New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-07
THE PRESIDENCY.
A SURVEY OF THE FIELD.
70 As Editor q The NJ " Tri0una

Chnuunecs PROPOSED lOr the cOneueraIOn OF tno OOa
90 Convention. have marked with great satisfaction
the general spirit Of fairness and tone of Cancellation
with which they are pervaded indicating that what
ever diversity Of opinion there may be as to Candidates
there is a general harmony of sentiment and feeling
among the members of the party.
In reviewing these discussions, however there
remairs still occasion for certain important suggesnons
The first is that an idea seems TO De entertained tnat
this or that candidate has claims upon the Republican
party a. TO the nomination In question, ana that these
elaine are to govern the Convention
Ait .npears to me, nothing can be more mschievous
in prsct;cs and more false in principle than this If
che candidate has claims there certainly several
otle,s and who shall decide between theml And be-
sides IA oply one candidate can be selected injustice
must be done to all the others. Admit this doctrine of
clsims, and heart burnings, having a real and Just
basis, viii be sown wide and deep in the ranks of
the party.
And what is the foundation of these caims7 Eminent
public services, no doubt Thus Mr.. Seward, Mr..
Chase, MIR. Banks, and others have rendered eminent
public services, and the Argument that they to be
compensated by Presidential honors.
Let ms reflect little. These men have held high
Offices, and We admit have done their duty; and they
have had theft reward that is their salaries aud the
honorable fame attached to the positions they have
occupied and the labors they have performed. Whist.
ever nave dCueNeO, Lney nave uOne 10 tnd1
their duty aud the claim of payment for works Of
peroga,ion is altogether fictitious and upfouuded.
But there are deeper and more radical objections to
this principle Of rewardng partisan leaders by high
public Office 1t is the very essence of demagoguism.
Let 1t once be understood that man may get the peo
pie in debt, ard claim the Presidency ns ward,
and we lay before every aspiring politician the temPta-
ton TO act, not from sense of duty, not from high
principles Of patriotism but from base desire to
up bill that the public can only hqudate by the
greatest office in their gift.
And still again. Ali public offices are designed for
the good Of the people, and not for the good OF the In
cumbents. The Presidency has respect to the peace,
happiness and prosperity OF thirty millions Of people,
and above and beyond all considerations of purchase
and payment 1t ina degradation of the high trust Of
suffrage to nse into any election the idea that the
people in debt TO a candidate and must vote for
him. In order to discharge it. 1t is especially base to
introduce into Presidential the feeling that
our choice is not free, but is 70 be controlled by obga
tioDs In the nature Of binding debt.
The only claims, worthy OF moments considera-
ton in any candidate those which respect the pub
lie He is the best man, who is likely to be the most
useful. OF course no party will select leader, who
does not hold ts vital principles but as all elections
are doubtful availability becomes essential element
in candidate. AT the present moment, the Republic
party will sin, grievousy If upon the pretense Of
personal claims ey select any other than candidate
who will insure success The Chicago Convention
will i'll discharge the duty imposed upon it, if it does
not select the strongest Of all the Candidates holding
Republican principles, in view OF the popular vote.
To needless risk is 10 court defeat, aud the pros
traiOn If not the destruction of the sacred which
is intrusted to the Republican party.
As to who is the strongest candidate there will OF
course he variety of opinions. Mr.. "Geo. p. Bssell
President of the Hartford Fremont Club Of 1885, and
ga hard worker in 1860, tells us, to use his exact
words, that with " Fremont, Chase, Lincoln, Wade,
"Tr1mbull and / believe Seward, we could carry
Connecticut" Rather heavy load this-six pom
derous eandidates-for one small State, but we are
glad to learn that the backbone of the land of steady
habits IL 80 strong. Many politicians hold that Mr.
fhao lar
number, admitting his great ability, regard him as 10
general popularity TO the actual votes of the peo
pie, one Of the weakest. We do not believe he
would have the least chance OF the electoral vote Of
Pennsylvania, Illinois, or Indiana; and this we know
TO be the opinion Of well informed politicians. Chase,
Banks, and Fessenden are all advocated as available
candidates by certain parties.
Let us tee If We cannot attain degree of certainty
in this matter, by general considerations. We
lay it dawn, then principle, that no candidate Is
likely TO be elected who hae political friends out OF
the Free Statee one who has no chance Of gaining
Jingle electoral vote Of having respectable electoral
tieEtt in any Slave State.
The great charge against Fremont, and that which
caused his defeat, was, that he was sectional
candidate In the enthusiasm OF the canvass, tins
great and momentoss fact was not generally seen or
weighed. Ii has since been more maturely considered;
and any candidate who shall be placed in the same po
ston, WILL we believe 6ndi difficult to Withstand the
shock OF the battle that will be waged upon him, from
this point and for this reason.
The Republicans are contendiDg for principle,
which, once embraced, becomes more ard more dear
70 the heart; and that is that Slavery is local. not
tonal that it exists only by municipal enactments,
and not by general hw that il is wrong in principle
and 10 not TO be extended except by the people acting
in their sovereign capacity as founders OF States
This opinion has recently become more vital and in
tense in the minds of the Republicans in consequence
of the recent open and avowed doctrine Of South
ern sateemen, that Slavery is good and benefcent
institution, and, being founded in right, claims uniyer
sal extensi0n.
But while such is the undoubted fact and while
many very tncere and ardent persons enter into the
coming election a fort of holy war; there are still
many Others, equally sincere, yet Of a camer temper,
who look TO consequences, and instead OF regarding
only patty, take into view the entire country.
Tbese persons naturally ask themselves, what will
be the state Of things, suPposng Nc Seward, or MIR.
Chase OF any other Republican OF that type, be cho-
sen President OF course he will not have received
vote south of Mason and Dix 'ns line. Is there not,
then, a gulf, dark and dangerous, opened wide be-
tween the North and South along that hitherto nom
nal dvison3 VIII not history, then, have inscribed
the awful words Division Of the Uoion," in our ma
tiOnal annals, and even on our national map7 And
shal the Republican party dig this gulf
And what will be the situation of an Administration
un6er such President The Senate will certainly be
against him perhaps, and should say probably, the
Houte alsO, after short time. Is beneneen' iegsia
ton likely TO flourish in such state Of things Are
we likely to have peace and quiet, and prosperity Ii
VIII be commended that the Government only repre-
sents the North and the South viii cry out against it.
And will not the spirit OF Dsunion thrive under such
irritation and provocaton ~
Now, think there many, very many Republic
cans who viii reflect in this wise, and who will not
vote for any candidate who it is clear cannot carry
single Slave State, have fair electoral ticket, out
of the Free States II not safe TO follow those who
-" narrow the mind,
And give up 10 party what is meant Tor Mankind"
Some nen are fond of fight, and relish defeat as
much IS victory, seeming 10 think with the lrshman
that hsId knocks are the true glory Of battle These
porsons ara al ways talking about their principles, yet
invariably keeping them IN minority, and therefore
never giving them practical effect But, happily,