The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-03-19
EdssoriaI Correspondence
WAsuIxorox, March IL, 1860.

dency, with Republicans, of course, ~ wsl
- the Democrats. have myself not nads
| many remarks shout IL, for in point OF fas'
do not feel immensely interested In it, ri
| between individuals, and do not attach al
much Importance 30 persons, IN this conncc.
ton, as many for, in the FIRST place, ther.
is hardly man named for the position whom
/ could not cheerfnlly and enthusiastically
support; and, in the second place, whateve,
may be believed, feared, or suspected, this
campaign will be gu bstsntially fought on
principis,-I think more specifically and
generally 90 than any campaign that has oc-
CURED for a long time,-and that the name
or locality of the candidate, SO be is only q
sound man Of good personal character, ID
really of not very great Importance. Knight
add, further, as leading me to feel indiffer-
ent concerning any discussion of parties, Is
the confidence that the Chicago Convention
will not by any artifce or appeal BIO swervsd
from the purpose of selecting that sound and
safe man who is most likely to be elected.
Yet, rs the time 10 rapidly approaching
when the selection will be made, every one
is interestedly specializing MS to who the in.
dividusl 10 that stands the most favorable
chance of nomination. And l am not indis-
posed to express my own opinion, protest
ing, however, that there never was prophet
in my family, that | am aware Of. think
the question 10 substantially narrowed
down to two individuals. think there is
hardly possible chance that any other than
one Of those two can be nominated. Those
two are Bates and Seward. And OF these
:wo, In oil probability, Seward. think
Lincoln is not entirely out OF the ouesti on.
And there is scarcely liaing American when
| would choose before him. lie has nv
most ardent admiration for bis capacity, tone
OF mind, and personal character. But though
not out OF the question, bis chances for the
first place are few. The tendencies toward
the nomination of representative man, and
the respect for the genius, the power, the
personal character and political wisdom of
Mr.. Seward, are widespread and pervading.
AS Washington was ''frst in the hearts of
bis countrymen," so it must be admitted tina
Seward is first in the hearts OF Republicans,
and that his countrymen of every shade of
politics admit that he 10 a statesman Of the
highest rank. In order to prevent his noni-
nation, II must be made very apparent that
he cannot be elected, and that some one else,
very certainly can be. On the SCORE of avail
ability, no one will be pressed with any thing
like the pertinacity or reason that Bates will
be. Hence my judgment that one or the 9TH :
er will be nominated, and that most likely
the nominee will be Seward.
And those who think Seward would be an
unavailable candidate in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Indiana and Illinois, think Judge
wrong. Seward has been misrepresented
and misjudged The popular objections to-
him are i'll grounded. What he really is. in
spirit and aim, is more fully disclosed by bic
late speech than by any thing else, and that
speech. in spite of every thing that could be
said or quoted, would be the platform on
which he would make the canvass, and by
which he would be popularity considered aRa
judged. That platform4s a good and salts
factory one in all those States, and while it
is winning for him the still more ardent at
tachment of firm and tried Republic ans, it 10
also disarming his bigoted oppo nents, and
gaining him confidence and support among
the classes called Conservative"
Bates is not and never was my first choice,
though the action Of the Charleston Conven-
item and the aspect which affairs may yet as !.
sumo may make him so, and his own merits
and existing circumstances may make him
the fret choice Of the Chicago Cony ention.
The moral aid which his vigorous support IN
some OF the border slave States would give
as, and to his Administration, IL elected. is
valuable item, which the Convention and
no thoughtful Republican will overlook -
That on the abstract question Of slavery bis
feelings and bis judgment are sound, no one
will question. Though comparatively poor,
and by that act made poorer, he long ago
emancipated his slaves; and lately, at his
advice near relative set oil her human chat
ties free. That, if elected, he would be in
every way satisfactory to the Republican,, -
firm and thorough Republican President, -
am wholly persuaded there is no reason to
doubt. That he would heartily stand upon
such . platform as the Republicans eughr
and are likely to lay down at Chicago and
the platform foreshadowed and substantially
oeilnsated in the call for the Chicago Con.
vention Is such an one, mo sensible man can
question; and that he would be sealously
supported on such platform by thousands
who voted for Fillmore or refrained from 70
ing as oil in 1856, | suppose will not be
doubted, either. The recent action Of the
Opposition (not Repub lican) Conyention in