New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-01
PRESIDENT-MAKING.

auguratiOn of die successful candidates is still
three months ahead. Thenceforward, their
constitutional term extends four years, and it
would be bat reasonable to defer agitation and
discussion as 10 who shall or shall not succeed
them for the next two years at least. Yet the
progressive, forecasting spirit of Young
America brooks no such postpOnement. Al
ready we see the names OF HALE and JULIAN
displayed at the heads Of several Free-SOil
journals, and proposals for an early National
Convention Of their party, to organize for the
next Presidential campaign, briskly circulated
and generally approved. On the other hand,
aspirants for Office under the powers about to
be- rapturously gazing adown the long vista of
power and pelf that opens before their ecstatic
vision, have already volunteered the last proof
of devotion to the Chief under whose banner
snch cOnquests we're made, and at Democratic
festivals, rejoicing over their triumph with
stomachs distendcd by turtle and checks rosy
with champagne, have toasted FRANKLIN
PIERCE as the Democratic candidate for re-
election in 1850
We have no desire even to guess who will
next be chosen President, or whom it will be
cur duty three years aud half hence, to sup
port for that Office. We should deem it most
unfortunate for the country to have Presi-
Dental campaign commenced or party lines
rgidly redrawn during the next thirty months.
Ii may be that some gross act of maladminis-
tration, some betrayal Of the National Inter-
ests, some peril to the Public Liberties, may
revive political agitation and enforce renew
al of party contention even within the next
year, but the more reasonable as well as the
more charitable expectation is, that no such
exigency will speedily arise, aud that the pub
lie interest may for the next two or three
years be attracted TO and concentrated on
such themes as Temperance, Municipal Re-
form, &c, &c, which are indeed in the larger
and truer sense Political, but which bear only
the remotest relation, if any, TO President
making.
But, though the selection of another Presi-
dent viii be in order some three years hence,
the present is filter time for fixing public at
teHtiOn on the machinery whereby such selec
ton is accomplished. We ask thoughtful, pat
riotic men, of all parties and of none, to con-
slider the means whereby Presidential candi-
dates are now designated aud upheld, and say
whether a reform is or is not required, and
whether the present season of camness,
wherein personal interest can but feebly and
remotely be brought to bear against it. is or is
not the fttest time for effecting such reform.
That our Presidents are not now really
chosen by the People, is fact too plain to be
disputed. Gen. Pierce may make very GOOD
President but if he does, the credit of mis- de-
signatOn to that Office should be given. not TO
the people at large, nor even to the great mass
OF his own party who finally ratified his selec-
ton, but to few adroit political wire-workers
who managed his nomination at Baltimore.
keeping back his name till the right moment.
and presenting il just when the fiercely con.
tending factions had exhausted themselves in
mutual hostiites, and were ready TO accep5
any compromise which should shield them re.
| spectively from the modification of utter de-
| feat. In the succeeding contest. each of these
mutually-baiiled factions exerted itself 70 the
utmost in the hope OF winning that vantage.
I ground under Gen. Pierce which il had failed
/ to secure through the nomination of its own
special favorte This struggle NAV have given
US good Chief Magistrate, just as hereditary
right may supply one: bur genuine Republican
lsmis no more respected in the one case than
! in the other.
What We desire is an election really BY the
Peeple-an election wherein every voter. how
ever humble may indicate his personal prefer.
ence as we'll as his partisan predictions by bis
ballot New he can do no such thing. His
choice Is practically Hobson' s--this or moth
ing To vote for Gen. Csss, or Col. Benton. or
Senator Douglas, or any other Democrat bat
Franklin Pierce. would have been to throw
away his suffrage and oppose no obstacle 70 the
triumph Of the antagonist party: so that in
voting for Gen Pierce he did nor indicate tbs,
he preferred the man. or liked him. or r-ustad
him, bat only that ne distrusted Gen. Scott or
hated the Wings. Ii surely cannot BE- neces.
ssry to force such an alternative on the free.
men of a Republic.
But the reform required is not TO be secured
as many suppose it is, by abOlishing the Electo-
RAJ Colleges and choosing our Presidents BY
what is termed direct vote of the People.
The vital defect and mischief will still remain
the voter must choose, not whomsoeyer be
W.T. but one Of the two or three candidates