The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-14

ton. He must not show the white feather at
this stage of the battle. In trip over into
Kentucky he has a glorious invitation to distin-
guish himself, and he should at once cross the
Rubicon and vindicate his faith In the freedom
Of speech by his example.
A Reconnaissance OF che Political Field.
We present to our readers in another part of
to-day's HERALD chapter of political cores
pondence received from different portions of
the country, and giving different views in re-
gard TO the chances of the various contending
parties in this Presidential canvass. These let
tiers profess to reveal the state of public opin-
ion in Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina, Mis-
souri,, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and
New York and as they are not written in the
exclusive interest Of any party, neither from a
Breckenridge, Douglas, Bell, nor Lincoln point
of view, they merit attention, and should be
seriously pondered over in the present critical
point Of our national history,
From Virginia we have a series of letters
That of our correspondent at the White Sui
phur Springs gives some remarkable generali-
2ations of the condition of affairs in that State,
and Of the state Of public opinion in the South.
His deductions are: that the South is deter
mined 10 take care of and put down its own
disorganizers, and leave to the Northern con-
scrvatives a similar duty with their own.
Should the North fail to perform its duty to
the Union, then, and not till then, will the
South resist. Our correspondent gives us q
notable declaration of Governor Letcher on
this subject.
From others we learn that it is proposed or
contemplated that the two State conventions,
which meet on the 10th inst-the Douglas one
at Staunton and the Breckenridge one at Char
lotteville-should drop both Presidential can
didates and put q new man in nomination,
calling upon the democracy throughout the
Union to sustain number three and let num-
bers one and two go by the board OF like
character is the suggestion which comes from ST.
Marys county, Maryland, to let Douglas and
Breckenridge slide, and to take up aud elect
with furore the venerable Chief Justice
fancy, standing on the bred Scott decision in
lieu of platform.
fit were done, when It's done, then 'twere well
Il were done quickly
It would give some life to the contest If such
mine as this were sprung upon the black re-
publican ranks. Our Virginia correspondent
assures us that in no other way can fusion be
brought about, and that, with the poor prospect
of such thing taking place, the Bell and Eve
rett men in that State are in great glee..
There are two letters from Chicago, in
one Of which "Long John Wentworth" as the
man is popularly known, is represented as
being the only candid and sincere representa-
tive of republican principles, inasmuch as he
proclaims the most undying hostility to the in.
stitution of slavery, while Lincoln, and those
who prefer expediency to principle, are pro-
Tossing conservatism and devotion to the
constitution, in obedience to Hamlet's advice
TO assume a virtue, If you have it not"
The other Chicago letter represents Long
John as guilty of the basest treachery towards
Lincoln, and attributes to his desire to defeat
Honest Abe" the bitterness which he now
exhibits to the South. These Western poll
ticians are so difficult to comprehend, and have
SO little honest principle at heart, that no allie
cation of trickery attributed to them is in
credible. Let Long John settle it, however,
with Honest Old Abe in their own way, SUBJ
ject only to the constitution of the United
States.
From North Carolina we are informed that
the prospects of either Breckenridge or Douglas
pearances the Bell and Everett ticket will have
1--WE thousand majority in the Old North State.
Our st. Louis correspondent gives some facts
about the Blair and Barrett contest, and modest
ly ventures on the prediction that Missouri will
give its electoral vote for Douglas 1t is wise
maxim, however, never to count the chickens
till they are Matched.
We have very widely discordant state
ments from Georgia. One correspondent pre-
diets ten thousand majority for Breckenridge
and Lane, and estimates the result of the cleo
ton as misunderstanding $1,000; Bell,
10000; Douglas $4,000. Another gives Breck-
inrdge majority over both Douglas and Bell,
of betwcbn 10000 and 10000; while still an
other correspondent from the same State as
sumes that Bell will get from ten to twenty
thousand votes more than Breckenridge, and
that the only Southern State on which the
Major can calculate with any degree of GER
tainty is South Carolina.
A Pennsylvania correspondent asserts that
the old Keystone State is still faithful to demo-
cracy, and another declares in less positive
manner that Pennsylvania is not sure for Lin
coin.
To this valuable chapter Of political CORES.
pondenee we append the address issued by the
National Executive Committee Of the constitu.
tional Union party to the people Of the United
States. II discusses the dominant question
Of the day-the question of slavery. It
characterizes the repeal Of the Missouri
compromise as an untoward act and asserts
as main causes Of the present disturbed condi.
ton of affairs, that measure, the acts of violence