New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-03
FROM WASHINGTON.


The strong sense and frankness of the views
expressed in THE TRIBUNE on Tuesday concerning
"the Presidency in 1860" have made most IA
v0rable impression here all shades of the OppO-
silon, and have been generally welcomed, except
by the Democracy, who see in the policy so dis
creety inculcated the certain doom of their party.
and the utter extinction of all the Shams and dema-
goguism by which it has been supported through
an almost uninterrupted domination of thirty years.
1t is well at this time and in advance of the
coming struggle, to look the future squarey in the
face, and to confront contingencies which loom up
in the distance before the eye of every scrutioizng
observer. BY such prudeDce We may guard against
errors which have already east the country dearly.
and through which only the present imbecile and
corrupt Administration attained power.
Without revivng any questions of personal pref.
ercnce, the fact is admitted all sides nov (Which
was perfectly clear to some of us in 1867 that it
Judge Mclean, or some such man, had been then
nominated, Mr.. Buchanan could NOS have been
elected. 1t may be true that portion Of the
Democratic strength which cO0perAted with
that occasion might have depleted. But that at
best is presumption, and net very cred'tab!e to
the principles of those who were to be 80 easily d.
verted. Admitting it, however and it only effect.
ed maiorites aud not results. On the other hand
New.J Jersey, PcDnsy lvana, Delaware, Maryland,
Indiana and Illinois would have been secured, with
a respectable, if not controlling, vote III Ken
lucky and Teuns ssec, and representative strength
in other Southern States. With all the advantage OF
the strongest popular issue ever presented to tee
county, III the repeal OF the Missouri Compr0-
u,ise al d a fresh candidate, We were beaten aud
simply for the want vi reasonable Cancellation. lt
I.ouirei no effort but the selection at d candidate
uoi suppose -wbether rightly or wrongly dues not
| become me to determine-tO represent peculiar
| inter, ST. To have had MIR. Fillmore withdrawn from
the canvass, and trantfrr his influence to united
| Oppcs tim. The concession was refused, aud de-
| feat followed. The controlling spirits elt too san
| euine and strong They repealed 0yertures. They
declined t. heal reason aud they threw away the
| election. Let us hope that they and Others will
| profit BY that bitter instruction.
We ore now approaching another Presidential
contest and us ain as in 1856, there is sure pros
pect of success if the simple wisdom OF sry-day
| affairs be addressed to its management. The Ad-
| u,iuistrut,on has 6eInorazcd aud damaged the De-
mncracy; but whoever supposes that toe present
condition of things i'll continue after the nOmlna
ton at Charleston must have forgotten the history
an6 traditions ofthat party. They viii find some mode
of uniting apo though tens of thousands who have
hbAndoped il from hsuest conviction will return no
more, a compact will be presented the day u
candidate is named. Mark the prediction and mark
| also, that the Convention will pass no platform
for the prohibition of Slavery in the Territories,
while they viii pass double faced platform which
will admit Douglas and the South 10 stand shoulder
10 shoulder, as they cOntessedly did on the Ne
brasha bill-accOroing TO the revelations IN the
s, nate last sessi0a-each asserting lts own con-
s,tuc,iou and making the most %, that iuterpIeta-
ton for home consumption. As for Buchanan he
will be set aside even more humlatingly than
TYLER was aud, he him. will live 10 see his own
oficehol5ers shouting more Justify than anybody
else for the candidate who shall have superseded
him.
No matter who may be nominated, we have the
clements of victory in our hands, If they are bat
wisrh directed. They may be scattered aud squau
dered as on the last memorable occasion, The
Democracy want but one cry against US, and
that is Sectionasm." To them il is, and ever
has been a sh bboleth of strength. To us l Iced
| not say what il has proved All these suggestions
simply resolve themselves into the plain proposition,
Whether the Opposition shall unite on candidate
| through whom success Will be made certain. or,
| with excess of confidence, shall demand another
no suunder on the great issues ar stake, and thus
| render il doubtful. IL might be considered lnyid-
ious 10 introduce illustrative names, SO they are
purposey suppressed; but they will readily sug-
cest themselves 10 whoever feels Interested IN the
| subject
There are those who will say, that rather than
WELD apy point il is better to bidc the tune when
nothing short of strictly representative mau aud De
intensified can be elected. That Is just the sort OF
| Iccic the Democracy want, and b. which Mr.
Bnchspan was carried into the Presidency, when in
an actual minority of nearly half a million Of
| votes They are the most earnest advocates now
of those who are classed as uitras, because
they know that without such nominstion' mere
car hc no r, Al contest If we look calmly at the
Iarge vote in New.lo K, Connecticut. Ne~-Jersey
Penusylyanis Inoisna and Illinois, conssitut-
| jns. az Il were. a balance of power, not idenl-
| fed with the Kepuelican organisation, but sym
pathizi1g with its principles, aud de'iriGS 10 10
cooperate in the c-mIng contest, mere WIN 20
.nnnd a nractcnl rcasop, why tbs lEterest staH Ie