The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-30
PresSdeneSal Aspas ants,

1t lie at oLce amusing and interesting to note
the movements that have been started all over
the country to bring prominently before the
public this that or the other patriot and states
man as candidate for the Presidency. Not
half Of the term for which The present incum-
bent of that Office was elected has expired, and
yet there is hardly aSIate in the Union that has
not had one or more of its most distinguished
men put forward for the succession. II may be
that there is some Importance attached to the
advantage Of being fret in the field; but surely
the history of Presidential nominations should
suffice to show the fallacy Of such an idea, aud
should rather suggest the policy Of preserving
silence as to expectant candidates. Still, how
ever, public opinion, disregardful Of such ques
tons OF expcdiency, lie making itself heard in
advance Of caucuses and conventions. The
press everywhere throughout the country is dis
cussng the claims and merits OF the popular
politicians Of the respective localities; and ac-
cording to all appearances, these gentlemen,
who are thus early in the field, viii be so COM
pletely dsfeured by the iDiudicious handling
Of friends and the ruder treatment Of foes that
there will he nothing left OF their political
standing or reputation by the time Of the a.
sembliDg OF the Charleston Convention aud Of
the other nominating conventions.
Perhaps the most notorious specimens that
we can pretent Of the candidates whose fale il
Is to be so carly subjected to this disGguring
and destructive process, are Douglas and Wise
as connected with the democracy, and Crittenden
and Seward ss affiliated with the Know No
things and black republicans. The first two have
been prominent, ever since the last Cincinnati
Convention, for their undisguiscd designs upon
the succession; and though we have been in
formed that there is a secret understanding
between the two 10 lend each 10 the other his
influence, as circumstances may require, there
Is even behind that q determination on the part
Of each to get the nomination for himself II
possible. What chance either Of them has 20
zee bis ambition gratiied, Il Il for the future 10
determine. Present appearances are decidedly
too, that they occupy almost identical positions
in their respective sections. Wise stands to day
just the same In the South as Douglas in the
North-that IL, the fidelity Of each to his own
section Of the Union IL more than suspected;
and their common infdelity to the democratic
party, on the question of Kansas, IL altogether
100 fresh and too glarng to be overlooked when
he rewards Of party service come to be meted
out.
II Douglas is stlgmatized at the North by the
party be deserted, o. well as by those who are
always afTrighted at the bugbear Of Southern
aggression, he is no lees condemned at the
South by the moderate men, Bs well as by the
ultrsists of that section and so he is likely 20
give a practical illustration, in bis own person.
Of the truth Of the adage as TO coming TO the
grouEd between two stools The regular dis
oiplnarians end veterans Of the democratic
party North will not be disposed TO look
leniently Of his acts Of characterization and
Tie free soil wing Of the party viii hardly
swallow bis squatter sovereignty doctrines and
bisendorsemen, OF The bred Scott decision with |
the extremists Of the soRth he bias sll less chance
OF favor; and even those who are not extremists |
VIII Ind II hard 10 give countenancc to one
who abandoned tie policy Of bis party In res
rect TO measure which Il was supposed would