The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-21

and there were NO charts for politicians to
steer by, Mr.. Buchanan managed in that
bitter controversy to make his position quite
satisfactory to both partieA It must not be
inferred from this that we regard him as .
trimming politician Far from it. Fewnen have
expressed more prompt and decided opinions
Even when the Oregon bill, with the Wilmos
provisc, was before President Polk for apprs-
val, Mr.. Buchanan strongly advised q veto, Ne
garding the restriction ss Unconstitutional
AS q man of great abilities, common sense,
fearless energy and boA enuneiation, Ne Blu
chanan is one of the first statesmen of the
Union.
General Pierce, who wants to be re-nomi-
mated, is the President, and has some friends
who claim for him the distinction Of states
maa. He is perhaps the best and least known.
of any man in the couutry-it was the latter
'1tat put him into Office, and the former that
will carry him out. He is made man alto
gether, exceedingly anxious to please every
body, and allowing the last man who sees him
to take him captive. He is wholly without
moral courage.
Gev. Marcy, who has long held some over
issued Presidential stock which he has tried
hard enough to have the people recognise as
genuine, is q man Of considerable ability and
juo ement, but not overburthened with either
political morality or personal attachments. He
is the author OF what is known and practised
as the Spells System, and If not the originator,
at least the chief engineer, OF national conven-
tons on the present plan. He is pre-emlnant-
ly politician, cunning, obdurate and intex-
IDLE. His career has been marked rather by
low intrigues than by any positive statesman
like qualities of mind OF heart. His philan-
thrcpy has always been kept in subsection to
bis interests. He copied Mr.. Van Buren, as q
politician with vastly more ability, but not q
1.-THE of the courtesy of his exemplar. MIR.
Marcy, like all Lis class of leading men, will
have the salts ion of OUTLYING his friends,
and dying in - midst of those whom he has
neglected and deceived. He is an old fashion
ed sort of man, with . lively, quaint humor,
strangely united to most unconth manners As
reformer, his reputation is wholly confined to
his diplomatic circulars on coats and panta-
loons-a brilliant idea, which was to raise the
character of our representatives abroad, and
by kind OF coup de main, throw into utter ridi-
Guile and disgrace the whole system of court
costumes all over the world. The effort was a
failure, except as evidence of the ambitious
foreign policy of Mr.. Pierce's administration,
and of the dubious fact that Mr.. Marcy did
sometimes allow his mind to regard the forms
OF the toilette. Despite all these things, how
ever, VIC concede that Gov. Marcy is a man Of
ability, and if he had had a heart as we'll as
head, there is no reason to doubt but he would
have enjoyed greater share of public conf
dence than he can now riehtfully claim.
General Houston, of Presidential hopes, was
once planetary star, and still occupies de-
gree of prominence. He is General Houston,
which, alter ALL is his best description.
Gov. Cobb, OF Georgia, in the Presidential
line, is one of the ablest, as he is decidedly
the hest natured politician in the South. He
is, in truth, an exceedingly good type of
citizen OF the United States under the federal
Union. Colonel Jefferson Davis, Secretary OF
War, also Presidentially inclined, may be said
to occupy the extreme Southern seat, beyond
that of Howell Cobb, and pretty near the utmost
Southerly point of the United States. He is a
clever man, of considerable ability, great firm
ness, kindly, friendly, social and honest. Mr..
Guthrie, Secretary Of the Treasury, is an up
right, candid and able officer. So is Mr.. Dob
bin, though Of an inferior stamp.
Mr. Seward, frantic aspirant to the Presi
dency is the embodiment OF keen, sharp poll
tician. He is overrated in intellect, having
substituted ceaseless energy for that quality.
Mr.. Seward, perhaps, more than any man 10
the country, is representative man. There
is little use of severe logical powers for such
a man, for he deals in abstraction and fancies
He is the head of the abolitionists, and doubt
lees believes that the Union discovered, with
himself at the head of Northern repub-
Tic, would be a measure of genuine humanity
Mr.. Chase, of Ohio, is Mr.. Stewards compst-
tor, bidding against him for the rewards of
treason. Chase, in reality, is man of more
solid intellect than Seward.
Massachusetts, is really the most interesting
State in the Union 80 far as her leading men
are concerned. Mr.. Everett is q precise, we'll
instructed, and, in bis way, an exceedingly able
man. How he has kept out of the currents of
fanaticism, which are now overrunning the
State, it is not easy to see, but so it is; he is
thoroughly anchored to the Great Expounder's
ideas, and with the brilliant Choate, stands like
rock in the midst of the storm. In the active
field of politics in the Old Bay State new
race of men have sprung into life. Charles
Sumner, scholastic man, who has the happy
faculty of telling all he knows and little
more which he borrows, never to be repaid, ia
actually prominent. He is the most noted
man in the world, OF his real abilities and
merits the connecting link between American
and European abolitionism Mr.. Wilson ia an
adventurer who has won seat by the side of
Mr.. Sumner-a man Of some force, but yet to
he educated. Gushing is another man Of Mas