The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-04
The Presidential Question.

The Presidential Question.
AS the time approaches at which nominations
for the Presidency have usually been made, the
movements of the different parties, and parts of
parties, have become more and more active, and
more and more complicated. 1t has been sup
posed that the enormous annual expenditures at
which we have arrived would constitute cohe
sve power that would countervail the growing
f. sectional and factonal tendencies of the times.
But this is not at all certain. On the contrary,
it may be found ain element Of still greater dis
traction. The expenditures are now fifty mil.
lions per annum. On the policy now adopted,
depends therefore the distribution of that sum,
not only for the present year, but of an equal
amountfor four years more. The Presidential
question involves now, therefore, the division of
two hundred ard fifty millions And when was
it that sum of such magnitude could be d.
vided without quarrel between the distrbu-
tors? Mr.. VAN BUREN's Administration went
down under the operation Of dividing thirty
nine millions.
Perhaps careful examination of history will
show that nothing is so destructive Of party or
political harmony, as the possession of large
amount of money or spoils. 1t is certain that
the clement of avarice is admitted to an extra.
ordinary share of power in a case where higher
principles ale required more than ever If the
number of recipients is increased, that of ex
pectants is increased still more; and ifmany are
successful in securing share, still greater
number of competitors are disappointed.
The system of the late LOUIS PHILLIPPE was
founded on higher expenditure, a greater cen.
tralism, and more internal improvements than
were ever known in France before. 1t fell pros,
trate in twenty-fo hours. The throne of Sol.
ONION gave way under his successor at period
of the highest income, and the greatest abund
ance Of gold and silver The democracy Of
Athens was destroyed precisely at the period
when it commanded the largest quotas Of her
allies-and the temple of Dephus was sacked
at length when the temptations Of its gold be-
came too powerful for the sanctity Of its God.
Even PITT, the great founder of modern finance,
was driven from power by coalition, at the
patronage the greatest. A surplus of twelve
millions made the Mexican war.
But when in addition to the disturbing and
dstracting influences of plethorc treasury we
have those of unusual and bitter divisions of "A
sectional and social character, and of foreign
policy, it is obvious that the repusive forces of
political Reorganization have never been so pow
erful. We have also another characteristic OF
the times. The great leaders of the past gen.
GRAFTON have departed and are departing-and are
taking their leave of US in anxious solicitude as
to the future. Mr. CALHOUN died with an unit.
tered speech in portentous domestic difficulties
Mr.. CLAY langushes with an unspoken speech
on the new and portentous aspect of our foreign
policy. And well may he be alarmed Inter.
vention is positive and powerful element now
in our system. 1t results from the greatness of a
power, and when was a people powerful without
becoming proud and aggressive, and fond of war
and of conquest Who can expect that many
years in this active age will pass over when the
love of conquest, the possession of power, the
prevalence of morbid and distempered sym.
patty, and an overlooking treasury will not re-
suit in war And where now are the statesmen
of authority and wisdom to sustain these i'm
pulses or where is the progress in public vir-
tue or private morality to temper and regulate
the minds of the people? Do we not see that
the greatest effort of political ingenuity now is
to construct platforms and strings of words that
will best evade or obsure the principles of part.
les, and that in private life, the pursuit of wealth
has become the universal, all-absorbing, and all
defying one?
We are on the eve of great events-events so
priking, frequent, and strange that the telegraph
snd locomotive and press will be taxed and toll
ed to give them uttcrance and transit