The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-25

was dull Pork was heavy, with sales OF mess al $40
IS; prime was scarce and firm at SIS. Sugars were
sold to moderate extent, without change in prices
About 100 bags Rio coffee sold on terms stated
in another column. Freights were easier for Liver
pool. Grain was taken in bulk as low as &c. &c.
and cotton at 9-32d Sled. per square bale, and
round do. at sled
We learn from Brazil that on the 18th of January
the imperial government decreed that four con.
panies of cacadores and two companies of artillery
consisting Of fifteen hundred men, be organized for
service in the province of the Amazon.
Another Candid ate for the Presidency-
Statement and Statesmen-Tricks OF State
Conventions.
Our Washington telegraph report announces
on the authority of delegates to the
Cincinnati Convention from Kentucky, that
that State will cast its vote for Linn Boyd for
the Presidential candidate of the democracy
There is in this simple announcement fair
type of the tactics Of all parties. We may ex-
pect next to hear that Indiana has presented
ed Mr.. Dobhin, that Tennessee has presented
Andrew johnson, that Massachusetts, has pre-
sented Mr.. Cushing, and, indeed there is every
where frightful increase Of "eminent men"
ready to serve the State. After the nomina
ton and election Of General Pierce it is diff.
dency. That was a dwelling professor,
rather, it was Marat's "scythe of equality
doing its work with fatal vengeance. 1t cut
of the heads of Cass and Buchanan, and left
those statesmen with proportions even below
those Of General Franklin Pierce. Experience,
it seems, is of little value, and the game is to
be played over again On scale even more
elaborate than in 1852.
Everywhere, easier than in politics, may
remedies be applied to obvious evils. In the
social and religious world, the public mind is
vigilant in the detection of errors and active
in their removal. In the United States we
seem to have started with the idea of having
perfect machine-a kind of perpetual motion
indestructible and self sustaining. We have
not advanced a peg since the Revolution, in
the theory Of free government; while it is OBJ.
vious we have refrigerated in purity Of admin
istration, in love of country and generally in
political morality.
Much of what is evil in our system has
grown out Of the caucus and convention
cabais by which, in fact, the country i,
governed. The most serious and alarming re-
trograde we have made is seen in the preseu-
tation by States Of their small men for the high
Office Of President of the United States Talent,
patriotism and distinguished service having
been exchanged for avalability-having been
prescribed as useless material in the hands OF
urpolitical machinists-the ranks of those who
may aspire to the Presidency have been CORES
pondingy enlarged. Indeed it is easier to
find and count the men who do not deem them
selves qualified, and enter claims for the execu-
tive functions, than those who do.
But there are, also, with the main chance,
collateral advantages resulting from the for
NAL presentation of State Presidential asr;-
rants. II fills the list with persons thus ms lie
prominent, and each of these in the event Of
a triumph of the party, becomes peculiar and
authoritative exponent Of the wishes and opin-
ions of the politicians of his State. 1t is to he
expected, too, that unusual consideration vi
be paid by the successful man to the wishes Of
bis rival in the convention. In many instances
the latter is the only consideration moving the
State to put forward its man.
That such course is calculated to degrade
and debauch our elective system, and I, re-
wsId political gamblers and their f.lse pre-
fences, none will question. 1t is the SO i OF
the whole doctrine OF availability-a conse-
quence Of departing from the rules of honesty
in the selection Of persons to Gil the highest
Offices IN the nation. The veriest dolt In the
country may be made available in moments OF
excitement, under the tread-mill operation Of
the convention. Availability is trick which.
like the prophet, is not without honor save in
lite own neighborhood. 1t is said that the pub
lie mind in the United States is always acces-
sible, always open to conviction always wise
in its judgments. 1t is neither. 1t is nearly
closed in the canvass, and at such times its
judgments are practically without either wis
dom or value.
For instance, the democracy have called
convention at Cincinnati. There will be col
iected at that point, on the first Of June. a
thousand or more politicians, almost every one
OF whom will have some axe of his own to
grind. Meanwhile, those very men will have.
or perhaps have already, presented half
dozen or more Of their small local politicians
as candidates for the honor Of nomination
These various cliques holding special control
over the delegates, will have the power when
combined to name the candidate; and they will
combine precisely when they shall have so ar
ranged the whole matter as to secure to them
selves the absolute dispensation of executive
patronage. And this is called the action and