New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
sPECtIATIoNs IN DEMOCRATIC QUARTERS RE-
sPECTISG THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.
Fran, an Occasional Correspondent.
WASUINCJoE March 81 1850

SpecOiauOls IN r. GARD 10 tce man MOST likely 70
be named for the Presidency by thu Charleston
Convention, are doubtless among the most profit
less pursuits, Nevertheless they are as important
the aeerage Of the current thought which circu-
lates in and around this go.sipiuP intriguing cspi
ts alSays filled to repletioD with fashionable id ,Is,
political charlatans and managers, aud rogues of
all sorts.
Probably, at this present writing, the chances of
Mr.. Douglas are waning. A month or six weeks
ago, his star seemed to be in the ascendant. The
terror of the South at the John Brown raid had its
legitimate effect upon the representatives. of peO-
pie who, according to one of their eminent states
men, "sleep always upon Volcano" Some of
them determined that, in the coming contest, they
would bestOw the principal place on their ticket
upon none but man "native, and to the manner
"boTn," i. e. Shareholder. Others fearing that
such q course would result in del vcrng the South
into the hands Of the Republican Philistines, in
whose prisOn-bOuse the negro propaganda must
pine for four years, unless, SamsOnlke, 1T resOrted
10 the desperate dilemma of pulling down the pill.
lars of the Constitution, deemed it wiser to select
for the Democratic nominee Northern man whom
the shareholders could trust, and who would stand
some chance of an election.
Three names instantly presented themselves to
the consideration of the South in this connection
Dickinson Lane, and DOuglas-an each has for
weeks past been the subject of anxious cOgitation
among the politicians, permanent and transient,
who cOngregate in Washington.
Dickinson is as reputable in mental and moral
character as the average of Presidential candidates.
He was true TO the g national" dOgmas of the De-
mOcracy when its present leaders in New-Y0rk
were building the Buffalo Platform and placing the
WilmOt ProvisO at the head of the corner of that
famous structure. Throughout the defections ofthat
period, extending several years, and again at
later day, when Richmond, Van Buren,, and Ludlow
were denOuncing the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise be kept the faith and followed the fortunes
of the party. So, too, during the rule Olthe Pierce
Marcy Administration, when every man suspected of
friendship for the SusquehaIna Sage, was either
refused Office or elected from place, Dickinson kept
on the even tenor of his way. And, bitterest
draught of all, when the Buchanan Cobb Admins
istraiion which be and his Hard cohort at Cincin-
natl had elevated over the heads of the Pierce
Douglas Soft Coalition, turned its back upon him
and gave the hand of fellowship to his hereditary
enemies in New York-eyen then, mindful of his
old pledges, Dickinson altered not in his fidelity to
the South. But, all through this pending prelimi-
nary canvass in regard to Charleston, Dickinson
has encountered three obstacles: First he resides
in State that is hOpeessly lost to the Democracy;
Second, ne is not the acknowledged leader of the
dominant faction of the party in that State; and,
Third be is the victim on the one hand, of the hyp-
ocIitca friendship and the other, he is the butt
of the merciess contempt, of eheftains of that fac
top. Nevertheless, though these opposing forces
will pretty certainly block up his way to the first
place on the ticket, combination is talked of. and
may be effected, to give him the second. Indeed,
in the event of the selection of Southern man for
President, MIR. DickinsOns chances for nomination
as Vice Pres dent are not desperate.
Joe Lanes stock is now below par. He has
some prestige as Western pioneer, and he at
Buena Vista. The Southern enemies Of Douglas,
should the star of the Great Squatter Sovereign
loom pOrtentiOus over the Convention, may in their
desperation, try to rally of the North Western
delegates upon the Oregon Senator. The slave
holders despse Lane He is a coarse man, and,
Ike Uriah Heep, is too tumble in his officiating
proclyities to suit their fastidious tastes. Upon
the subject of Slave Code for the Territories, they
do not fancy the eagerness with which he assents to
the new dogmas. Like the candidate for holy
ORDERS who was ready 10 subscribe to the Thirty
Nine Articles, and Forty, if you WISH" he is so
prompt to adopt any creed that will enable him TO
doff the gown, that the fathers of the Democratic
Church are in doubt whether he is a sincere be-
liever or an arrant hypOcrie. If Sdell, Davis, and
other leaders of the Ultra South, can put Douglas
to death without calling in the aid Of Lane, he will
pretty surely not be installed as their chief at
Charleston.
Upon Douglas, therefore, all eyes are turned as
the most probable Northern candidate. He is bit
nant of men and most prO6igate of politicians John
sidel. Day and night he plOds and deves to un-
dermine him. Not q prominent politician of the
North and West arrives here, but instantly he is
approached by some emissaTy Of the anti. Douglas
cabal of which the arch Louisiana Senator is tie
cOgitatng brains and the animating soul And if his
hope in the success Of Douglas at Charleston does
not speedily give place to doubt, and his doubt soon
lapse into despair, then his mental composition
nust he n rare compound of buOVancy and infieXi-
bility.
Mr. Jefferson Davis is also engaged in the task
Of demolishing Douglas. AdrOit, bland in manner,
but with o heart which knows no fear, and will
that overeaps or works through all obstacles with
out firing Mr.. Davis is trying to make himself the
favOrite of that portion of the South who go into
the Convention determined to have their way, If
many threats and much toll can accomplish 1t, but
resolved to stand by the result and make the best of
it if defeated He is the author of the recent Sena-
torial caucus resolutions in regard to Slavery.
These authoritative dOgmas breathe most intense
Southern sentiment but yet intended by their
acute and skill full author to hit the medium between
the radical Calhoun doctrines, so ostentaiously
proclaimed by WISE The Charleston Mercury, and
the di,cpes of that faith on the one hand and the
Popular Sovereignty latitudinariansm of Douglas
and his followers in the North and West, on the
other. OF course, Davis, if he hopes to prevail,
must defeat Douglass and to that extent he sympa-
thizes with his enemies, and joins hands with them
in irving to overthrow him at Charleston. STILL he
is not so bitter as Slidell, combining bis opposition
wholly TO public grounds, while Slidclls enmity Is
both personal and political. Unqestonably Mr..
Douglas encounters serious obstacles, and which he
finds il extremely difficult, if not impossible, to
overcome in the opposition of so cunning and mag-
nant tactician as John Slidell, and so acute and
determined politician as Jefferson Davis.
T. ,,,ssiuo ~ rnau no remarked that Mr. DaVIH