The Nevada journal., 1856-01-04

THE AMERICAN CANDrpArk roR THE
PRrslDENcr.-By late Atlantic papers
we see that contest is going on in the
State of New York between the friends
of Millard Fillmore and George Law for
the nomination in the National American
Convention for the next Presidency
Though not an admirer of the admins
tration of Fillmore so far as his foreign
policy is concerned, (the withdrawal OF
the mails from the Crescent City we think
evinced too great desire for pea ce at the
expense of the dignity of the nation; J
we do most firmly believe that he is above
all others, the man on whom the Union
men Of all classes could cordially snite,
and infinitely better qualified to guide the
helm of state, than George Law, who has
had more practice at rudders of differ
ent kind. The day for advocating the
election ofmcn for availability is passed,
if not it ought be, forever. Merit has
heretofore been too much lost sight of, in
bestowing the rewards of Office among po-
lltical aspirants. A dog-in-the-mangsr
policy has been pursued by some of the
best intellects in the Union out of sheer
envy Of those one degree farther advan-
eed in prominence before the American
people. Men fitted by nature, education
and experience to ELL the highest stations,
have basely turned their backs upon the
eminent and deserving statesmen Of the
country, and prostituted talents designed
for better purpose, in the suicidal at
tempt to elevate fifth rate men over the
heads of statesmen of long standing and
tried experience. And success has too
often attended their Efforts. But the
consequences Of success have been more
disastrous than defeat. The election Of
Gen. jackson to the Chief Magistracy,
created monomania in the American
people for military men, which has ragged
in both parties down to the election of
General Pierce, since which time symp-
toms of returning re ason ought to become
visable if the mental alteration is not in
durable. If the whig party prefering de-
feat under mushroom politician, created
BY the heat and ferment of the popular
mind out of nothing, had pollsd its votes
steadily for the pre-eminent statesmen,
who made it what it was, and to whom all
indebtedness was due, that party might
not have slept an early political death
without hope of resurrection. The name,
OF Webster and Clay, would alone have
given strength and respectability to the
party, had its measures become obsolete.
But the great intellects of the nation re-
csived chilling reward for their inestima-
bic services, disinterestedly and patrioti-
cally rendsred-thoy died unrewarded-
the pillars Of tae party had fallen, and the
remainder went to ruin. IT'S time to
listen to the teachings Of the past, and
apply the wisdom there derived to the
guidance of the future. The great lights
of the nation have gone out, but there are
ssme still left, Of lesser magnitude it is
true, but possessed of like power to dis
pense blessings over the land. We want
no more men of inexperisncs for Presi-
dents-fainting generals. steamboat ow-
ners and spectators in old muskets we
can do without, and since the great states
men have left us let us have the nearest
approximation to them in principle, intel
lect and experience.