The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-21


yersed In The theory Of cur government, nor fami.
liar with it's forms and practical workings, il is
mystery which he cannot comprehensive whole
thing appears like a dream. From the first hold
Ing Of the primary elections Of the two great parties
whi,h divide the nation till the holding Of the ma
tional conventions of each, and from the nomins.
tions then made of candidates TO run in tho great
contest till the final day of trial, and the victory
won by opeparty or the other, the whole country
is in state of continually increasing agitation,
like . troubled sea, and then suddenly the ferment
subsidies, and tranquility reigns again.
The election recently held is no exception to the
rule 1t is true that some former contests for the
chief magistracy have been marked with more ex-
element on the part of the people at large, but
none with bitterness the part of the politi
cisns-those struggling to retain the loaves and
fshes, and those doing battle to get possession Of
the spoils. No former Presidential election has
been characterized by such malignant virulencs Of
the party press, or much unseenly personal de-
famation. But, though the battle has ragged most
fercely between the Office holders and the Office
seekers, and the wing and democratic partizan
journals, still the people, less, entered into
the spirit of the conflict, especially the even.ful
day approached that decided the occupation Of the
White House. and the secure enjoyment Of Offices to
the amount Of $50 900 900 per aunum for the next four
years There we're, ut least, hundred expsosants
for every place to be filed and these al worked ike
beavers to contribute to the grand result, and ops
rated by every ingenious device to elect the in
whom were conferred all their hopes. Every city and
village and hamlet 10 the Union contained one or
more Of these aspiTants each of whom laboTed if
the whole election depended upon himself and these
men bad relatives and friends and neighbors over
whom they exercised influence directly indirectly;
while, the ether hand, those enjoying the feast Of
fat things" or those wings who expeoted to dsplacs
some of their own party brethren in the event Of the
success Of Scott, laid pipe in all directions, and
moved heaven and earth and pandSmonium among
their connections and ramcations to turn the scale
ofvictory to their side. The belligerents both
sides declared that the country would be in imni-
nent danger, and that the integrity Of the Union
itself would be imperilled if their opponents were
carried lriumphahtly into place and power. The
sequence that nearly the whole population teok
an interest in the result, and in many instances the
strongest passions were aroused The excitement
was wrough. up to the highest pitch, and scarcely
any thing else talked Of for several days before
the ID Of November but the great event that to
come off on that day. Bets offered and accspt
ed in every circle. Men drank in bar-rooms Who
never drank before, and those who used to drink
drank the more. Disputes ran high. Hard words and
sometimes harder blows were exchanged. At last
the decisive day came-the fight was fought-the
race was run-the ballots were counted, and being
transmitted by the telegraph from nearly ali points
of the compass, next morning Pierce was proclaimed
the winner by an overwhelming majority. The
exact amount Of tina. maj ,rity ascertained,
but enough was known to make il certain on al
hands that the democrats had it all their own way
Like magic the excitement Gained down, leaving
scarcely ripple on the surface The beaten party
cheerfully acquiesced in their defeat, and shook
hands with the victors The strife was forgotten,
the events and incidents of she battle laughed over
and all became as good friends as If there had been
NO fight at ali
Even the politicians Of the conquered party now
admit that the country is safe, and strange say,
the whig Office. holders Assert that in all the wide
extent of the Union there is not another man who
is better fitted to preside the destnes of the
nation than General Pierce, who is no longer .
oward, or druhkaId but gallant soldier,
temperate discreet, and generous man, and states
man, well deserving Of the high position to which
he has been chosen. The whig party press scknow.
ledge his talents and high qualifications for the
office, and some of the journals make merry at the
defeat Of their own candidate Good humor prevails
on every side, except among few sullsn, snarling
higots, like the New York Tribune, who are desti-
tute of that whole hearted, buoyant spirit, SO cha
racteristic Of the American people. General Scott
himself, who has most reason to be dissatisfied
having been made the innocent victim Of the Seward
Weed. and Greeley cliqus-shows no sourness Of
bufh ia def ont with ip,ikv
and a resignation worthy of a brave soldier and
great general We are informed that ever since he
has been constant in his attention to the business Of
his Office, civil, cheerful, and quiet, and appearing
as if he had no more interest in the recent event
than the planest citizen. By sunrise cash morning
he takes his accustomed walk, and is seen ezchang
ing solutions with the friends whom he encouaters
We further assured by those who appear to speak
from authority, that when General Pierce comes to
Washington he will receive from the old hero
greeting in the same spirit that he comp!imentsd
him on the night Of his nomination, and that he
will cordially cooperate with the administration
wherever his counsels or his active services may
be required in carrying out the executive
duties of the administration. And rs for
the great body Of the wings, they cherish
no angry feeling whatever at tho result
and are as ready to sustain . democratic gov
eminent in the maintenance of the national honor,
in the preservation of law and order, and in the up
holding Of the constitution, Cthe higher Law" fac
ton alone excepted) as if that government consist
ed Of ZEN Of their own choice, and their party
had triumphed in tho late election.
Whence this extraordinary political phenomenon,
never witnessed in the governments of the old
world 1t arises partly from the nature Of our fres
insttutions-the general happiness and the equality
enjoyed under their protection, and the consequent
Willingness Of the sovereign people to support tho
laws, no matter by whom administered-and partly
from the superior intelligence Of Americans, and
the universal diffusion Of education among all
classes and conditions Of the community. 1t is not
the mere fact Of the government being a republic