The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-25

IRON the LONDON N0bs. july IL.
The battle for the Presidents chair Is now being
fought out in It's preliminary stages N the United
States and the various parties are counting noses
and fixing on their candidates. OF these at present
there are four before the public-Buehanan, Ere
mont Banks and Fillmore. Setting aside Fill
more as the most unlikely candidate OF the four,
and regarding Banks rs one who nay fall In
with the ultimate decision OF the majority OF ths
republican party the 0oT are TeduI Roc,
nan is the nominee Of the democratic party,
which represents TO great extent the aggressive
tendencies OF the Union, manifest destiny and
the slavery policy embodied In the Kansas Nebraska
act. Mr.. Buchanan regards the democratic party
a. the only true conservative party as i1e only
one capable OF overthrowing all sectional and geo
graphical parties and Of restoring tina. mutual con-
hdence which existed Ia the good Old time Yet be
gives in his adhesion 10 the principles OF the Kansas
Nebraska act, which sets aside the Missouri compro-
mise and leaves the people OF territory al liberty
to decide whether slavery shall or shall not exist
within its limts II we read srght the sgns OF the
times in the United States the hope Of harmony is
vain illusion. The immediate result Of the Kansas
struggle has been 10 bring the North and South face
to face, and to define more sharply than ever the
question at Issue between them. How, when com.
bat roufrunrc IL proclaimed between the geo
graphical parties" Mr. Buchanan calls them, the
| era Of mutual confidence can be near al hand, we
are at loss TO conceive. He promises, in his
letter accepting the nomination o. the Cincinnati
1 Convention, that. should he succeed 10 obtaining
the coveted post he will exert himself 10 restore har
mony. But how can harmony be restored 40 long
a. principles permitting the extension Of ssyersare
Il embodied in the statutes Of the Uniong
In Colonel Fremont Mr. Buchanan will hnd pow.
i erful opponent Born in the South, he IL yet the
4 enemy o. the peculiar institution circumstance
that mus, give more weight 70 his opinions than u
he had been native OF The Northern STATES Oh bis
political views, except on this cardinal question, III
lie seems 20 lie known; but his adoption by the re
pubcans OF course implies that he represents their
tendencies and principles II matters little, how
ever, as regards the present crisis what bis view,
are on other topics. II is enough that on the grea
| question he Is q free soiler that b,
IL man Of fTmness, endurance and science
| Mr.. Bncbanans friends say that he holds al
impartial position on me question Of slavery; tina
he looks forward 70 the extinction OF the pc
cuar insttuiion by enclosing the slave States witt
free States that he believes the result OF the Kansa
struggle win he its enrolment as free State; sn'
that that result will decide the question. II this b
| 80 II would account for the coolpess with wbicl
lis nomination has been regarded in some Southern
! districts; and II would equally account for tn
| slleged favor with which that nomination IL said h
| lie regarded among Northern men Of moderat
opinions, who are apprehensive Of the tempes
| which threatens 10 shake the Union.
IL In impossible not 10 that this state Of thing
| implies considerable doubt a. TO the upshot OF tn
l contest for the Presidential chair. II is equal
Undenable that the nomination Of Colonel Ere
| mont only complicates this state Of things Tha
nomination tends 70 bring the North and South int
| deadly combat; II also makes II probable tina
the election OF President will be thrown upon tn
| House OF Representatives; and in either case It
hard 10 say what the Issue will be. II portion 0
the North casts ts voice for Buchanan he will wir
II the North were united Fremont must succeed
But there s the strong disability Of such divsio
Of votes as will furnish neither with the requsit
| majority, especially II Banks and Fillmore continu
| in the field. The proportion o. the North 70 tn
South in the House Of Representatives is three
two; and there il therefore the uncertainty wit
regard 10 their action ss With regard 70 that OF III
| ordinary electors Of the President.
II viii be seen at once that the question II one Z
| the most dubious kind. Nothing was more SUI
prising than the election o. Mr.. Pierce and that In
cidept suhices 10 show how extremely uncertain ar
| the movements ~ American parties. The ISSUE
| however II now narrower than n was IN 1852, an
that 70 IN favor Of more decisive vote.