New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-02
Presidential Uncertainties.

party ORGANS in reference to the question of cam
didacy in the now rapidly approaching contest
Of 1852 What they put forth one day, they
qualify the next; and then they explain what
they have qualified, until it is bewildering to
attempt to follow them.
This is usually the case in the opening Of
every Presidential campaign, when country pa
pers Of limited circulation. and representing
purely local sentiment, are the first and onl,
ones to give positive expression of preference
At such period, a dozen distinguished gentle.
men appear to be possible or even probable can.
didates but the fortune of politics is SO uncer-
tain as to set the maturest calculation Mt de-
fiance But now, perplexities are multiplied ;
and so many novel and indistinetly shaped issues
enter into the prospect, that politicians are Gu
riously mystifed. One day it seems that the
democrats must nominate Cass; the next that
they must nominate Douglass, and then Houston,
Buchanan, Lane, OF Marcy overshadows every
competitor. So with the wings: one day Fill
more; the next, Webster; the next, Scott is
lord Of the ascendant; and behind, with hands
outstretched to grasp coveted honor, thronr
candidates able-among whom, Critten-
tenden stands pre- eminent
The reasons Of all these uncertainties of Pres-
dential candidacy are to be found incthe unset
tied condition of politics. 1t is plainly ilnposs
Bile to rally parties into compact adhesivencss.
The recent sectional contests have broken up
old political organizations, and divided us int o
six political hosts, camped upon different
grounds--the wings, the democrats, the North
ern free sellers, the Southern ultrasts, the
Union organization" and the aboltionists
Here is what may, yulgarly but appronr;oto.
", be calleda very queer stew to set before
candidate The simmering elements of the
witches cauldron, in Macbeth, could not offer
moro curious and unnatural compound of mata.
rails and yet, the combination of some of these
extremes is necessary to success in the contest
Which shall be taken' Which will make the
most acceptable compound The proclamation
Of candidacy Will pring with It the resolving Of
all the questions Whlch can be raised. In the
meantime. Candidates ana professional politi-
clans walk, IKE announcer fllgrim, called and
confused by a Thousand voices, through the
Dismal valley OF uncertainty, beyond which
lies the positiVe Iutufe. Inc advocacy of this
or that special eahuiuacy might offend this or
that peitlcal DIVISION, Oh nee solers, abolition
lists OF n onlon inen, VINO must determine be-
tween wing OF oeiiiocratic nominees.
All eiis 70 'eis pe,pleA, =, W the faithful"
old issues lach Ni'a,''s' enough Old principles
endure' hho '''e on,s p,'i'ioai material which
remains hes NJ a !. so.asea 1nu shapeless mass
ike hoe Aa,"' p p'' 'o"cil' and too
much hiAea ~ w.. ,.Sa. ques'lons to lie
saieiy sepmia ~, 'iiu substantial
mas.e, :.,,,,,,.,ao, -, poipleSlty Is,
Pohlloian' TT. ..e aea that
Northein =, -" and
Southern wv, 'e's,o.nsnl' are all to
be conciiia'ou' : 49, 10y onihs IKE pros
pect OF suceess '.i' so' ue"iioefed and dubious
how this IS 70 DC done' they grope in the dark,
anu ~ .he Aoi'o 'ne' may nuke is only de-
signed to keep up me courage OF themselves and
~thers Of the same political tendencies. But
the game which is to be played at last is plainly
to be one OF dubious pretences, Of insidious ap-
peals, which may mean nothing or every thing.
Strategy, deceit, equivocation, vague eompli-
ments to freesolllsm IN the North, and to ultra
Ism and secessionlsm IN the South, will mark
the canvass OF 1907,
In proof OF this, look at Congress. There are
rN
clliate extremes into the support of parties.
The only poid and fearless declarations have
come from gentlemen somewhat too imprudent
and mpulslVe to order large political results
from Clemens, Foote, Stephens, Cabell, etc.
such free sollers as Rantoul, Giddings, Seward,
ETC., have contented themselves with general-
ties, sneering at or abusing the Administration
and the institution OF slavery in the South, and
Indirect attempts to show an echo of sympathy
IN the Northern sections of their parties.
We see but one prospect of fairly beating
down this coquetry with extremes-and that is
IN the candidacy Of Cass as the democratic, and
Fillmore, or some member Of his Cabinet, as the
whig' nominee We say Fillmore OF some mem
Der OF ms Cabinet and We say so, for this ::
Inc manly patrlotic and national course of the
present National Administration course
heretofore highly euloglzed by the Washington
union-has brought out both Northern and
southern extremes IN opposition to 1T, and the
fair iss,,e rainst those eytranes So wo,,ld +bo
80
s'' VI 49, o'''-o o'iie' pioh'iieh'
aemocrat could abora any thlng like SO falr an
issue against them. The candidacy of Scott,
of Butler, of Houston or Douglass would not