The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-11
TIFF PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.

THF PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.
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The Outstanding Democratic a..s Candidates
from the Richmond ENQUIRER, in reply 10 the Richmond
Examiner
THE EXAMINER THINKS THAT ALL VIRGINIA As
PIRAHTs MUST BE EXCLUDED FROM COMPETITION
BEFORE THE CHARLESTON CoNvENTI0N-THE Ex-
AMINER is SORRY FOR 1T, OF COURSE.
The leading article Of the Examiner Of Tuesday last s
much more easily understood than explained AS seems
TO emb0dy something like move the chess board
Of Presidential aspirations ana since despite its charac
.erstc length may easily be condensed we think II
Enquirer
The Numiner credits the rumor that Senator Douglas
has declined 10 be candidate in $780, thus leaves the
held clear for Southern asprans undsturbed by North
ern competition The justice Of this assumption is
maps, questionable. The Little Giant has made public
of intention and unless such an
nouncement shall be made, he will, undoubtedly, carry
much strength 70 the Charleston Convention.
The main burden, however, Of the Examiners article
consists oil demonstration that II is very improbable that
Virginia will furnish the candidate of 1860 We are first
informed Of fact, which, II IL wants the spice of novelty,
may at least be regarded automatic under the const
tuition Of the United States, viz that te field from which
to select Ia Presidential nominee is not confined 10 vir-
gina" Moreover the idea that vrgna is the only slave
State with statesmen of the proper Presidential dimen
sons is s'popuar delusion OF very dangerous charac
ter" The Examiner also announces that Virginia has
less than five ~ Presidential asprants in the field while
Mississippi Louisiana, Kentucky Georgia and South Caro-
lima have but one piece each OF whom viii be "the en-
ihusiastc and unanimous choice OF his own State.'
This, the Examiner thinks, looks ominous; for ga
candidates for the Presidency, stands poor
chance against State presenting single Candidate who
commands the enthusiastic support OF the whole state
Convention The Examiner evidently does not think
that this objection to Virginia statesmen can be met by
the fact that some of them command the choice of
majority Of delegates and thus be entitled by the
dons Of history and the unbroken usage of Virginia
democracy TO receive the vote of the State unit As
for the possibility OF Virginia asprant being the anan
choice OF the delegation, the Examiner considers 1t
contingency entirely too remote TO enter into the cacu
lat0n.
miner, have the vantage ground of all Vrgnians, are
Messrs. Davis, Sdcli, Breckenridge Cobb and Ham
mond Three out OF the I'VE, however, our cotempo
rary presents Liable TO some except on Mr.. Sl:de
is a dangerous man. "dexterous and adrot poiit
cal manager'ia magician "a sicignt OF hand " Herr
Anderson Of political diplomacy who, albeit be pos
more wariness than all the foxes of Samson,'
must conooct very sudden aud mysterious strate
gyr before he can floor his enemies Sce ana Ben ia
min" Indeed, the Examiner is by no means compimeo
tary towards Senator Sidel. Asor Davis aud Hammond
they described fun nishng instances of very sod
den conversion from apparent sectonaisn, and
bic only the grouno that they have recently atens
fed go rapidly and ehementy in their conservatism and
nationality
The Eaminer fluids in the Gulf States alto
gether free from oblecion The astute ana sagacioes
Cobb, OF Georgia With bis nationality OF ancient da'e and
bis present orthodoxy oo the tarii question: VINO WIZ
probably loom in Charleston the unanimous choice OF
the great State of Georgia. state in population aad re-
sources fast gaining on Virginia"
The Examiner finds vet another unexcepoulblc cand
date Turning to the SoUhveste States Breck'nriee,
the popular Vice President with hands unsoed By Kan
sas Guarrels ~ already attracts the attention OF the de-
mocracy Of Che entire West. The nvarabe siccss OF
that young statesman bis conservatism hs unb"unded
personal popularity, his brilliant In Congress- bis
trumphs Kentucky and his admirable private virtues,
place him high upon the lists of probable Candidates"
Apart from the assumed superiority OF position main
tanned by Messis Cobb and Breckenridge, the Examiner
has yet another objection 10 Virginia aspirants Viz
gna has already been five times hcDore in the enjoyment
OF Presidential honors and oar Contemporary seems m
cned to favor the policy Of AN equal division OF Pres
dents among the States. We must admit that II such
policy is to prevail, the present and the next five
q
Guided from Presidential aspirations. 1t is fair To presume
that within the next 64 years the Union will include at
least fifty States Give to each state 1--WE Presidents of
each, aud subtract from these the nine Prcs,-
dents already furnished by States other than Virginia. the
result will be that Virginia must wait at least 1874 years
before she furnish another President. appy Is the
whose father has gone to the devil has already be-
Examiner, ard will have converse maxim, to
the eIect-WO o the politicians whose ancestors have
done honorable service to the nation -
The Examiner further that there have been d.s
sensons and factions which have for two years past d.
