The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-07
Our New Hampshire Correspondence.

Mr.. II bb rc-Gop. Martin--Mr. Morrison
The Presidents Acton.
The Legislature Of This State will meet here on
Wednesday next, June Z. The Senate is democratic
beyond dispute, though or two OF its democratic
members supposed to be not over friendly 10 the
national administration. The House has nominal
democratic majority Of (say) sixteen, which, with
the party united would be found quite enough for
all PURPOSES but under existing circumstances, it
may not afford sufficient margin for the accomplish
ment of all the purposes of Pierce, Cushing Co.,
the modern triumvirate, who bear to the ancient
triumyirate the same relation that the dagger does
to the sword The chief difficulty that the domi-
nant party will have to encounter grows out Of the
election of Senators, that must be at least under
taken by the Legislature; and that difficulty will e
greatly increased not only by the fact that there are
two Senators to be chosen, but also by the charac
teristic duplicity with which the President has
treate the subject, promising things to men Of so
contrary nature that to fulfil all his agreements
would require alteration Of the national constitu-
ton Could they be kept by simple violation Of
the constitution no one can doubt that they would
be fulfilled unless, indeed, the balance could be
made tn incline to roguery through the pursuit OF
an opposite course.
The most prominent persons now spoken of for
Senators, are John s. Wells, Harry Hibbard Samuel
Dinsmore, and Mr.. Morrison now of the House Of
Representatives. After the death of Mr.. Atherton,
he President sought a reconciliation with Mr.
WeIls, who was the very first person upon whom he
lad exercised that tyranDica disposition which is
Abe substratum of his character, but which the IN
Of brought, as it were to the surface. The
two gentlemen had been political rivals in the demo-
cratic party here, and something more than rivals
1t our bar, where Gen. Pierce had more than once
been beaten and Inundated by the superior abilities
and cutting sarcasms OF Mr.. Wells. This was long
ere the Cen had dreamed of dating from the White
House. As soon he was nominated, the future
President interfered to prevent the Legislature Of
1869 choosing Senator to succeed Mr.. Hale, partly
because he really desired to have Mr.. Atberton in
the Senate, should he himself be elected President
and partly because he wished to prevent the
of Mr.. Wells, whose prospects were at that time
very fair. 1t is very probable that if Gen. Pierce
had succeeded by only small majority, he would
have found it difficult to effect Mr.. Wells defeat
but the vast electoral vote that he received, and
which gave him the appearance OF being all but
unanimously supported by the people, to superficial
observers made il impossible to contend against
who seemed to have been selected by fortune, in
one of her most capricous moods, to wear the
laurel crown and to carry the golden palm
Mr. Wells would have willingly contended with
him. in spite of the tremendous odds that the con-
test must have presented but he could find no sup
portes. Some of his friends thought that such
contest would be sheer madness, while Others were
New Hampshire democrats thought they then had
of sharing in the good great and fat things at
the command of o President of the United States.
The President elect was everything, and Mr.. Wells
was nowhere. That gentleman spoke his own
mind pretty freely on the subject but as for any
thing that he thereby accomplished, he might as
well have lectured the tide on Rye beach on the i'm
propriety Of rising high. The administration
was 80 successful in the first months Of its existence
and the country seemed generally ready to &C
q6iesce in the Presidents proceedings, that it
SEEMED chimercal to think of an individual setting
grievances before the world that he had sustained at
the hands of the modern (and exceedingly juvenile)
Hickory The utter want of success, too, that united
on the exertions Of Mr.. Burke-a much holder man
than Mr.. Wes-against the President probably had
some effect on the friends Of the Exeter gentleman
To kick against the pricks was neither pleasant to
their feet nor likely TO prove beneficial to the man
whom they would have served.
Things were in this state when Mr. Atherton died.
This event opened up the Senatorial question once
n. ore, but ut little earlier date than it would
come on through the expiration of Mr.. Norrs's
term of service. The President had to choose be-
tween reconciliation with Mr.. Burke, or one with
Mr. Wells There could be given no satisfactory
reason for his opposing the election of both, whes
two Senators were to be chosen. He was not long
in making up his miad. His decision was based Oh
a consideration that is ever imperative with q SIN Ill
mind. Mr.. Burke had been his friend, and had done
much toward securing the success of that srblle
game which led to his nomination at Baltimore,
game the very least moves III which mad been set
tied long before the Convention met, although the
result astonshed the country. The President coald
never forgive Mr.. Burke the debt he owed him, and
il was equally beyond his purpose to pay it, WAS
quite different with Mr. Wells. He had always been
the Presidents foe, and could, therefore be for
given it being the easiest thing in the world to for
give injuries; and the silly world calls such conduct
magnanimous. Hence, overtures were made TO Mr..
Wells for reconciliation The end was not that the
President promised t, give all his influence to aid
Mr.. Wellss appointment by the Governor, and his
subsequent election by the Legislature. Had the
Governor fulfilled the part assigned him, MIR. wells
would have received full six years term, on the
suppostion that the Legislature would have chosen
him. But Gov. Martin, to the establishment Of al
most every one, appointed his predecessor, Gov.
Williams, TO the place. This was the frst overt act
against the Presidents authority perpetrated by
New Hampshire democrat in high position Mr..
Burkes demonstration, six months earlier, was
the act Of private citizen, and many said OF dis
appointed man. Besides, it came to nothing, but
rather helped the administration, so far as il had
any effect. Gov. Martin is supposed to have had an
eve to one Of the Senatorshps for himself when he
appointed Mr. Williams. II is by no means certain
that he viii not get Of them before the affair
shall be settled.
At the time the President was promising his infu
ence to Mr.. Wells, the price Of reconciliation
he was doing the same thing with Mr.. Dinslnore.
That gentleman had received the appointment OF
Consul at Marseilles. While making preparations
TO leave the country matters of private nature
occurred which required him to postpone voyage
for some time and before this private business had
Dccu uulrueu, the utdtu Vi toVh plhVc.
Mr.. Dinsmore's ambition then took another turn
Why should he not have one Of the Senatorshipsl
This honorable ambition he determined to crafty,
and he was encouraged TO persevere in his ambition
by the President, with whom he communicated on
the subject, and from whom he received full prom
OF support; and at that time such promises were
worth much, particularly in New Hampshire.
Thus, you see, the President was pledged TO two
gentlemen; and had he stopped there, he would
fave been guilty of only promising to interfere in
That WAS none Of his business. and OF throwing the
IeasuIy gold into the scale OF those gentlemen
but when he went further, and pledged bis in6u.
cnce in behalf OF third person, he proceeded some
tbingi beyond the usual political license. This
third person is Mr.. Hibbard and the reason
Why he has received the Presidents pledge
grew ont of the Nebraska question. Ongi-
naiy. the President looked with much GOODNESS
upon the proposition to make Mr.. Hubbard the sue
cessor Of Mr. Norris He afraid that its success
would be injurious to his administration. Mr.. Hib-