Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-16
Isit So: And If So, Why:

Is it So : And If So, why:
That Presdent-making has become permanent en-
povme Mt in the United States few will doubt. The
secont Congress of every Administration appears to
consdea itself charged with double duty-the first
and most important being the manufacture OF public
opinion with reference to the chances OF the next
Presidential campaign, and the second and less I'M
pOrtant being the passage of some appropriation bills
necessary to carry on the Government, and make
political capital.
Even already the note of preparation has begun to be
sounded and Nathan Sargent a newspaper correSpon-
dent and veteran wirepuer has been setting on 1901
what he calls the Union Party with the view OF defeat
ing the Democracy and eectng somebody to the Presi
dency who will give Mr.. Sargent and his friends
chance at the public pap. The Union party is to be
composed of all that want to turn out the Democracy
No matter how much they may differ on other things,
opposition to the Democracy is to be the only essential
dogma in the creed Of the Sect OF which Mr. Crit
tenden, of Kentucky, is to be the prophet Mr. Crit
tenden by Encouragement opened the ball on his way
home from Washington City by somewhat circuitous
route.
It is said that there are thirty other persons
talked about for the Presidency, and some go SO far as
to expect scrub race general scramble, irrespective
of party lines Something of that kind has been lore
told so often without coming to pass, that we nave
lost faith in the prophets Parties will consolidate into
form and shape-the lines of distinction will be drawn
and the contest in 1860 will virtually be narrowed
down to two porties-Democracy and the opposition
to Democracy.
But the strangest and most unaccountable thing a
bout this scramble for the Presidency the real or
supposed importance assigned to 1t IN the business
world Immediately pending Presidential election
there certainly is always pause in commercial trans
actions and general stir after the contest has been
decided no matter how that decision has resulted
During the contest between General jackson and the
Bank this sagnaton was fairly attributed to the man
uvres of that institution in creating pecunary strn-
gency for effect in the pending contest the hard times
being charged upon jackson and the Democratic party
The same class OF operations have been at times rscred
to by the manufacturing capitalists to create outcry
of distress only to be relieved by the powerfully cura-
tive properties of protective Tariff. Both Bank and
Tariff have been obsolete ideas for some time, still there
appears to exist in the popular mind some mysterious
and potent connection between the revival OF business
and the decision of presidential contest Strangely
enough begin to say that the present sagnaton in
business will pass away until the contest of 1860 has
been settled or arranged; at least until denominations
of the different parties have been made.
Is this so? If so, why should it be so? Is there
any good reason for it?
To be sure, some ancient and most fossil gentlemen
who never forget anything and never learn anything,
are trying to make great outcry in favor of pro-
lection but this really amounts to nothing, and no.
body expects to witness a return to that exploded
system any moro than to see the Sub-Treasury
law repealed Or United States Bank establish
ed There is time for everything, and the time for
Tariffs, etc., has passed.
Why, then should the Presidential election exert
any influence on business No marked change is an
ticpatcd in our revenue Or financial system calcula
ted to exert favorable unfayorable influence upon
commercial enterprises Yet Presidential elections do
exert such inluence--they do occasion pause-engh
en- stagnatiOns, and postpone revivals OF trade
This must be DUE in some degree, at least to grow
ing sense of political rather than commercial insecurity
Even unconscousy to ourselves feel that the peace
of the country and the permanency of her institutions
might be disastrousy affected by the occurrence of con-
tiDgencies not impossible nor in the opinion of some
at all improbable The contest for the Presidency by
arousing all the latent elements of dscord points out to
us our danger i'll striking manner than at any
other time and is regarded with much interest afford
ing test of the relative strength Of the conservative and
revolutionary elements in the country Lately this feel
ing has grown stronger and its influence become more
tangible.
Still we must regard the assignment OF any existing
stagnaton, or the protracon thereof to the coming
contest of 1860 altogether premature. People in
debt and are sailing close to the wind to get straight