The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-21
Presidency Of the United States.

Presidency OF the United states.
The London Times has an article on the proba-
BILE policy of the President elect, with this atter-
ing interrogatory:
"Who would not be the President of the United
Statesf-the choice of nation of freemen, the oh
ject of most Infinite care socitude and contention
to 27,000000 of the most intelligent of the human
race the object at which every man g finger points
the topic on which every mans tongue descants-
raised above bis fellow men by no accident of
birth, by no mere superiority OF wealth, but by
the presumed fitness of bis personal qualities for
one of the most elevated situations that man
may be called upon to fill"
Remarking in advance, that we intend no slIu.
sion to the President elect-politics being out Of
our province--we are rather of opinion that dis
lance lends enchantment to the view" which the
Times takes of this subject. If Col Benton's ac-
connt of the consuming cares, responsibilities and
tolls of the Chief Magistrate of the United States
be correct there are few who would not agree
with the veteran Missouri politician in declaring
that the Pres iental Office is thing not to be coveted
for ones self or ones friend The flower of success
which, in no department of life can be pucked
without oeing pierced by the sharp prickles with
which envy and detraction surround it, becomes
in the case of the President crown of thorns, and
{ he potent ruler, who present so pleasing an
the painful tolls and perpetual perplexities of his
proud position. Some of our Presidents, who
have survived the storm of battle, broke down
and died beneath the cares of State, and others
have left the White House prematurey grey, and
have soon found resting place in the grave.
The path to the Presidency is as trying and ter
rible as the bright but burning goal to which it
leads. The nominee for that position, whilst the
subject of the most exaggerated and fulsome lau-
dations by his friends, is the victim of the most
universal and insane abuse by his enemies He
IL the target at which every puny politician of
every city ward and every country road hurls
a malignant arrow, and which every rowdy press
IS privileged to rail at with the reckless black
guardism. Every imprudence and folly of his life,
from the hour Of his childhood is raked up and ex
aggerated into black aud damning crime, and
thousand villeiuies invented for the occa SON.
and used with little scruple as artillerymen
hurl their iron hail into the ranks of an enemy
Misrepresentation and SANDER are considered by
many legitimate weapons in Pre- Sidential contest
1t Is idle to say that they only intended to serve
the purposes CT a campaign. Even if the end Jus
titled the means, and if lying and libel were stricts
ly in accordance with the laws of God and the laws
of true honor, their effect does not pass away with
the occasion upon which they are used. Thew
cast dark shadow upon the victory Ii lighted brow
OF the President elect, and they make an indelibe
impression upon the minds OF the rising genera
ton, many of whom carry to their graves false
and degrading ideas of the character of public
man, which had their origin in the polluted breath
of party defamation. There are, we doubt not,
many men now in their prime, whom the coffin
handful stories convinced that Jackson was
second Nero. and others who believe that Henry
Clay was really guilty of bargain and corruption and
who cannot shake off the conviction fastened upon
the plastic mind of childhood, notwithstanding the
amends which the political antagonists of both these
great men have since endeavored to make to their
memories.
The Times is equally mistaken in supposing that
the President OF the United States is necessarily
the choice OF nation of freemen, or of majority
of the nation, or even of respectable minority of
It. He is elected, Ii Is true, by majority, but
chosen by political Convention, who often, after
scenes of intrigue and corruption well calculated
to bring ipfamy upon the very name of repub-
cauism. nominate the candidate, andthen the party
must obev. or NO to the rebel and the traitor who
dare raise the standard Of revolt! The people of
this country have often as little to do with the
eaoics of = Presi lent, or even with members of
Congress, or State officials, Is the people of France
win the elevation of Louis Napoleon, Like them,
they register at the polls decree which others have
mads, and that is all,
The Times may be right in its idea that our
Presidents are elected on account of their "pre.
sGsssd illness" for the station. The remark modi,
Aed by the presumption-and in the case of some
Of them . vast amount of that commodity ID re-
xss}p be- TnkIx> n.