The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-20

Hr. clay and the PressAtnsy.
The Old Warwick Of the Wing host has pro-
nounced in favor Of FILLMORE, thus flipefng his
weight into the scale against his lifelong rivals,
WEBSTER and ScoTT.
From HE sick chamber he sends cot this ex-
preston OF his views and feelings In private
letter, the publication of which il authorized.
Mr.. CLAY says:
You rightly understood me in expressing a
preference for Mr.. Fillmore AS the Wing candi
date for the Presidency. This~I did before |
left home, and have frequently here in private
intercourse, since my arrival at Washington. ]
care not how generally the fact may be known
but should not deem it right to publish any
formal avowal of THAT preference under my own
signature 10 the newspapers. Such course
would subject me to the imputation of suppo.
sing that my opinions possessed more weight
with the public than spprehend they do. The
foundation Of my preference is, that Mr. Fill
more has administered the executive government
with signal success and ability. He has been
tried and found true, faithful, honest and con
scientious Iwish to say nothing in derogaton
from his eminent competitors. They have both
rendered great service 10 their countryside one
in the field, the other in the cabinet. They
might possibly administer the government as
we'll as Mr.. Fillmore has. done. But then nei-
Their of them has been tried. He has been tried
in the elevated position he now holds, and !
think that prudence and wisdom had better re-
strain US from making any change without a
necessity for 1.-THE existence of which do not
perceive
The friends of Mr.. WEBSTER in New York
have taken this letter in high dudgeon All
their habitual respect for Mr. CLAY, and the for
bearance which his condition imperiously exacts,
are insufficient to restrain the expression Of bit
ter modification and anger excited by his dis
paragement of the other candidates for the ben.
eft of Mr.. FILLMORE.
From one of the most cautious and influential
of these New York journals, the Commercial
Advertiser, we extract three paragraphs, part of
a long commentary on this letter. Quoting the
extract, the Advertiser says:
That Roorback is, therefore, effectually refu
ted. Mr.. Clays preference is for Mr.. Fillmore,
over either Mr.. Webster or General Scott, for
the Presidency OF these United States. This
was of course to be expected. His main nrgu-
ment, however, is that Mr. Fillmore is President,
and gives high satisfaction in his executive ca
pacity. Mr.. Webster or General Scott "might
possibly administer the government as well as
Mr.. Fillmore, but then neither Of them has been
tried" This argument is scarcely worthy Of
the noble chieftain who employs it. BY this
rule good President would be President for
life, unless "tried" candidate was brought for.
ward for reelection. II in the choice of candi-
dates either of the two great parties, or the
country itself, is to be confined to men who
have already {" been tried in the Presidential
Office, where shall we be Z? The introduction of
such principle would indeed work change ia
the constitutional usage. The Wings have
pretty strongly expressed themselves against
re-elections; this would indeed be sailing on the
other tack. Had this principle, in spirit certain
y opposed to the letter of the Constitution,
governed the people, how short would have
been the list of ncumbents of that Office from
the first Inauguration?
1t is VIGOROUSLY true that Mr.. Fillmore Z" has
administered the executive government with sig.
nal success and ability" Conceded. And
quite as true is it that Mr. Webster has not been
President, and, in that sense has not been tried
Neither had Harry of the West himself when he
received the Wing nomination for that high
Office Yet the Wing party endorsed the nom
ination no less heartily and labored for his cleo
ton none the less slrenuousy Such an argu.
ment, as "he has never been tried" was never
urged against him, or against General Taylor,
nor was it eyer dreamed of. To urge it against
Daniel Webster is, we think, raising very fu
tile and groundless objection, for if there is, or
ever has been, in these United States, since the
days of George Washington, man who, prior
to the actual possession of the Presidential Of
fee, gave evidence of his qualifications for it,
the Honorable Daniel Webster is that man.
| And closes thus, in relation to Mr.. WEBSTER:
"Not been tried" More shame that he has
not been, and in common justice let him be tried
| Others who gave far less assurance of their fit
ness for the Office have been tried, and the issue
has been honor to the party that nominated them,
and glory to the country whose executives they
became. So much the more gratifying will be
the result Of Mr.. Webster's election. Others
have had the Wing nomination whose length
and utility of service would not compare with
Daniel Webster's. Let him now have his re-.
ward-the honor he has so long deserved
we have no doubt that the choice of the party
will be abundantly justified by the result of the
election.
eW- The Marietta (Ga) Advocate thus
speaks of the convention to be held at Mil
ledgeville:
aTHE MILLEDG EvILLE c. U. CONVENTION.
The central committee Of the constitutional
Union party have called convention of that
party, to be held at Milledgevle on the Dad OF
April, for the purpose of taking into considera.
ton the propriety of sending delegates to the