Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-10-04
4ailg Iir9iniau.
From the Louisville Journal.
Sketches of Some Of the Aspirants for tho
Charleston Nomination

Charleston Nomination.
On the long rol! of aspirants for the Charleston
nomination there are seven names that challenge
especial attention. Of these Kentucky furnishes
two, Virginia two, New York two, and Illinois
one, the most ",exed" Of the number. II is pro-
per enough to glance at each for moment, with
n view Of rcmarking generally not merely his
prospects but his fitness. We Of course shall be
very brief.
kentucky presents john c. Brelkinridge and
james Guthrie.
Mr. Breckenridge is widely and fay Jrably known
though not perhaps thoroughly understood ile
has risen rapidly to position through the favor of
the Democratic party, and still enjoys it's conf
dcnce yet his future is by no means clear. MIR.
b. in some degree lacks individuality. An clo'
quent aud effective public speaker II discreet and
Jealous par,isan an cxrerienced.spopular,n and
successful politician, hc possesses nevertheless no
well defined character asa statesman; and 1t IL
not at all certain that ho ever will possess any
Great personal exccllence.a noble and captivating
bearing handsome abilities, and the prestige Of
uninterrupted success in the path Of his ambition,
the main elements OF his strength with tho
people; but, whilst these arc not on my account
to be despsed it is in general the nnhappncss
OF him who relies On nothing highcror betcr that
he snoner later becomes the mere football OF
fortune, and is quite rs likely TO be kicked aside
~ to be kicked forward 10y the capriciuus jade
Whether fortune will continue true 10 Mr.. Breck-
inridge, or whether he will presently exhibit
qualities which may render him in II measure the
master of fortune instead of her creature remnins
to 10 seen. Our own opinion is that fortune has
grown tired of him. bewitching though he is, ind
that not all the charms OF his character and ui his
talents can conquer her hckleness. Too closely
mixed up with the heresy OF squatler-soNeroignty
to satisfy the Southern wing Of his party, and
too nearly aud Extensively allied with the Ad-
ministratiou to couciliate the favor of the North
his s..Iu E,r ihp t'hnr nnu
ton are exceedingly slender. Indeed, we do not
sec that his nomination could meet successfully
any one oi the numerous aud formidable cxigcn-
ces of his party.
Mr.. Guthrc's character as II statesman is pretty
sharply defined Its most prominent features arc
houcsty, moderation, aud economy, with II tolera-
bly, strong dash of conservatism generally. Mr..
Guthrie i, comparatively safe practical states
man Mt bil ant not learned, not profound
philosophical, not even gifted IN any high degree
with the lauulty oi reading aud oi governing mon
ho is II man Of solid Judgment and Of just and un-
wayering purpose. Nor aie h,s nyowed principles
wanting IN II certain conservative flavor, entirely
missing in tho formal creed ci his party. From
the point OF view We occupy, he is probably tho
least exceptionable Of all the nspirants ior the
Charleston nomination. And his chances of Oh
tanning it are not ~ slim rs they might be or rs
the chances ol some others are. The vote ot Penn
sylyani will IN 1860 be oi the first Importance to
the Democracy. and it is reasonable to suppose
that toe Chai lesion Convention will have IN eye
to tn securing of nnsylvana's vote. Now, IL
su happens tina, the chlci available difference be-
tween Mr.. Guthrie aud the most popular oi his
rll ais is that he might stnnd some chance OF car
| wing Pcnns kania aud they would stand mono in
tie world. Here is II signal and peculiar ndvan-
tagr which can hardly iall to give Mr.. u. fine
stail in the Couyt nton and which not improbably
may render him the triumphant asplraRt. AT all
evcns his case is not II hopeless one.
Nir.ll:,. Contributes Wise and Hunter to the
roll oi Democratic uspiran;s. Neither, we think,
stands TIE smallest Chance oi success in the Chnr-
lesion Convention. Wise at least is out of the
question. llalrbrained, rattleheaded, erratc,
sewllled mpracticable. fantastic, he Is as totally
unht for the vfhce as any man iii the nation, not
excepting largo portion Of the Inmates oi thc
mad houses. Happily hc is nearly rs unpopular
as he is unfit. Hunter is morally better balan-
ced and better regulated man than Wise but in
tellectualy he is scarcely less crochety aud un-
sound, with far less force compass, aud briliancy
Of thought. Under quiet, temperate, cautious,
respectable exterior. Hunter cunceals all the in
constancy of opinion all the vagares Of specula-
ton, all the bubbles and quiddities Of argument
and the subIciies Of creed which distinguish or
extinguish the true Virginia statesman. lie is
an abstractonist IN conservatives clothing. In
genious but not wise, critical but not creative,
Der but not sound, penetrating but not udielous,
acute but not sagacious, his proper function IN the
state is that Of clog checK, not that OF motor.
His mission asa public man is not to originate
measures of his own but to criticise those of 9TH
crs And there is no reason to believe TINT the
Charleston Convention will interfere with his
particular mission" His manifest inability to
command the hearty support of the Northern De-
mucracy puts end to his prospects, il they ever
had u beginning. We cannot foreseo the contin-
gency in which the Convention would be driven
to the nomination Of Hunter. In our opinion it
does not exist.
The fayories Of New York are Dickinson and
Seymour
Mr.. Dickinson though one of the original fricnds
of squatter sovereignty, to which he probably
still adhcres has been iavorably regarded by the
South in consequence Of his services in behalf of
the Compromise measures OF 1850. Recently his
consequence has grown principally out Of the
temporary divisions OF the New York Democracy,
with one of which has been identified as the lead
err. Now however that the division has subsided
almost completely and the consequence Of Mr..
Dickinson along with it. His importance was ne
yer ntrinscally great. lie is national in temper,
but his ability has been sadly ovcrrated. liepos-
sesses little dignity of character, and less
dignity of intellect. OF political insight lie
hasn't particle lie has no aptitude whateY
er for affairs. A good-hearted liberal.min-
DID, eecccntric old soul, with respectable
talents, pencti ated by generous infusion of rath
er coarse humor. he really has no more just pre-
tentions TO craftsmanship, practical or otherwise
than the veriest pcttiogger in the land. The idea
of enrolling Dapiel S. Dickinson among the states-
men of America is simply ridiculous. The idea
of nominating him for the Presidency is not like
ly to cross the Charleston Convention mind.
Mr.. Seymour s n man OF different stamp. We
arenot sure, that taking all things into considera-
tion he is not the superior OF every other Of
the seven. In intellectual character and address
he samew hat. resembles aIr. Breckinridge. Like
Mr.. B., he is ready. eloquent, and telling public
sneaker and like him. again. he is cfcar-hcaded