The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-12
TIE ccnventfon system-Whsm it Hos sacrf-
flced and Whom Il has Rewarded.

ti,,l decline of the caucus and convention sys-
tenn of this country. This is the record of the
politicians-the mere results Of the man9uyres
in the counties, States, and on the broader
field of the Union. The essential doctrines of
the system are embodied in that expressive
word, selfsbness; though its evils have wider
range, and its fruits are borne far out Of the
fields of politics It's object is to obtain the
control of State and national administrations
without trusting to the equivocal sanctions of
popular favor. 1t is in the nature Of an in
vention to secure President and executive
offices by short cut, evading all the land
marks of the constitution, and practically set
ting aside the principles upon which the gov
eminent was formed. 1t i. scheme by with
political control can be secured to the few, by
the apparent legal sanction of the many.
Under it the NEGRO WoRsHIPPERs may, by sys.
tenn of adroit management, though held 10
contempt as sovereign as the popular mind it
self, may secure the possession of the Presi-
depcy. In fact, it was devised to give rogues
the ascendency in the States and in the nation,
snd practically to cheat the people Of the
country out of their political rights.
II would be folly to pretend that this sys-
tenn has worked in all parts Of the country
alike. Ithad it's origin in the brain of some
sharp political inventor, and has been
adopted as it happened to meet the views and
policy Of ambitious men. Gen. jackson was
promoted under its nominal auspices; but in
reality, it was not made applicable a. all to
him, except as means Of procuring its sanc.
ton, and to build it up for the uses OF the New
York politicians who were to follow him. The
caucus system had grown into a monstrOus
evil, and had been generally denounced. The
people detern ined to place General Jackson
into the Presidential chair. Mr.. Van Buren,
saw this, and, with his usual sagacity, organ
lied the present plan of conventions avowing
everywhere purpose to place the Old Hero in
nomination. by this cunning movement he
was able to procure for his scheme popular en-
dorsement. The end OF General Jackson's ad-
ministration was the point at which he really
commenced operating the entire machinery for
purely selfish and party ends. That which had
spoken the vehement voice Of the nation in be-
half of a glorious old patriot was now made to
whisper cabalistc watchwords in every town,
county and State of the Union, and to seal the
political doom Of many an honest man.
Has the public grown fretful and discour-
aged at the sacrifice Of great and the promo.
ton of small men? Let it turn its eyes to the
history OF party conventions for the last twenty
years, and find it all explained. Mr.. Van Blu.
rem rose to the Presidency, and that act OF pc.
litical prostitution on the part of the nation
was enough itself to pave the way for dozen
Presidents, whose aims reached no higher than
to be able to farm out the executive offices to
those who had been the most faithful engineers
in the service Of party. Did it require talents,
high, patriotic, disinterested purposes on the
part Of aspirants? Did it exact experience
and eminent services unimpeachable integrity
and virtue? Was it necessary to be more than
good manager to have attained the moral
distinction of "honor amongst thieves to
generate in the bosoms of our public men
strong convictions Of Presidential fitness?
We had fifty good politicians to one man OF
talents, experience and public virtue. By the
convention system, it was the fifty that ruled
and the one that was sacrificed. The moral
Of the device was this, that great and good
men could not be trusted; and on the plan of
operations adopted it was strictly so. There
was broad and impossible gulf between the
two classes, and the elevation Of the one was
the signal for the decline Of the other Hence
we may read the public mystery that Clinton,
Clay, Calhoun, Wright, Webster, Cass, Bu-
cbanan and many others have given way to
Won R,,rap Harrison TarI0r and ovap N
Mr.. Pierce. Where else shall we go to solve
this comedy of errors, this apparently chronic
injustice OF our people, but to the conventions
and their fruits Of folly everywhere ripening
in our political fields? The Presidency Of the
nation has grown into place reduced to en-
oflice-bounded by what it can be made to con.
fer upon its incumbent and the entrenched
camp Of spoilsmen and placemen by which it
is surrounded
The first lesson to be learned in this order is
to find an available, instrumental and subser-
Went candidate-the less known the surer con-
trolled and palmed off on the people as their
wisest representative. The policy is to select
one with the fewest friends and the narrowest
experience; for this gives the rising politicians
a new deal of the cards, and enables them to
steer clear OF popular shoals and quicksands.
1t was thus that Van Buren,, Harrison.
Taylor, and that whited sepulchre of de.
mocratic hopes, Mr. Pierce, were present
ed to the people as candidates for the first
Office of the republic. They were the croa-
tions Of the convention system -manuiac 'ur d
Presidents. As citizens and officers perr1r
ing duties In the proper place, they were cara-
bic. if not able servants; but as the executive
bead Of the nation, surrounded by statesmen
OF the highest attainments they did little move
than impeach the wisdom Of the popular mid
Of the country and prove the fallacy Of popu-
lar government. Those, however, who have
been able to see the elaborate machinery by