mnished the influence and contributed to dsorganze the
party in this Stateand asserts that this Is TO be attr
buted entirely to the "eagcrness of the Virginia de-
mocracy secure for some distinguished statesman of
Virginia the nomination Of the national democracy the
Charleston Convention The inference obviously intend
ed is that Virginia democrat for their own good ought
to abstain from such noxious "eagerness'
The Examiner also deprecatcs the Intervention OF per
sona preferences" In the choice OF Presidential cand
dates. Our contemporary does not, however, lay down
any rule by which this supposed evil can be avoided In
deed 1t puzzles US, also to discover such rule. When
two represent the political principles it
TO the who can most ably enforce these principles
And, supposng and principles TO be equal all round
we can't for the lite OF us, see how personal preferences
TO be excluded unless il shall be found expedient for
the good people of the nation TO stand undecided like the
famous who divided his attention between two bundles
OF hay.
From all the foregoing considerations however, the
Examiner deduces the conclusion that nless Virginia
present to the Charleston Convention another Jcfer
son, Madison Monroe such considerations will have
their weight And the Examiner evidently abors under
the apprehension shat Virginia can't present thing ike
another Jefferson, Madison or Monroe Indeed our
temporary seems disposed TO consider our surviving
statesmen all "seeond chop'-that, too, while South
Carolina offers candidate "evcry way equal 10 the ia
mented Calhoun"
Now from all this thoughtlcss readers would ifnmed-
aely conclude that the hraDner is unfrendly to the
Presidential nomination Of Virginia states How
easy IL TO mistake the spirit Of great thinker when his
profound cogtaons are forced through the imperfect me
dum of wri,.enswords Recognizing the weakness OF hui
perception sagacious contemporary takes good
to prevent such msappreenson Fully conscious OF the
enormy Of the offence in view OF the present requ O.
ments OF national safety the Examiner frankly pleads
guilty TO strong desire, that should tue selection Of
the democratic candidate be made from the slave States
il should be made from Virginia."
We share the guilt, II guilt there be. Our DESIRE
though perhaps much less ardent than that of the Era
ner lies precisely in the same direction.
Supposbg us 10 be brethren in sin VIC appeal to
contemporary, who understands the nature OF the evil
much better than we do, to point out means By
which IL can be avoided Verify more III the
dark here than the .'personal preference
question. The Examiner ntDates that the friends of
Messrs Wise and Hunter arc all too eager for the nomna
ton of their respective favories Indeed, cotempo
rary expressly states that the ardent desire for Vr
gnia President @ is shared by every democrat
in the State How to shake OFF all
these democrats from their misguided ncnatons !?
Shall persuade them 10 agree to take up
ceptionable outside Avoritcs All tear that If
the name Of Breckenridge of Cobb urged upon
them, both Wise and Hunter would much more srin
gently oppose the setting aside Of both their lea ers for
the sake of an extra Virginan ttpa quid than WISE
Hunter either have opposed the claims OF either yr
gina statesman to the nomination
Can persuade the Virginia democracy to stand aoof
candidate without any reference whatever 70 Virginia
preferences II can persuade them TO this ought
we TO do in Would not such position Of rnistery IN
activity mt deprive Virginia OF all the Ooasted
national influence Of which contemporary liz right.
cously JEALOUSY
We cannot for the life Of US, way through the
problem II il Is really necessary as the Eramner ndi
Gates To throw Wise and Hunter overheard how shall II
be done? QUO mode! Our neghbor must instruct
The Slave Trade.
DION the Minsboro g. % Register, Jan 3.