New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-22
FROM WASHINGTON.
MR.. SEwARD'S DEFEAT.


determination have been very great at the Capital
The members Of Congress generally, though feeling
interest in the result never surpassed any for
mer occasion, have mostly remained at their post of
duty, carefully abstaining from active participa
ton in the doings of the Convention. Almost uni
yersally, the great concern and thought has been
for success. This desire has oyertopped every
other, aud quite Overshadowed all personal consd-
erations. While Mr.. Stewards ability and services
have been cheerfully recognized, there was a pre-
,ailng sentiment almost universal among the mem
bers of both Houses, that it would be mposSlo'e 70
elect him. This conviction reluctantly reacneu
after long consideration, was most CONSCIENTIOUS!
entertained and greatly deePeneo inc oo'
ing and anxiety with which The doings 4"
the Convention were watched. Dir. sew
ard was known 10 be strong, not only by
x;rtue os his position as a leading expounder of the
principles of the Republican organization, but also
as the representative Of powerful material lntsr-
ssts centering in New. York, and as the focus OF
extensively ysmifed political combinations. His
own ardent desires and confident expectations,
which all were sorry to see thwarted, formed an
other extrancOus source Of strength that it was
felt would have great weight in a Convention of
sympathzipg friends. Altog ,ther, may say, the
feeling among the Republicans of Congress, with
few exceptions was rather that of apprehension OF
his nomination than any other. The least whisper
of the proceedings at Chicago as the time of nomi-
nation approached was listened to with eager in
terest aud the most painful anxiety. Not breath
ofintchgence real or fabricated, but was scanned
oto1 20 or.bir
with a view as well TO discover what was as what
would be- And at last when the time came, and
it was announced that telegraph had been re-
ceiyed, saving Mr. Lincoln had been nominated by
two majority over Mr.. Seward, there was feeling
of relief experienced and an expression of general
satisfaction that seemed to be unanimous. But
in DO quarter was it mingled with one particle OF
exultation, but everywhere with sentiment OF
regret at the necessity which impeled the result.
For it was known how deeply the heart of Mr..
Seward was set upon the nomination, and how
utterly confident he was of recevingit He had
left the city but few days before, announcing to
bis friends that his Senatorial duties were ended,
and that he left the Senate in his capacity of Senator
for the last time. Such, too, had been his bearing
throughout the session. He had thousand times
declared his aims and expectations of being the
Republican candidate and had settled into the
fixed habit of regarding his nomination as an alb
solute certainty. He had entertained largely, and
every body had partaken pleasantyat his hospitable
receptions Kindly and genial, with no more
than a natural assumption consequent upon his
confidently anticipated honors, Mr.. Seward had
certainly personal enemies among the RepubL-
cans of Congress. 1t may be easily conceived,
therefore, with what personal regrets the political
satisfactions of Mr. LincolD's nomination We're
received. 1t could not in the nature Of things be
otherwise; for no man desired, per Sc, that Mr.
Seward should be disappointed.
Notwithstanding the result, Mr.. Seward was at
once the choice of the politicians and the people.
The great body of ardent Republicans, all over the
country, desired to elevate to the Presidency the
man who had begun so early and had labored so
long in behalf of their cardinal doctrines. This
vas unquestiOnably their earnest wish. But along
with this feeling there another quite as strong
among them. This was TO win the Presidential
battle. They thought much of Dir. Seward, but
they thought more Of the of which he had
been SO largely spokesman They were, for the
most part, ready and willing, and even DESTROYS,
to 20 for the man for President who was most
likely to succeed, whoever il might be- 1t was
otherwise with the politicians who had attached
themselves to Mr.. Stewards fortunes They had
their own personal ends to serve, and they pre-
ferred poor chance with him 10 good one with
another candidate with whom they had no pOlitico
personal affiliations. 1t was this class of men
who to very great extent, insisted at Chicago
upon Nr. Stewards nomination, against the wise
and unsclfsh convictions of a decided ma ority OF
the body, that be would not be the strongest NOM
inee If it lad not been for this class Of men, the
popular preference for Mr. Seward a candidate
would have been yielded, certainly with regret,
but as surely almost without struggle. Not that
Cesar was loved less, but Rome more.
The objections to Mr. Seward candidate Il
speak Of Washington were twOfold. In the FIRST
place, there that leading objection, familiar
to all the country that he held the most advanced
position on the Slavery question, and, whether
justly or uniustly is no matter, is associated in
the public mind with the idea of extreme radical
ism on that subject. Then it was known that he
held a more clearly defined position OF antagOnism
to the various elements of which the Opposition is
composed, outside of RepublicaDism pure and sim
pie, than almost any other in the party. He
had for example, fought the American or Know
Nothing element with great expGcitness. That
portion of the Opposition in such States as Penn
sylvaDia, New-Jersey, and NewYork, was be-
Heved to be irreyocably opposed to him. In addi-
ton to this, the South, and the Northern Pro-