The southern press., 1852-07-13

age from the Clyde, ana starts for Australia on
the 7th OF August next. The same eODpanys
screw.stamer Madras, bound for the Bosphorus,
has Just made the voyage from Southampton TO
Malta in nine days, which shows to what extra.
ordinary speed screw steamers are attaining.
From the London Times, June "a.
The Effect In England Of the Nomination OF
General Pierce for the Presidency.
The neighing of horse, the flight of birds,
height of stature, strength of arm, or length OF
beard, have in various ages and countries served
to determine the choice and election of rulers
over mankind. But even these expedients of
barbarou1 or superstitious nations led them in
all Pre- liability to results less sudden and unex.
pected than the modern ballot box, as il is used
ia the United States, for that singular engine OF
popular election positively brings about the ex
clusiou Of all the most prominent candidates,
and as a necessary consequence, the election of
some person whose abilities and former ser.
vices had hitherto kept him in condition of
relative obscurity. The principle of hereditary
monarchy is perhaps not easily to be reconciled
with abstract considerations of pure reason ap-
piled TO the transmission of sovereignty over
| free and intelligent people. Nothing appears
more simple than to say, "let such nation elect
the worthiest of its citizens to rule over its des.
| TIMES and to direct its policy" Yet experience
shows that hereditary monarchy has for some
thousand of years, and under very different
phases of civilization, produced less uncertainty
and anomaly than the elective system 1t is
based uron tradition, and justified by experience;
but i il still more forcibly recommended by
the startling absurdities and the perplexing re-
suits of opposite system, as applied by certain
republican States under our own eyes PopI-
lar election has just given, for instance, Louis
| Napoleon to France and il has suddenly raised
a gentleman of New Hampshi e, of whom
nothing was known in Europe till yesterday,
and who was only known in America as a
respected member of the Legislature, to the ex.
allied POSITION of candidate of the Democratic
party for the Presidency of the United States
The possibility of success in this 70 IN of cleo
ton by universal suffrage, necessarily depends on
two tals. The candidate must first be chosen
and accepted as the sole candidate Of his party
throughout the country; and, secondly the
| party which has thus adopted him must obtain
| the majority over its antagonist at the regular
and decisive election required by the Constitu-
ton. But the preliminary election, conducted
unde- private arrangement, and binding only by
the obligations of party honor, is indispensable
TO Ultimate success, for If either party were di.
vded in the choice Of its representative, the vic
| tory would remain with the other side: and in
point Of fact, although the aubseQuent snd
| formal election decides the contest Of parties.
the previous convention settles the still more
delicate and important question Of persons. At
/ this stage of the electoral proceedings Il might
therefore, be conceived that pegsonal merit would
have the utmost weight, as all the candidates
submitted to this trial are supposed 10 represent
the same political opinions Yet the recent de.
termination OF the Democratic convention NJ
Baltimore has again proved, as had been previ.
ousy shown upon the election Of Mr.. Polk in
1874, that Il il easier for an untred man 10 at.
tain the summit Of political power by such a
process, than for man Of the highest standing
I in the country 10 overcome the jealousy of his
rivals MoHte1quieu has said that the principle
\ Of absolute monarchy is fear, and that of arts.
tocracies j. honor. To speak 10 the same gen.
eral terms, the principle OF Democracy is envy
Envy il the true name Of that passion for equal.
ity which they sometimes indulge, even by the
sacrifice OF freedom and the prescription oi
greatness; for, by the operation Of universal
suffrage aad the mechanism Of popular cleo.
tons, Il is easier TO insure the defeat Of rival
than 10 secure the return of friend.
l Such u the result which these caucus cleo
tons IN the United States frequently exhibit
4 by the form and rule Of their proceedings the
candidate who obtains the votes Of twO.thirds
OF the delegates Is 10 be proclaimed the candi.
date OF the whole party, and accepted by the
4 rest We will suppose that two or more can.
didaies OF eminence, such as Mr. Buchanan and
General Cas-, are the fiyorites. ~ the minor
competitors drop Of after the frat ballot. As
long rs there is third party on the list, there
may be hope that his votes will be transferred
70 The other principal candidates, ~ % 20 give
one OF them The requisite votes. But suppose
that when only two names rrfnain, one has 60
and the Other 40 votes out Of lOO-67 being
the number required 20 make n majority. The
contest RACES with violence and periinacity. but
with no result Whatever il 10 happen, neither
tide viii pass over 10 ts immediate rival: and
the passion for EXCLUDING him outweichs and
miiigates the fense Of It's own failure. In this
way 40 or so ballots take place. Parties be
come weary and irri,sted, and fall into the state
OF men ready TO adopt any compromise which
viii save them from positive defeat. At that
moment comparatively small body Of voters
who have kept their counsel, and purposely
thrown away their votes on other candidates in
earlier ballots, may by good management turn
the whole election in favor Of their own secret
candidate In the present instance this man.
hNtH HhiNuiiN VtUofI0o0 DV the
eleciioneering dexteriiy Of the men Of Virginia
and Ne they started General Frank Pierce at the
critical moment, he became in very short time
the term Of compromise between the rival fac.
tons, and was chosen with degree Of unani.
mitv that bodies gell for his ultimate success,
AZ President Of the United States.
IS FAR as we are able TO collect information
respecting gentleman who is thus raised 10 4
more prominent position than he has before &C
cupied, the lot has in this instance fallen we'll
and ifthe chances Of success areas we suppos,
them 10 be-in favor Of the Democratic candi
date, we greatly prefer Gen. Pierce TO either
General Cass, Mr.. Douglas, or Mr. Buchanan
speaking, Of course, principally with referenc,
: TO the opinions end policy these gentlemen are
believed TO entertain ne 10 the relations Of the
J Union with this country and wi foreign pow
ers. General Pierce is sqid to possess the frs
! quality Of statesman--high character. III
} has the good fortune not to have been mixeC
! up with the feyerish agitation and the peuril,
, pledges by which the candidates Of the Demo
4. cratic party arc wont 20 court ropulsritv RI,