The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-12-21
THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.

a New York paper has the following some.
what curious speeulatIoas upon the Presi'
DENTAL movements for sc:
First, with regard to the democracy; they
have rs usual, supcrabnndance of Outstand.
ing candidates, among whom General Pierce
only figures rs n possible alternative. The
bulk of The democratic testimony is against
him. Yet, notwithstanding the failures
which have been inflicted upon the country
by their national conventions, the party in all
sections are turning their ewes to the Cincin.
natl national gathering with US much appa.
rent confidence as caravan of devOut and
deluded Mussulman take up the pilgrimage
across the desert to the tomb Of the Prophet
In this instance, however, we are assured that
no unknown and obscured make-shift will be
adopted by the experienced and suffering de-
mocracy. as the expedIent for harmonizing
the old fogies. With this assurance we must
await the issue of the Cincinnati sanhedrim
and the movements Of the party chain-gang
at Washington this winter.
The Know Nothing or American party are
early in the arena. Their Presidential nomi-
mating national convention is appointed for
the Dad of February; but in the meantime
President Bartlett has issued another procla-
nation, calling special National Council at
Philadelphia on the 18th of the same month,
most probably for the purpose of postponing
to May or June next the grand national nom
mating Council. A postponement of this
sort would certainly be judicious, for we can
not perceive how satisfactory fusion upon
any man can be made by the 22d February,
Of the friends respectively of Live Oak Geo.
Law, Willard Fillmore, John ]. Crittenden,
John NJ Clayton, John Bell, John Minor
Bolts, John Macpherson Berrien, Sam Hous-
ton, Kenneth Rayner, Commodore Stockton,
Stanhope Flournoy, Governor Gardner, Cow
ernor Johnston, and other American candi.
dates. I.'
The extract which We give from a Mary
land paper, suggesting the policy of running
several American candidates, North and South,
is not bad idea. 1t is the electors of the
several States elected that elect the President,
so that if the Americans can carry Kentucky
with Crttenden, New York with George
Law, Massachusetts with Gardner, Tennes-
see with Bell, Georgia with Berrien, and so
on, they will, should they secure majority
ofthe electoral tickets, still BIO able in the
meeting Of the electors thus chosen, to unite
upon some one Of their various candidates,
and carry him in. How else the Americans,
North and South, can work together, judging
from their divisions in Congress upon the
Speakershp, we cannot divine. Wo leave
the matter, for the present, in their hands; but
we shall certainly watch their movements with
some interest, for it is make or break among
them now.
The Seward Holy Alliance looms up with
some Importance in the speculations Of our
democratic contemporaries; but with the organ
izalon of Congress, and tho settlement of
the issue between Whitfield and Reeder, we
shall be better qualified to estimate the real
strength and position of the anti.slavery
league as an independent Presidential party.
The doings at Washington Of the past week,
and our chapter OF Presidential politics for
the present, post us up with tho condition,
prospects, and movements of parties and can
didates as they stand. From this day hence
forward the next Presidency will be the iv-
ing and paramount question. We shall en-
deavor to keep pace with the shifting scenes
of the important drama, with the progress
of public opinion, with the safeguards Of
the constitution, and to the emusic of the
Union"