New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-02-21
Political Probabilities.

The Presidential campaign Of 1862 approaches
so nearly as already to elicit expressions Of
favor, personal to the different candidates named
for the wing or democratic nominations. As
usual, there are great many random shots
made by partisan organs, seeking to be in adj
vance of public sentiment, by suggesting per-
sonal preferences, Wing organs suggest Web
ster, Fillmore, and Scott. Democratic organs
suggest Cass, buchanan, Douglas, Marcy and
Dickinson.
None of these suggested, Webster excepted,
are Of the order of tirst-rate men. Not one
towers above his competitors. Webster has n
colossal fame, acknowledged reputation for
broad and intelligent craftsmanship, which ad-
mits of no comparison. Unfortunately, behind
him lies the history of half a century, thickly
strewn with matter which might be used as mis-
siles of attack. Incomparably eloquent, sin
gularly sagacious, and not wanting in a certain
boldness, at once polite and patriotic, he has
yet been 1--WE speak the truth of history rarely
consistent with himself His course has vindi-
Gated his character for patriotism; but with all
his great abilities, with all his transcend
ent talents, with all his magnificent gift of
eloquence, to-day, enthusiastically proclaiming
the most extreme Northern, and to- morrow, the
most solemnly national views, he stands before
the country in politics what Vesuvius is in ma
tuse-uncertain, but magnificent in every move
ment There can scarcely be a question of his
honesty; there are and must be many questions
of his consistency. One of the great trinity of
American statesmen, the compeer of Clay and
Calhoun, he must pass down the tide of Ameri-
can history like them--too great too massive,
too lofty, to be President of the United States
He has upon him the doom of greatness, and by
it his fame is sealed with the broad impress of
q historic celebrity, which needs nothing and
borrows nothing from the adventitious aid of
office As people asked why the great Roman
stood not in statue among the marble commence
rations of Rome's celebrities, SO will the future
student of American history pause and wonder
why Clay, Calhoun and Webster won not the
highest honors from free and intelligent
people, and wonder the more in recognizing the
intelligence of those from whom they failed to
receive the highest Of all republican honors
Webster stands too high above his contempo-
raries to need or win the last and greatest of
our Republics honors. He stands where he is,
unapproached and unapproachable, second only
to the great Kentucky statesman, and he will
SO stand before future generations, to whom he
will be only great historic memory His own
fame, his eloquence, his craftsmanship, his
patriotic services, make the light in which
like some statue in the Pantheon, he will stand
out from his age, an illustrious memory to
the future
Of the democratic candidates, we cannot
positively claim to indicate a selection. Cass
has behind him the defeat of 1913, and in that,
popular sentiment will find an ominous augury
for the future. Douglas has no past. His whole
life, with one solitary exception, has been Il
regular routine of service to the democratic
party. In this, and by virtue of being empha-
tically q new man, he starts with remarkable
advantages. Marcy could claim but few points
to assist him in cavass for the Presidency. A
third rate, scheming, a selfish politician,
KNOWN ana not very favorably, as a cabinet
officer, he could rouse no popular enthusiasm
and the discipline OF party, even if most strictly
enforced, would scarcely bear him through tri-
umphantly. Dckinson--a man after our own
heart, bold, frank, fearless, impulsive poli
tician-has for political capital only, some three
or four excellent Union and Compromise speeches
whilst heis most bitterly and untorgivingly hated
by every northern man of free-soil tendencies
His candidacy would make defeat a foregone
conclusion, and is not to be thought of, at ALL
We have spoken of one of the candidates
named by our wing friends, the greatest of them
ALL and yet the least available Next to him
some wing organs are pleased to suggest Gen
Scott. Burying ones self alive would not seem
to us very agreeable procedure; but our whia
friends. if they take up Gen. Scott, will do no.
thing more nor less than to adopt this suicidal
course. lrresolute, indecisiye, unexpressed, and
wilfuliy silent upon the questions involved in
the series Of Compromise measures, Gen Scott
has become thoroughly odious to the citizens OF
the southern portion Of our confederacy. 1t is