The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-18

In regard to other American vessels there have
been no difficulties; the contrary every attention
has been shown them. The American steamer
Ometepe. belonging TO the Nicaragua Company,
put into Havana for coal and water without a bill
Of health contrary to the Quarantine regulations of
the port. She was, however, given every facility,
and having obtained her supplies sailed on the
morning of the 18th inst for San Juan The British
steam frgate Highfyer and two sloops of war, with
three French men of war, were in the harbor, but
not an American ship OF war.
Havana was healthy, butbusiness dull
The Pre- identiaI Election In the United
States.
From the Diaro de Ia Marina, Nov. 81
1t is certain that not only the great electoral
contest in the nsighooring country has been de sid
ed and the person des gnated who is to fill the Pre-
sdeRtial chair for the coming four years. to begin
from March next-but also, thanks to the IA pidity
of communications and the activity OF the tele graph
the result Of the battle, with all its minute detail
has been fully afcerta med Tho votes that were
pat into the ballot box on the second inst only
bore the names of the electors who were to elect
the President; but the strict gauizaton Of parties
in the american confederaoy renders this last
act but mere vain, senasless formula The Presi-
Dental electors desg sted by the majority of
the people In All the States except South Carolina
which last mig BIT call slmost stranger in the
body of the Union, and Ehich seizes every oppor.u
nifty of perpetuatipg ana maniiestng is moral he.
terogeneousDess The electors, therefore are a
mere instrument Of the democratic will and their
suffrage is known beforehand
There is but one single case in which it might
follow, that even after the popular election, the
result OF the same might remain enyeloped in Doubt
and that is where there beng several candidates,
neither Of them should ob.u the majority Of votes
requisite, ana the election should therefore be sub
Matted to Congress OF this incident however
there have been but two instances; the one at the
time Of Jeffersons first election, and the other at
the time Of John Quincy Adams, in 1924. This
incident has not been reproduced since that time,
however, nor is there much probability of its being
renewed. The spirit Of the institutions OF every
country becomes more manifest with the lapse Of
years, and the tendency of those of the United
states Is clearly to increase the decisive influence of
the masses The combination which, in 1924, was
able TO place John Quincy Adams in the Presiden-
tisl chair, with smaller M nber of popular votes,
youl6 perhaps no be tolerated now by the fierce
democracy division OF votes would therefore
indicate wide breach IN the tendencies and desires
of the multitude, ana would perhaps presage other
and more serious events Such suppos lion, how
ever is very far from being kelly, as any one who
has studied the real .tate # public affairs, public
opinion, aud the probabilities Of the future, will
readily acknowledge.
hope Of producing such result by pcrsisting in
tanning mis- position o. Candidate, ne had pre-.
pared for himself another deception aud another
disappointment to be added to the many ani serious
tribu,ed 10 embitter, rot TO precipitat, his last
moments We would not ho wever do his lofty sa
gscty the injustice Of wing that he nourishei
such desires His condact, VIC think. cannot be
considered otherwise thBn act Of pique against
General Scott similar 60 tbat which induced him to
prevent the triumph Of Mr. Fillmore. whose triumph
would have been almos certain In the waig conven-
tion, u the friends Of tfe Secretary Of State had
lent their frank and hearty support the he al Of
the government, when they saw that their own
hopes were forever dee royed IL may perhaps be,
that Mr. Webster aspired o promote the more rapid
dissolution Of the whg party under its present form
object which no few cbrfs Of that party have in
view; that II must, however be realiz ID is a
perspective that presents itself with all the appear
ance OF inevitable fatality.
But be all this as IT NAV, the death Of the great
orator has efaced the last trace Of dssidence
None OF the minor parties tnat mad put for ward a
candidate, neither the States Rights even the
Free Sellers, have at present anything formal or
Systematic about them, nor do they conceive n
shadow OF hope that their candidate will carry even
single State. The free soil party may be endowed
With very great importance considered. in the light
Of the results which II u likely TO produce in future.
but at present its actioB lie limited that it does
not even allow II 70 ipjufs and prevent the trum ph
Of. tbs OF that candidate The fight is between
fierce and Scott exclusively, and cannot, there
Tore, doubt but tost the next arrival from this
United states will Announce 20 which one Of the
two bss dChDitIyely carried the day
Tbs hnal event u 20 Gloss hand that IL appears
haruig worth while TO anticipate the receipt OF facts
by mere suppositions auo Arguments supporting
tDem otil We must repeat our arm conyc tion sh u
Pierce depends and siih good reason-with almost
entire certainty. on the victory WHAT L most i'm.
portsnt for us, however, IN our capacity a. FOREIGN
and neghboripg nation, y rot the name Of this Or
that INDIVIDUAL but the ideAs which each NAV ran
recent, be supposed TO represent Under this view
of the case cannot do lees than r. peat our init
mate conviction that whatever side fortune ma >
incline the scales the result nugt be emit rely indf
ferent to us, In the solution of the problem which
has been laid Such - belief though warning appa.
rently with common sense rests on Two fundamental
principles TO wit. that tue necessities OF govern
moderate the impetus VI the more Gerry orators oil
the people, ard that the Wh'g party in the United
States ID very far from osiDg truly conservative
one and as such from offering desirable guarantees.
Were We here to record the name OF Mr. Clayton,
We might hpd text for the most diiiuse aud OK
tended arpuuents but gould prefer, nevertheless,
TO set forth, at greatr iepgth the reasons several
times Infatuated IN columns with regard 10 this
important matter. Bot the certain result will
very shortly be known az " IL better 10 put of
The argument TIL that time. than TO found cal
eais.lVE = hyggsAcs.-. Nbi-h, 70. g!.1.L4-l.a.