New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-16

iEg to allow his name TO be brought before the
Charleston Convention az candidate for the Presi-
dency. Though it is Impossible to read this dOcu-
nent without calling to mind the fable of the fox
who stigmatized as sour the grapes that hung
out of his reach, at the same time it must be
admitted that a great many of Gov. HoustOn's
points are extremely well taken, and very strongly
put. The letter is principally made up of series
OF pungent objections to the caucus system of Presi
dental nominations it has been operated by the
Democratic politicians. The General points out
the effect of this system in deDatiOnalzng the party,
and cutting it up into an inOOherent cOngeries of
sectional and personal cl,ques, having no common
object of national importance in view, but limited
to the securing of Office, power, spOis and plumber
for this that section of the party, and compelling
al the others to submit to, and even to promote this
arrangement. Thus, the Charleston Convention
vii be made up Of Squatter-S Democrats,
nOn-intervention Democrats, Territorial ve-code
Democrats, African Slave.trad Democrats, with
half dozen different shades and varieties of dis
union, secession and Southern Onfederacy Demo-
crAts, which last, indeed may be expected to exer-
else q controlling influence over its proceedings.
The General alleges that the existing agitation
upon the subject of Slavery was entirely brought
about through the eager struggles Of selfish and
principled Presidential aspirants to manufacture
political capital for themselves, and he alludes in
indignant terms to his own Ostracsm because, fore
seeing the Inevitable consequences, he had refused
70 give his sanction to tue Kansas-Nebraska bill.
The Democratic caucus system, as managed by
= xboo 49,
fhe corrupt snd selfish pOitsiSns VINO constitute
the msjority of the members, aud by whom The
honest minority is rendered powerless, and in fact
employed to give color of respectabitty to pro-
ceediDgs which they DO not approve, tends at the
pAme time to deprive the body Of the people of their
due influence, and the President 30 selected of his
proper independence and the freedom Of action
essential to the discharge of his official duties. In
The formation of conventions, public sentiment is
not regarded dor expressed but clques and man.
agemeDt and cbicanery Ore resOrted to as subsh-
iutes for it. Instead OF giving expression to the
popular will which they pretend to be their object
both the design and effect of these conventions as
hey are actually conducted, is to control tne pOpu
lar action. Nominations are made and platforms put
;oIth, cOntainh G in ambiguous language stetaments
tuDJoCl 10 III uuleIcut paris
Of the UOion, and calculated to deceive, and all
who will not submit to this dictstion are pro-
EcIibed as heterodOx, and sent out of the party.
Thus the people fud themselves stripped of their
most valuable political privileges, and reduced TO
be the mere puppets Of few designing politicians
At the same time, the candidate thus nominated
ia equally deprived of his individuality and his indie
pendeDce. He is tho President, not Of the nation,
nor even of party, but only of clique of party.
And this depriv 1tion of political independence ex-
tends not nly to the successful candidate 1t exer-
cises It's powerful iIf0ence over all who aspire to
The Presidential Office The result is that the bold
spirit which once characterized our statesmen, is
corrupted. Politicians no longer take the lead in
The path of progress and enterprise. Surrounded
by the miniOns of party, tied to meaningless
platform, compelled TO consult the wishes of fac
ton rather than the good of the nation, the Presl-
dent with all the authority conferred upon him by
the letter of the Constitution, is reduced to mere
puppet in the hands of those who made him.
"What independent man." the General indlg
lantly asks "WOuld be such Prefi0ent? With
the Constitution for his guide, he should be tram
mels6 BY no party pledges. He should enter int
nO phIBolu WIN POhPOol O'4Neo VI P"A'y iS"NSASi
~wlOse cOrruptions must be clOaksd, and who must
"b'retained In ofce to save toe party the odium OF
exposure" Whereas, the nominee Of the Charles
fcI Convention, would be expected to indOrse the
heesies of each and every faction composing it,
ah horde of men who have been striving for
vars TO denAtonslzs the Democrat; party, until
tky have reduc it to combination of factions,
yVuld stand with their eternal cry OF "sPols," In
tb way of every righteous endeayOr Of Els admin
is-ation.
But though General Houston would scOrn TO &C
Get the Presidency on such terms and from such
eOrce he still stands ready TO serve his country In
Tia office, provided the people, without the inter
venom of any Convention should call him to H.
In Ia. case, he intimstes that prOtectOrate over
BIexo and the construction of Pacific Railroad
wOta be the leading objects Of his administration