The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-03-01
The Preside initial Question.


Who ought and who will the Chicago
Convention nominate for President is ques-
ton now very frequently,and anxiously pro-
pounded but it is question not so easy to
answer as it is to ask. Heretofore, the press
of the Party, with. scarcely an exception,
have prudenty abstained from the discussion
OF this question, OF at least from expressing
preference for any particular man named
in connection with the position. Recently.
however, the pressure of public curiosity and
anxiety, has been such, that most of the
leading journals ofthsparty have been forced
to throw off their reserve, and proceed to
serious examination of the various prominent
men in the ranks of the party who are recog-
missed as possessing qualifications and claims
as standard-bearers of the party at this juno
ture
A recent number of the New York Trib-
une contains an article, attributed to Mr..
Greeley, in which the position and preference
of that paper are set forth, in clear and I'M
mistakable language. In that article the
Tribune expresses what we doubt not is
universal preference ofthe Republican Party,
in favor of New York's favorite son and
ablest Statesman, VIM. II. Seward, and next
to him that true, able and faithful son of
Ohio, Salmon P. Chase Fit should appear
that either Of these distinguished gentlemen,
can reasonably be expected to command as
many or more votes than any other, the de-
cision of which question is deferred to the
convention, t zen one of these is the ,Ei5une's
man but lift should appear that either or
both of these great and good men, though
undoubtedly and uuquestionably preferred
by all true, out and out Republicans in all
parts of the country, for the first place in
the Republic, should not be so strong with
or not the first choice of, those who are not
perhaps strictly speaking Republicans, but
who are opposed, as we are, to all shades of
Modern Democracy, especially to that faction
who uphold the. present corrupt Admins
tration, then, and'in that case the Tribune
is of the opinion that Edward Bates, of Mis-
souri,, is the n ext most available candidate,
and should be nominated.
So much for the Tribune, whose opinions
are entitled to great weight with Republicans
Other papers take different view of the
matter. The Press and Tribune, the leading
paper of the North west, advocates zeaously
the nomination of Abram Lincoln, than
whom. an ADLER, more popular, or better man
does not exist, West or East. Pennsylvania
goes strongly for Simon Cameron. while
Fremont, Dayton, Read, Banks, Fessenden
and others have their warm friends and zeal
Gus advocates.
For ourself, we can say that, while we can
cheerfully support any man named, ifnomi-
mated, we are yet inclined to the opinion, that
as the time approaches when final decision
must be rendered, the eyes and hearts of all
our friends will turn with more and more
confidence to that earliest advocate and
champion of human rights, without distinc-
ton of birthplace, of sect or complexion.
WIN. II. SEWARD of New York. We are in
clined 10 think that the impending contest
is to be one of principle, and that it will be
found far less necessary to consult and be
governed by expediency than heretofore
We shall be every way satisfied with ticket
headed with SEWARD and LINCOLN, and we
believe it would be very strong, and win
ming one. There are many about us, how
ever, who think differently. We are all
agreed, however, to leave the matter to the
Chicago Convention, and the Republicans Of
the Nation may rest assured, that, whoever
are the nominees. the flag will be promptly
run up in Old Wapelo, and that the Repub
licans of this county will, to man. rally
around it, and fight under it to the end OF
the ''irrepressible conflict"