New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-02
PROGRESS OF THE NATIONAL UNION
PARTY.
Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune.
Uacuvrcrou N


WASHINGTON, March 90, 1860.
The National Union Committee here, of which
Senator Critteu6en is Chairman held full meeting
few evenings SINCE The principal topic OF con-
sic ration was the proposition, which hal been
urged from New. York and elsewhere, for post
IOutment of the National Convention called 10
assemble in Baltimore Cd the Oh Of May. Il is
Understood that recently there had sen in various
quarters clamor Tor postpOr ement of the meeting
till all the other Conventions had been held, when
the coast would be clear, and when advantage
could be taken of all the circumstances in the
Among The distinguished Nationals who are under
stood 70 have demanded the putting off of the day
of meeting, and Who in fact deprecated the caliog
Of any third Convention whatever, is ex Gov
erIOr Hunt of your State. His position he
is said to dtfue with great cearoess He
would support Mr.. Bates as compromise candi-
date again,t the Democrats but will not support
any distinctive Republican, and most of all Mr.
Seward. He expects nothing else than the nomina-
ton of distinctive Republican on the side
probably Mr.. Seward), aod an out-and-out Demo-
Graf, ON whom the party will be agreed Guthrie
Hunter, Breckluridge, or some such NAM, on the
other, between whom he will be bound to choose
In such iiate of things, the Ex-Governor contends
that would be folly on the part of the Nationals to
run third candidate; that such policy, in New
York. at least, would help the Republicans, and
involve the prom oteTs Of il i'll the grOssest incOnsis
tency He will do nothing now, nor at any time, at
all likely to commit him to such policy, or involve
him in any such Inconsistency. He prefers to wait
Till the time comes for choosing between the Repub-
hcan and Democratic candidates, as a choice of
evils, that he may in the end give effective vote
for one or the other. In such state of the ease,
it is well III deIstood that Gov. Hunt would vote
squire for the Democratic candidate, especially
should Seward and Guthrie, or Hunter, be up
In this programme Gov. Hunt is without doubt
the representative of the National men, they pre-
fer TO call themselves, in New-York and in the
North generally. The National Movement" has
many things about it that cause it TO resemble the
Fillmore movement in 1856. But it is better managed
now than then. More sagacious politisans and men
Of force are enlisted in it, and it is well enough for
Republicans to understand that while ii can accom-
plifh little or nothing for itself above board, it will
be quite as effective for mischief in throwing the
country into the hands of the Democrats was the
Fillmore movement in 1856, unless they, who are
led and deluded by it, are warned and convinced in
time.
The proposition to postpone the Baltimore Con-
ventiOD was negatiyed. 1t will be held on the 9th
of May, as originally called Men from all parts
of the country begin to hover around that camp,
whose movements have q certain kind of interest.
There yet, however, considerable diversity and
confusion among them, touching the policy to be
pursued. Enough has TRANSFERRED however, to
render few things certain Mr. Bates will not be
nominated ct Baltimore. The leaders express no
belief that there is the slightest probability of his
nomination at Chicago ~ any event, and that,
therefore, it is useless to talk longer of union of
the Opposition on him. Nevertheless, it is fact
which is not pretended 10 be denied, that should
Mr.. Bates receive the nomination of the Chicago
Convention the great mass of the Nationals at the
North would support him, aud the selection of an
other man at Baltimore would be virtual nulty.
Having agreed pretty generally among themselves
not TO nominate Mr.. Bates at Baltimore 90 the
affirmative part of the question the Nationals are
quite at sea. John Bell is the favorite Of the
Southern wing, and probably to-day he would be
the choice Of the Convention. But the 1ongs ut
Charleston, and the state of things consequent
thereon viii, more than anything else, determine
action at Baltimore. Should Douglas be nominated,
il il conended that the dissatisfaction at the South
would be so great that the selection of Sam
Houston ut Baltimore would be followed by
such stampede of Democrats to his standard as
" ould surely give him Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Maryland with an equal chance for Mississippi, |
North Carolina, and even Virginia. II is evident
tbat the leaders have thought out the effect on the
canvass at large Of nominating Houston. They arc