The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-27
From The New YORK Daily Times, March Is.
Presidential spsesla sions

Presidential spseulatisns
The canvass for the presidency is growing animated
Both parties discuss the claims OF their prominent cham
pions with unwonted earnestness and freedom. Upon
The democratic sde the contest is mainly between Cass
and Douglas among the wings. Scott aud Fillmore are
the leading candidates Other aspirans on both sides
rely upon the anticipated necessity of compromising con-
hicng claims the contingency which may bring them
forward and commend them to favor
The nominations will OF course be made by national
conventions, and the utility OF such preliminary discus
sions as that IN which leading journals OF both parties
are now engaged consists IN the developments they make
Of pubic sentiment concerning the various candidates
presented Tor public favor The main object OF such
yenons IS TO select the strongest canddateto x upon
the man who will command the most votes, and thus
stand the best chance OF being elected. Their special
advantages for such selection grow out OF the fact that
all sections OF the party and all portions OF the country
are represented IN them that the views OF all may be
eanvassed their preferences considered their hosttes
harmonized and their strength combined. Whatever
therefore, tends 10 enlghen the party to the feelings
OF any section OF aids the final decision OF the question
upon grounds OF mutual justice and of common
interest
very canvass is going on among the wings
concerning the denomination of Mr. Fillmore. He is very
earnestly pressed by the wings of the South and quite as
earnestly opposed by the wings OF the North Objections
are, indeed, urged against him which do not relate to
these sectional divisions II is urged in quarters
that the wing party pledged 10 the one-term principle
that Mr. Clay, in 1884, distinctly inserted this cardi
nal article OF the wing creed and that has been
sidered ever since But to be sufficient reply
to this objection to say that this has never been thus pro-
claimed as party principle and that Mr. Clay has now
Withdrawn it, with at least as much right as he original
Y asserted IT, The real grounds OF difference 10 Mr.
Fmores nomination are unquestionaby in their origin
sectional, though they do not necessarily rest solely
upon sectional collisions principles The
South comedies the candidate TO the North and the
wings OF the North claim, incidental prerogative,
the right OF selecting him. They urge that, the pre-
erences OF the South consulted and gatfed in the
nomination Of Gen Taylor i Is nov only Just that their
their southern brehern especially those preferences
relate solely to the interests and probable success Of the
whig party in the coming contest They represent that
Mr. Fillmore cannot nominated receive the vote OF
New York, Ohio Pennsylvania of the majority of the
wing States Of New England that these losses would
be poorly compensated by the chances of carrying south
democratic States and that under such circumstances
would be folly and wrong TO the wing party to make
him its candidate.
Fillmore was nominated as Vice President by the north
ern whigs that he has done nohing to forfeit their
dence unless such forfeiture has resulted from his de-
fence of the rights and interests OF the South that
southern wings cannot desert him for such and
that the North has no right now 10 reject him, say
that they will not give him their votes. Part of the
southern whgshOse whose sectional feelings override
their party attachments and who seek the OF the
whig party only may be made the of advan-
cling their sectional viewsare inclined TO treat these rep
RESERVATIONS from the North with contempt and TO
find additional motives in them for imperavely insisting
upon the nomination OF Mr.. Fillmore; and they are
therefore represented by their organs holding
wards the party the position OF armed neutrality"
to be exchanged for one OF active service only when
their demands shall have been conceded But the great
mass OF WHSb-tQudy EARNEST, peTuapS IN ue-
string Mr.. Fillmore's nominadon-are more rational in
their views, and less mperous and exactng in their tenn
per- They find it difficult 10 understand rhy Mr.. Fill
more cannot receive the votes oil northern whgs and
especially why he cannot carry New York and they
very naturally inclined TO dislrust the motives and to
doubt the correctness OF these representations Some light
may perhaps be thrown upon these matters by recurring
to the political history OF the last few years
IL is not necessary. in the first place, to asten upon
Mr. Fillmore any special Iaul, OF failure in administer
ing the executive affairs OF the government in order 10
show that his denomination would be inexpedent. He
may have discharged all the duties of his high station to
the entire satisfaction Of the country But he also
ains responsible relations to the wing party by which he
eecied and failure properly TO meet that response
hliiy, and TO discharge Alright the duties which involves
may prove equally fatal 10 his hold upon that party 10
further demands upon its confidence and support. MIR.
Polk discharged the duties of his office with ability and
in general accordance with the views OF the party
which he owed his election and yet his distribution Of
patronage, especially in New York. and his mark ed neg
lect OF the Just claims of Sas Wright and his friends
laid the basis for that split in the party which proved fatal
to the preensions of General Cass II similar mistakes
in managing his party relations fairly traceabe TO Mr.
Fillmore, similar result must be expected. IL is impos
sibe that any should first divide and break down
his party and then expect its cordial and united support
| General Taylor became President in the spring OF
ls49. He had been nominated against the wish of the
great body OF northern wings who dis,rusled his po-
sition the question of slavery II was represented by
his friends in northern States with eanestness and sue
cess, that he was not 10 be numbered among the pro-
slavery uaists OF the Souihhat he regarded slavery
as an evil-that he would protect with equal and Impair
ta Justice the rights OF all sections of the Union, and that
he would not veto a Dill problbitDg tie extension oil
slavery into the Territories. II such bill should be
passed by Congress Active wings in every part Of the
northern States advocated the election OF General Taylor
on the ground tina, he far more distinctly pledged to
sanction law excluding slavery from the Territories
than General Cass MIR. Webster urged his election upon
these grounds And Mr.. Fillmore nominated for
Vice President mainly to strengthen General Taylor in
precisely those localities where the antslavery feeling
prevalent and powerful Ii was under such cir
cumstances and by such influences that New York and
New England gave their votes for General Taylor and
made him President
His advent TO Office was the signal for conspiracy
the part OF OF his southern supporters to drive him
from the position in which the oil the canvass
hal placed him. and 10 force him into subseTviency 10
Il cir sectional views AT the first wing congressional
caucus after bis election, a resolution urged by
Messrs Toombs, Stephens, and Clingman, declaring
that the wing party renowned and discarded the primer
/ pie of excluding slavery by law from the newy-ac-
quired Territories Its adoption resisted by Messrs
whigs and it was rejected. Those who had offered il
then took up position Of armed neutrality" menacing
the wing party with deseriion and hostility unless II
should assent TO their acquisitions and abandon forever
the free. soil principle. Some OF these gentlemen wait
ed upon General Taylor and informed him very
explicitly OF their demands, and Of their purposes in
case those demands should be rejected.
The President, meantime, pursued steady firm, and
lust course OF policy very warm contest took place
In the distribution OF Offices throughout the country, and
| in no State was il warmer than in New York. On one
side were the friends of Mr.. Sewsrdihen the only wing
senator from the Slaeon the other his opponents
General TAYLOR made his appointments with sincere
| desire TO meet the views OF the whole party, without
giving any section OF II Just grounds Tor dspleasure
He placed all the important offices. especially IN this city,
in the hands OF Mr. Stewards most determined opponents
Il