Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-19
,Speculations ofthe Democracu,

The Enquirer of Saturday contains two COM
munications, one froma Douglas and another from
a Buchanan man, in which the prospects of these
two rival asprants and also of Gen. Cass are dis
cussed at considerable length. We propose to
give few extracts for the amusement and edit
cation of our readers. The Buchanan man wri-
ties as follows:
Having been defeated in our last contest when we
statesman against captain without any qualica
lions for the Office. becomes of the impor
lance to select an available man. well good and
true democrat For let 1t be remembered, that
threatened with another Captain fully renowned and
much better qualified in every other respect, to be
President than he who last sected Let therefore,
consider who is our strongest man, taking it for granted
that every mention good democrats and tue
though may hereafter compare their politics..
The writer then enters into a calculation which
leads him to the conclusion that Mr.. Buchanan
can be elected and have "a votes to spare.
The result of his calculation of General Cass
chances is that the Great Defeated of 1848 can
not be elected in 1859. Douglas is disposed of
after the following fashion:
Judge Douglas has been greatly spoken of for the Pre-
sidency cannot perceive however, that he will be able
to carry single vote more than Gen. Cass.
Again:
Mr.. Douglas stands no chance for the nomination and
has. We WILL therefore, consider him out of the
question.
The Douglas correspondent who writes from
Washington, says
The excitement respecting the presidential question is
too great with all parties for any other subject attract
material attention The number of prominent democratic
candidates, render the movements Washington of
culiar interest There is of great uncertainty and
doubt The friends of Douglas Cass and Buchanan are
loud in claiming for their respective friends the
amount of popularity. The public composed of dsnter-
ested lockers on form opinions day, which circum-
stances induce them TO change the hext. Within the
aft
States the prospects OF Gen Cass have improved Hes
regarded infinitely stronger than either Douglas
Buchanan Indeed in consequence of the increasing
strength OF Cass the friends of Mr. Buchanan have almost
despaired OF his nomination In the presidential scheme
his prospects, by those behind the curtain are scarcely
taken into consideration Gen. Cass has undermined him
those portions othe country where he was regarded as
the strongest We instance Maryland as one example out
OF many where the Cass forces have overtlrown the
forces of Mr. Buchanan. Judge Douglas has yet de-
prved Mr. Buchanan of none OF his strength His dnlin-
shed and nowin Washington considered desperate chan
ces for the nomination. traced the action of the
friends of Gen Cass. The friends of Judge Douglas have
occupied quiescen position interfering with neither
the gentlemen to whom have referred The battle has
therefore been exclusively between Cass aud Buchanan
The former has prosated the hopes of the latter putting
his nomination barely within the bounds probability
deeply regret that in this rial of strength Mr. Buchanan
should have Jared badly My preferences and sympa-
thies with Judge Douglas yet it would have given me
infinite pleasure to have supported Mr.. Buchanan. In
every respect he is acceptable the South and highly
do esteem his many virtues, that is upon the question
of availability alone that prefer Judge Douglas
The writer goes on to say OF Gen. Cass:
Under the most favorable circumstances, in 1e4s the
Democracy of Virginia staggered to the polls with him.
and give him the electoral vote by very pary majority
Since then great and marked changes have taken place
Thousands who then gave him reluctant support
be whipped caioed into the traces by the pot
Clans support him in 1852 The for this almost
universal hostility Virginia to Gen. Cass need de-
tain your readers by developing 1t is fixed immova-
blefact 1t is certain that above all things the Virginia
Democracy would depore the nomination Of Gen:Cass by
the Baltimore Convention 1t is generally admitted that
whatever strength he may have with intriguing poti-
Clans the of the Southern States will not support
Gen. Cass
The Enquirer, slolt time since raped us
over the khuckles for asserting the existence of
rivalry and i'll feeling between the respective par
tisans of Buchanan and Douglas in this State.-
Let now hear what its own Democratic cor
respondent says on this subject:
deprecate as every friend of Judge Douglas does,
that acrmony of partisan feeling which fast building up
Virginia impossible barrier between the friends of
Buchanan and Judge Douglas In the present uncture
affairs they require each Others good services in this
State to maintain the honor and dignity of the old JEFF
fersonlan Democratic party-a party firmly cemented
devotion to the great principles OF party Let then
the chickering's OF the Southern Democracy particularly
those OF the Virginia Democracy, to end Let
the friends OF James Buchanan and of Judge Douglas ami
caby compare notes. and look the question Of avaia
biy q or availability has become of the utmost impor-
lance in the selection of candidate 1t should be
pected and consulted by the friends of every candidate
the ed and my opposition to Gen Cass is based upon my
firm conviction, that there is strength enough in the
party to pull him out ofthe slough ofdespon and depos
1t HIM IN the White House His nomination would be a
suicidal STEP that would entail upon dozen
OF disasters, difficulties and troubles.