douglas and General sam
Houston divide the party upon their several claims.
A short time since the name Of the former candi-
date was for a while the watchword Of portion Of
the journals Of that party; but now his name is
scarcely mentioned, except in his own State. Mr.
Douglas was one Of the Presidential excursion par
ty now at Buffalo and his reception at the several
points on the route has been, through oysters and
champagne, Of the most cordial and enthusiastic
character. This in;ermngling Of opposite parties
and different sized oysters, has, doubtless, in great
measure, tended to cause the sudden return Of Mr..
| Fillmore towards Washington. Mr.. Fillmore is
not blind to the preference which has been shown
over him to some Of those who accompany him,
and we should not be at all surprised il he goes to
work in eanest to gain the race against his con
petitors-if he can We are afraid that he is
already Tylerised.
But there are other movements calculated to EN-
barras the success Of both the old parties and com
plicate the contest. The wings and democrats
win hold their national ntions, the great aim
ofwhich will be to select such candidates as are
pledged to the support Of the compromise measures
In he az he
ultras Of the North and Of the South. The North
ern frecsoil party will hold their convention, and
nominate n candidate Of their peculiar views; and
the secession party Of the South, beginning with
South Carolina, will no doubt nominate candi-
date Of their peculiar views. 1t i probable that
portion Of the lgecsoil party Of the North viii 20
with the whig party, and portion Of the secession
party Of the South will 20 with the democratic
party in their conventions; but the large body Of
both these parties viii stand upon their own choice
and divide the vote Of the country with the old
parties thereby hoping to throw the election in the
House Of Representatives, where each will make
the beet bargain 1t can for it. own.
This confusion in the political parties has been
partly brought about by the corrupt system Of con
ventions to chose candidates for the people, a sys
tenn at variance with the progress Of the age aud
the intelligence Of the people. The whig party, in
the selection Of candidates by convention, both in
1870 and isis, suffered greatly in its prosperity, and
there exists nov strong disposition 70 abolish the
ystem altogether, aud to let the people themselves
choose between the candidates aspiring to the Pre-
sideulial chair. Tie convention system i a mon
strous Lumbug, and the sooner It T. abolished the
better il vii be for all parties.
hcEE DEVELOPMENT or RESPECTABLE NEW
loEK JorESALlsM-We publish, to. day, the reply
q Nj Webb 70 the card Of Mr. Willis, together
with the article which Willis some time ago pub.
lishcd On the qualities Of Webb as a dplomati,t;