The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-12
l'ol President,
JAMES c. JONES, of Tcnnc see.
For Vice President.
SIIINGTON HUNT. of New York


Messrs Ediors:--Tho public mind has recently
passed through ono Of those agitations which seems
incidental to the spirit of orr age, ard our peculiar
political organization. Minds unobservant Of the
past and too much engrossed with the present, Ga
great fault of the day too apt TO soute n Lead
ina topic and TO look upon il az a sort of cmacterc
with which the past has no parallel. ard to which
the future must succomb The conflict Of opinions
arsi,g oGi Of The late sectional disturbances like
tie iuultion ~ some mighty stream, has loft Che
o~lnpod and scattered f,ng mcn Of ds organization
az around Is. The stiotn u thc rulc mind has
mcasuiahly returned 10 its E0nted channels: but lis
ii ~ are stIcWcd with personal and local cefbities,
WHICH. - sonc extent, Affect the tone Of political
scrtmcIl, ami ~ modified form, havc influenced
Political action j. orr last fill election. retro
slcclNc glance nj ourlatc fall can paign, viii verify
the assertion That. as party, We laid aside the old
land-marks Of our party, that cur long cherished
lribcipes. The baitleciy OF former ears, and which
formerly foated on banner were lost sight Of;
and PERSONAL adsanS cment. the possession Of Office
or the Indulgence OF personal or political raneor,
were leading motives with many Of our leading men,
and extended throughout the ramhcations Of our
patty.
This should not lie 20 We may not irrevcrently
believe that political system i Christian
mCde!-an imlclsonation OF the self governing
Christian man, after which the whole European
world is vet TO be moulled and those men should
be eschewed as leaders who allow the great cnd and
am Of our government TO lie absorbed in the rccri-
limitations Of personal animoslties II is this which
has produced the cneryation Of our party, and the
process Of renovation requires that all unnatural
Affiliations should be cut OF.
] he active and leading men of the respective
wings Of our party, moreover, nave become so
strongly identified with extreme measures connect
"a With either eide OF the other OF the late sec
tioral disturbances. that they have impaired their
usefulness and influence as safe or desirable actors
UPON tho stage OF calmness, which should ensuc
wiicn the troubled waters cease their connection
There is philosophy in our political history which
not mory read ana study, and remember with care.
Cur political organization is unique, and. in its true
elements. has no form or scmbancc in tho political
organization Of the Old World. If look Mt
home and review the past, that philosophy will
teach that tho actors in scenes of agtations Gum
less their part has been that of compromiscrs or
loacc.makors) have only been remembered in the
moro placid events that followed the agtations, and
that, as general rule, they have not been active
leaders in the camer measures. Let Us apply these
leading thoughts TO the present position OF the whig
party in reference to the coming Presidential ques
ton.
The above letter appeared in the Poughkeepsic
On. ~ Eagle on the 2ith day OF January, 1852,
and since that time has been working its way quiet
y and silently among thousands Of the rejecting
wings of the State OF New York. The writer ofthe
remarks has his own preference, but is perfectly
willing TO yield his predictions to the higher be-
hests Of the whig party. Since the Poughkecpsie
letter was published, the political field has assumed
new aspect by bringing forward Mr. Fillmore, and
the views and apprchensons of the pubiica have
been remarkably confirmed The pro. slavery and
anti. slavery sympathies already float high above all
other issues on the current OF public opinions and
| any one accustomed to observe the movements Of
such POI uar currents, is we'll assured that the ap-
proximaton of u Presidential election does not di-
minish the velocity Of the moving mass. In the
discussions on the subject Of the compromise mea.
surcs Tin the opinion Of the wrtcr-mcasurcs of the
highest conservative value) the subject matter was
"law," and the makers Of il were mcasurably be.
You'd the reach of the popular action,-a principle
was under discussion, the practical operation o
which was but dimly foreshadowed on the popular
| mind But now the question has assumed different
aspect and say what we may, hope what we will
the inevitable issue viii be the rcopeniug Of the sla
Very question with all its acrimonious personalities
Unless wise counscls prevail, unless ulteror goo,
problem to be solved ut our National Conyontio
viii be not who win best preside over our might
republic, but who viii most personily the pccnUa
symIa,hies OF the respective wings Of the viii