The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-03-19
THE DEMOCRATIC AspIRANTs.

As we have a gOodly number OF Democrat
ic subscribers, and rs some of them would,
no doubt, like to know how matters stand
among the aspirants of their party for Presi-
Dental hOnOrs, in respect to the chances for
a nomination, we copy the annexed article on
the subject from leading print at the North.
The writer, after abiding TO Gov. Marcy,
and others of less note and qualifications,
whose names have been mentioned in con-
nection with the contest, continues as fol-
lows:
"Mr. Buchanan's prospect is not quite so
forlOrn, yet it is also poor one. He has
hard work TO carry his own State; and, al
though he wiH carry it, he must go into the
Convention weakened by the general knowl-
edge that he has barely and with difficulty
secured Delegation. Probably the Southern
States will add enough to his strength to
make respectable show; but with New
York, New England, and the Great West al
most solid against him, he cannot come in.
Gen. Houston will not 90 into the Conven-
| ton so strong as we at one time supposed he
would. OF all the Free States he seems now
| to have chance but for Connecticut, and
only a chance for her. OF the Slave States,
his own Texas alone has declared in his IA
vor and she has but four votes in the Con-
yention. Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkan-
sas, which, from various considerations of
proximity or past history, might have been
expected to sympathize with Texas in this
matter, give no sign of devotion to Houston.
He can hardly have thirty votes in COnven-
ton on the first ballot, and can only be nomi-
mated by one of those fortuitouS impulses
which defy all calculation.
| As TO Gen. Butler, it is not now probable
that he will have many votes on the first bal
lat. No State but Kentucky has vet declared
for him, and she rather family. The Bento-
Man delegation from Missouri will doubtless
be favorable to his nomination; but it will
be countcrbaanced by Anti-BentOn Delega-
ton, which may alone be admitted, and which
at all events will not be excluded; so that all
the former can do for Butler will amount to
little. Gen. Butler has chance in the final
struggle, prcsuming that Gov. Marcy shall
meantime be dropped, but his prospect is not
a flattering one.
Unless, then, some new element shall be
foisted into the Baltimore caldron, we antici-
pate that the main struggle will probably be
between the friends of Gen. Cass and Judge
Douglass respectively. Gen. Cass will 90
into the Convention with a decided plurality
of the votes, but not enough to nominate
him under the Two-Third Rule which has
become part of the Baltimore Platform. In
fact, he will be in position very similar to
that of Mr.. Van Buren, in the Convention of
1914. only with a weaker force at his back.
He will have against him the general under
standing of the young and ambitious that he
is the candidate of the odd Hunkers' those
who enjoyed the good things when the par
ty was formerly in power, and mean TO get
another lick at them if possible. This feel
ing, though unavowed, has twice strongly
contributed to defeat Mr.. Clay before Nation
al Conventions, and we think will now finish
Gen Cass. And besides, every delegate who
votes against Gen. Cass Mt the outset, will
feel that he is to be regarded as rebel for
so doing in case the General ultimately re-
ceives the nomination, and that, while smiles,
and bows, and gracious words, will be abund-
antly accorded him, he will stand but poor
chance for the Spoils.' Hence we apprehend
that Gen. Casss vote will not much increase
after the first ballot, while that of the Little
Giant wiHdo so. Whether the latter will or
will not be nominated, we do not predict; but
his chance seems now equal to that of any
rival, though he will only have some fifty or
sixty votes on the first ballot.
Gen. Cass has undoubtedly strengthened
himself of late, through nearly all the Free
States, by his relatively manful course on
questions of international policy. Should he
be nominated at last, he will owe it to this
course Still, the chances against an old
and beaten candidate, opposed by young
and fresh one, are so decided that we believe
him destined to be set aside. Let Time test
the soundness of this conviction"