The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-09
From the Boston Daily advertiser.
The Presidency.

The great question of the coming election ia not
merely the fundamental one, whether the Union
shall be preserved in its integrity but whether it
shall be preserved in the affection and respect Of
the nation; whether the language Of pronunciation
and scorn which has been hcaped upon it by fanat-
les, demagogues, ambitious Catalines, and sancti-
monious MawworIns, shall he in any, the reno
test, degree countcnanced; or whether an outraged
majority shall proclaim its decision in tone which
shall send every traitor whether honest dishon-
eat, to the limbo of shame be deserves to occupy;
and shall make every man who has been too timid,
too timeserving to rebuke him, call on the
mountains to cover him. No sane man doubts that
there is now a majority the side of Union capa-
bic of etiecting this though how long it will con-
tinue in hs state is doubtful if that majority is at
all sluggish in its action. And the question for
both the great parties to settle for themselves,
parties, is whether they will resist for the
mere impulses OF party ambition and vote for the
man who lie most devoted to the Union, and most
likely to increase its hold upon the hearts Of the
people, whether they will the risk of being
superseded by new organization, which has been
repeatedly limited at, and which, If it is formed,
will sweep both Of them away to the corner where
the cobvobs Of last summer were thrust.
Especially does it behoove the Wings, among
whom the Unionsts probably more numerous
than in the Democratic party, to look with the
strctest scrutiny 10 the position Of their candidate;
and to TO it there is shadow his pennon.
no opening in his armor, link broken in the
chain of his fidelity TO the Constitution. Fortu-
nately for us all three Of candidates not only
are, but known to be, deeply pledged to the
sacred cause as IL is possible for men to be. Two
Of them have staked their all upon II in the very
CRISIS Of ts fate and the third has ou ght under its
banner for forty years, with a renown which be
could by no possibility have gained bad 1t not
hoated over his head, and which certainly should
be enough to satisfy the lofticst ambition Of the
soldier. He owes every thing to il, and he will
pay the debt. 1t is not on this point that we can
look for ground Of preference. We must con-
slider the matter in another light. They have all
pledged "their lives. their fortunes, and their ga.
cred honor" TO its defence, and the question
have 10 determine is which Of them is beat fitted,
not which is merely fitted, for the place Of respon-
sibty to be filed. II it were a TO be decided
by battle, or a campaign-if strategy, or skll in
ratification, or the OF ordnance, had any thing
10 do with IL, the question would be easily an
sWercd; or rather, IL would never be asked "the
frs, soldier Of the age" would Of course take pre-
cedence Of every other individual And il is no
small glory 10 the military commander in chief Of
the United States that he should be thought a vor-
thy competitor for honor in other fields than those
Of arms with men who have spent their lives in
the intellectual struggles Of the Forum and the
Capitol. HE countrymen have not forgotten his
skill in the management Of angry parties in the
perilous eIcements Of the frontier aggressions in
1879 and al, nor the mingled energy and kindii-
M he showed in executing the harsh order for the
removal Of the Cherokoes and other Indians from
Georgia and Alabama. They arc fully aware
that he Possesses many Of the qualities which are
most needed in the Presidential chair; and II the
other candidates we're not before us il would be no
difficult matter to rally around him with single
ness Of devotion and certainty Of success. But
while acknowledging, with sincere admiration and
affection, his singularly great merit. bis talent in
conducting difficult affairs, his human sympathy.
and the kindness which attaches to him 90 strongly
all who bin the sphere Of his personal in.
fuencc, why should shut our eyes to the fact
that there are other men who possess hs courage,
and TACT AMI gentleness, and who, besides all this
have experience which is different from his and
better adapted to fit them for the particular place
we have to fill For the came we would &C.
lect him for our lender in difficult battle, would
take an experienced civilian to conduct our case
in court, and TO manage our affairs in the Cabinet
where intricate questions Of Law, diplomacy, and
constitutional arrangements are pcrpetuaIly aris-
ing.
IL is certainly possible that a soldier may pos
sees pre- eminenty some of the requisites for
civil office as to make us willing to overlook any
comparative deficiency Of experience in that
sphere; but when have civilians Of competent
ability and ample experience, why should we pre-
fer one whose training in life has certainly not
been particularly adapted to qualify him for dis
tinction in the department Of State Still more,
when we have men Of world wide renown and of |
practical wisdom witch has proved equal to the |
severest trials, would il be the part of good judQ
ment to pass them by, and to take from another
sphere man who clearly born to excel them. |
but Of whom II would be difficult 10 determine |
whether he would succeed equally we'll where we
should place him2 Shall we not choose the bost
qualified man we can get to do our work in the |
White House, Let us reoolIect that We are to dis
tribute our tasks TO those in each department who
are best suited TO do particular duty--tbot we |
should make an appropriate nomination and let |
us keep tho toldicr in his command, tho lawyer