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


change.
The Presidential Questionable SqunbbIing
Party Managers OF the Day, and Their
Candidates.
We are glad to perceive, in various quarters,
growing disposition amoug our political cotem
poraries Of the newspaper press to enter freely
into the discussion Of the claims of their party
leaders respectively who are in the field for the
honors and spoils of the next Presidency. Here
tofore it has been the practice of the party press
to remain mum, awaiting the authority to speak
from the oracle of some local caucus or Con-
gressional clique or national convention of party
managers. Now, there is prospect that these
cipated and superseded by general newspaper
and public overhauling of each and all the can
didates in training for the Presidential Derby.
In this view we call the attention of our readers
to the curious and suggestive Presidential article
which we transfer to these columns from that
ancient party disciplinarian, the Richmond En-
q,arr.
1t thus appears that the Virginia democracy,
at their Richmond headquarters, have two strings
to their bow-the Enquirer and the Examiner;
that the former is first and last for Governor
Wise rs the true man for the democracy in 1860,
while the latter organ is rather in favor of the
policy, on the part of the Virginia chivalry, of
dropping all the pretensions of The Old Domin-
ion for the bonors of the succession, because of
the apparent impossibility of combining the State
delegation to Charleston upon any one of her
half dozen Presidential aspirants According TO
the Examiner, the Southern aspirants who have the
vantage ground of all the virginians are Jeffer
son Davis Slidell, Breckenridge, Cobb and Ham
mond. Three of these are set down as objection
able-Sldell who is cast aside as " a dangerous
man." an I" adroit political manager" "magi-
cian," sleight of hand Herr Anderson in politi-
cal diplomacy" and Davis and Hammond, as
instances Of a too sudden conversion from ap-
parent sectionalism." The other two, how
ever-Cobb and Breckinridge-are rolled up in
lavender, rs marvelously available Moreover,
the Examiner leans to the idea that Virginia has
had her full share of Presidents thus far, and
ought to stand back now, and give her less fortu-
nate Southern sisters chance.
The Enquirer, on the other hand, evidently I'M
derstands the meaning of all this beating about
the bush. 1t is levelled at Governor Wise; and
it is refreshing to witness that his vigilant organ
is keeping a sharp lookout for all such snakes
in the grass. Very well. Let the fight go on.
Let the claims Of every candidate, of every
party, of every State, be fully canvassed in adj
vance; and then, in the work Of packing the
party Convention, there will at least be show
of fair play. But we have our misgivings of the
availability for the succession of any OF the
democratic leaders known to be in the field. The
party has been rent into pieces, and is now
represented by three divisions-the national
conservative division, supporting the administra-
ton; the Northern free soil popular sove-
reignty" division, whose champion il Mr.
Douglas; and the Southern ultra pro-slavery
division of fre-eaters, flibusters, nullifers and
@isunionists :.
|" Taking this lat Of Southern candidates, to
wit -Breckinridge Wise, Hunter, Cobb, Slidell
Davis Toombs, Stephens aud last, though not
least, Hammcnd-what chance is there for a
democratic fusion upon any one Of them at
Charleston? VIII any one of them particularly
acceptable to the South be at all acceptable to the
free soil Northern Douglas democracy? Or can
any man among them fratcrnizing with Douglas
be made the basis of a Southern reconciliation
The administration wing Of the party In any
general reunion, must be the basis of the treaty
ofpeace, for the simple reason that this wing
| will hold The intermediate ground between the
two extremes. Since the late war declaration of
| Douglas, however, ii is clear that all hopes of
treaty of peace at Charleston must be dismissed,
except upon his recognition by the Convention as
the great chief Of the party and II is equally
evident that this recognition is entirely out Of
| the question.
Thus we dispose Of this catalogue Of Southern
candidates. Senator Hammond who occupies
the most coDspicuously conservative position of
them all would be fouted by the flre-eatng lana
gers OF his own section; Wise is fatally identified
with Douglas; the same, perhaps, may be said of
Breckenridge; Hunter will be killed off by Wise;
Cobb has no substantial footing; Slidel has none,
and that Northern journey Of Jefferson Davis has
chilled him TO the bones Next, looking TO the
North the first available representative Of
democratic nationality DIR. Buchanan, will
be out Of the arena. Bat Douglas as
pires to take his place, and Bright Is moving
heaven aud earth, and tho waters under the