The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-06
Presidential Manoeuvres.

Tresh0enti4i ManOouvrcSs
The science of political strategy is receiving
large accessions from the dozen or so Of Presi.
dental asprants now before the people. One
of the first overt movements made this season
was the combined attack Of the elderly candi
dates on Judge DOUGLAS. The pretext of this
demonstration was the appearance of an article
in the February No. of the Democratic Repieio
against the old, and in favor of the new Demo-
cratic regime. The friends Of Judge DOUGLAS
defended him by denying that he was response
BILE for the course of one of his friends, and they
even produced a somewhat audacious attempt
of his to intervene against the freedom of the
press, by telegraphing the editorof that periodi-
cal to desist from publishing articles offensive 10
other candidates. Against this defence it was re-
piled that the Democratic Reuie,D was National
print, and hence Was not entitled to the same
freedom Of the press which the provincial parti-
Fans enjoyed: as in the case Of the violent at
tacks of Pennsylvania Cass papers against Mr.
BUCHANAN Well, we profess to be National
organ ourselves, and would like to have this
question Of organship ethics, rights, powers
and prerogatives settled. We shall insist, how
ever, that if National organs can be instructed
GEOGRAPHICALLY or otherwise by National candi-
dates, that the obligation is reciprocal, and that
the organs shall have the right to instruct the
candidates-to telegraph them how to vote and
to speak in The Senate.
One of the next eyolutions was letter from
General CAss to some young men announcing
that success in the next Presidential election
was the manifest destiny Of the Democracy.
This was pretty distinct intimation that the
events Of the last contest its causes, consequen-
ces and characters, we're not to be discouraging
But this movement seemed to alarm Mr. BUcH-
AEAS, who soon came out with letter to Balti-
more, where Mr.. CAss was strong, advising the
people there that the prospects of the Democ-
racy were decidedly cloudy and very uncertain,
and signifying that the programme Of the last
contest and its divisions had better be avoided
On the other hand, General Scorr began by
announcing that he would write no letters and
answer no questions--on the ancient and elassi-
cal axiom Of .ask me no questions and I'll tell
you no lies." But the General has found that
in politics, as in war, the plan of the campaign
sometimes has to be modified little by the
movements Of the enemy. So, finding that bis
Native American letter had left his Northern
wing exposed 10 total route from an assault Of
adopted citizens, he sent them flag Of truce
with an overture for admitting them into his
forces.
Mr.. FILLMORE took time by the forelock, and,
instead Of writing letters. made regular pofti
cal onset last year upon the States Of New
York and Virginia with his Cabinet But The
result was utterly disastrous. In Syracuse, the
very place designated by the Secretary Of State
for the faithful execution Of the Fugitive law,
the people stormed the temple Of justice and
rescued the fugitive. And they have since even
indicted the United States marshal as kidnap-
per for arresting the slave. And, as the marshal
will probably plead on his trial orders from Mr..
FILLMORE 10 execute this law, the next step we
may look for win be his indictment as accessory
before The fact, and demand will Of course be
made on the President to deliver up one MIL
LARD FILLMORE as fugitive from justice from
the State Of New York. There can be no diff
Guilty about Jurisdiction in this case, because
the speeches made by Mr.. FILLMORE, when
there, can be proved on him, and will no doubt
be considered byf New York jury as advising,
counseiling, persdAdine, and seducng the afore-
said marshal into The said kidnapping. And,
perhaps, Mr.. WHISTLE will be included in the
indictment. And when the sheriff comes on
from Syracuse 70 take them into custody, we
would like IN know whether the Wing chivalry
Of vlrginis viii undertake TO rescue them.
Bot the most covert and adroit hoax on the
tactics Of candidates has recently been perpe-
tated by Commodore STocKTos, ia his speech
at Trenton, on Mr.. wkBsrKR's reception by the
Legislature. The Commodore extols Mr. WEE
srER, and prsises the old Federalists, and insists
on dragging iron from the mountains Of New
Jersey 10 the sea by tariff, and finally goes for
retrehcbment and reform. The joke has been
completely successful. All the candidates and
their friends are down upon the Commodore.
The Richmond Enquirer, the ~ergreen Of
Virginia, is surprised, and says that MIR. WISE
is surprised; rtbey had all regarded The Com
modore az an orthodox Democrat, and we're de
termined TO support him with the utmost en-
thusissm, in case they could not nominate Mr.
BUCHANAN or General CAss. whose Democracy
was rather more notorious Bot now-ah =
the Commodore has come out FOR tariff, and
sdmires The old Federaists. Now, is not this
rather remarkably rich, or At least ritchif. To
come from that portion Of the party who pre-
fer Mr. BUcHAsAr, the man that voted for the
tariff Of 1912, with SnAs WReHr, the Free
soiler, against all the rest Of the party in the
SeDstel And is il not cool for that portion Of
the party that supports General CAss, who
wrote, in ls43. to the Democratic convention Of
Indiana, a letter containing the following words
Il think, then, that the revenue Of the gov
eminent ought 10 be brought down 70 the loves