Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-21
S. B. ROW, EDIroR AND PROPRIETOR.
CLEARFIELD, PA, MAY a1, 1856.
PRESIDENT MAKING.

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PRESIDENT MAKING
The business of Presidcnt-making has, for
some time, been carried on briskly in this
country. As is usual, there is great internal
commotion in the various parties, caused by
efforts to bring the several candidates into such
position as will have tendency to secure their
nomination. In the Democratic party, the
contest is principally between Pierce and Bu-
chanan--though there are many others whose
patriotism will not permit them to hold back
should the country require their services.
The struggle for supremacy between the two
individuals named, is daily growing more ami
mated; and not long since the Washington
Union, Pierce's organ, applied the lash to the
Pennsylraniaa and Harrisburg Patriot, because
they did not shout peans for the President af-
ter the Democratic State Convention had ap-
proved of, and endorsed his Administration.
Much bad feeling has thus been epgendered,
which will not be easily removed, and will
serve each one as pretext for preventing the
success of the other in the Cincinnati Conven-
ton, which is rendered comparatively easy by
the two-third's 8 rule, which seems to be the es-
tablished law OF Democratic nominating bodies.
Pierce and Buchanan, being thus placed at
daggers' points, if they can do nothing else,
will be able to kill each other--a result which
Douglas, Hunter, Rusk and other aspirants
are evidently anticipating, and are therefore
holding back, expecting to glide in and carry
of the prize after these two great political he
roes have effected the ruin of one another.
Gen. Pierce, in his efforts to secure a re-
nomination, has boen laboring assiduously to
gain the aid of the slave power; and for this
purpose he has favored every measure that was
in any way calculated to advance Southern in
terests. The Nebraska swindlc was a pet of
the Administration; and in almost everything
connected with the Kansas difficulties he has
permitted his actions to be influenced fayora-
bly, to the Slayeocracy. His course produced
the anticipated effect in some Southern States;
in others, however, his abject subserviency ex-
cited some suspicion, and consequently he did
not meet with the desired success.
Meantime, the friends of ssPennsylvania's
fayorite son" had placed themselves in posi-
tion to s'watch the tide of opinion and to fish
at the food" Finding which way the wind
was blowing, and that Mr.. Pierce had been
dipping his net deep in the Southern waters,
they Immediately commenced throwing out
bait for the Slaveocracy to nibble at, and final
1y Mr.. Buchanan himself threw out a magniii-
cent 'sfly,'' in the shape of a letter, in which
he says that, since the Missouri compromise
line is gone, he s'vcrily believes that the best,
nay the only mode now left of putting down
the fanatical and reckless spirit of abolition at
the North is to adhere to the existing settle
ment without the slightest thought or appear
ance Of wavering, and without regarding any
storm which may be raised against it.'' BY
such a course, Mr.. Buchanan expects to gain
over to his interest a portion of the South;
but as his practices, as well as his professions,
have, in days gone by, been OF an exceedingly
problematical character, the Hotspurs may re-
gard with suspicion the artificial bait which is
thus thrown out to catch them.
Thus matters stand at the present, and the
meeting of tho Cincinnati Convention is look
cd forward to with much interest. Whether
its deliberations will result in the selection of
either of the individuals named, or whether.
as in the case of Pierce's nomination, they
will hunt up some obscure parsonage and pre-
sent him as the candidate of the great national
Democratic party, remains to be seen. Let
this be as it may, the country has the consola-
tion left that, whatever be the result, matters
cannot be made worse than they are now.