The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-01
: Correspondence. Of the Mercury.
- =: WASHINGTON, May 30.


friends say TINT he may yet live to
sep the nominations. If he does this,
itWsn prpbsbly be the utmost limit
ofehis life. Politically he is dead
already, for the juggernaut car ofparty
never pauses for crushed and broken
bodies to be dragged away-its pro-
gress. is always over them, and if
at times tho wild cry of broken
heart or crippled body breaks Oh
the ear of Its high priests, it is
drowned by the cllaunt Of rejoicing
deyoeees whose enthusiasm any hopes
are as yet high because untouched
by disappointment. Although CIay's
life yet fingers in his worn out frame,
the might .aird majesty of that po-
tential name are already traditional:
Z the fox Seward succeeds the old lion
In: the leadership of the Wing party,
and Southern men are the sycophants
and satellites of his court.
Evil in many respects as was the
Influence Of the former leader of the
Wing host, far worse. is tho ruling
spirit now; for amidst all his errors and
alterations, there was a redeeming no.
bleness about Henry Clay. There
was nothing mean, nothing malignant
in his nature; he scorned to stoop to
subterfnge or stratagem, but with
"a mailed hand tore down the rights of
his section. Both in his public and
private career, his faults and errors
were those Of generous impulsive
lavish nature, reckless ofconsequences,
and seduced from the beaten path OF
i. Prudpncet OF. propriety by over-mas-
. tering impulses.
Ssa{ns his. character could be fouflSFnu s;.s;g
:iigSco or calculating; but his sutfE
,cessor StSfsard is the personification Of
!: ,:calGSstff /, ypocrisy and deliberate
i Ss Robespierre alone can
4 sSS party is per-
..iIoiIsa hft2 22iisS I'D Tie prestige OF
SGo;t's .nome 70 aid him, and the coun-
tenance of that portion Of the Wing
party, he may work more mischief
and carry out his. darling scheme Of
.eubjngating the South in the Union.
but it is known that the old warrior is
getting restive under the universal
slispieion Of his being tool Of Seward.
With many weaknesses Of character he
yet possesses high and noble qualities,
':I'and paramount over all is indomitable
pride-lofty self:esteem. TO be re-
;garded as the tool Of any man would
!: gall him to the quick-to be pro-
claimed as the mere stalking horse Of
Seward is almost more than he can
bear. Wincing under the allegation,
he e~has been prevented with the great
est difficulty from writing letter on
the subject, while personally he dis
claims such inferences with indignant
bitterness. Knowing his man, Seward
;%iSs %;s. too subtle to attempt openly to
or influence the old warrior, but
lngleman, Truman Smith, of Con
"a meancr man than himsclt)
hts as the connecting medium. Tru-
Ian used to be the right hand man Of
8t5ae Taylor Administration in it's
SSatter days. He always goes for
she side that pays.
.aA The Wing schism will, after all, a.
;;spunt to very little. 1t is now more
probable that the squabble will
:SS:SS pacifcated, and the outsiders
ypw very little fight even should
Northern men have things all their
3sSn way. They (the Seceders) huve
s5Ssn themselves demoralized, and
''aiTed in demoralizing tho Southern
, Constitutional Union party, Of which
kigs, hopes were once entertained, by
eho.r timid and imbecile course. Most
Of them will probably crawl back into
the, ranks, and a few be made
examples of.-with their own privity
and consent. Local causes, had much
t@do with their. apparent plucking
nj of spirit, and due allowances for
this necessity will be made by their
political brethren if they will not
actively oppose the regular nominee.
Thus Mr.. Cabell could not support
Scott in Florida, nor Marshall do SO
in his District, because he would not
be acceptable, and for this reason they
viii not be pressed too hard by the
Psrty.' The right Of selfpreservation
is acknowledged by all sensible lead
ers of parties, and the Wing. leader is
very sensible man. lGs
So much for the Wings, whose
difficulties are now narrowed down
very much. The Democratic camp is
in Q state Of great agitation. Plots
and eounter-plots, wire-working, and
log-rolling occupy the Generals and
tbs privates, both of whom muster
! here In great force at present, The
qnaRrel among these, is more about
men than measures The former is
doomed q paramount, the latter mere
ly sn Incidental matter. Platforms
are easily made; the main question is,
who is to secure tho possession Of
ths place and tho power: "Under
which King Bezonian?" And whose
next friend is to be the partitioner
out Of tho places2 These arc con-
sidercd as the practical issues, and