New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-01
TrE PRESIDENCY.

put forth by Sundry OF our cotcmporaFieS reia-
tive to the Presidency in prospect; most OF them
urging a pos,poncment of the Union National
Convention, which has been called to meet at
Baltimore on the eth Of June. On this point,
We desire to add few words
Our own profound conviction that tho opening
of the Presidential canvass should have been
postponed, by general consent, to the latest
possible moment, has already been indicated
We have neglected no fit opportunity to III
press this conviction on those with whom We
have been accustomed TO act. The simple fact
that the Copperheads The Herald, ana AL 'he
anti.Natonal and unpatriotic influences III me
oourtrv have for months been anxious to
plunre the body polite into such canvass,
.fouId have convinced the UnOniStS that 1t was
heir t-uc policy to let Presidcnt-maknS alone
for months yet, and devote every energy TO the
prosecriion Of the War for the Union. There Is
NOT Rebel on either side of tho Potomac who
does not feel that the Presidential canvass is iui
Of nromise TO their cause. FROM jeff. Davis
down. they hope that something may turn up IN
that canvass that will inure to their advantage,
and that It's result will strongly conducc to their
success. They eagerly anticipate and impa-
tcntlv await the time when we OF the loyal
States shall be more intent on beating each
other at the polls than on beating them IN the
field; and they calculate that, when our Prc'l-
dential campaign shall have fairly opened, our
campaigns against them will have nearly spent
thcir force. We deem this exaggerated; but
we apprehend that it is not utterly devoid of
foundation. Hence we would have one more
fair and full trial Of strength with the Rebellion
before embarking in fresh Presidential contest.
Under this conviction, We both publicly and
privately urged postponement Of our National
Convention to the latest possible day.
But formal call has been made not in &C.
cordauce with our views. Would ii Ho~ be
advisable to postpone the meeting to a later
day
We answer: That depends entirely on the
view with which that postponcmcnt Is sought
and accorded-the spirit in which the canvass
for the Presidential nomination is to be con
Quoted.
Our general idea of the matter is this-that,
until the choice of Union candidates for Pres
ident aud yicc-prcsdcnt shall have been de-
fnitiycly made, the field is entirely open, and
every Un.onist is at perfect liberty to propose
and advocate any Unionist who may be his in-
dividual preference. One desires the rcnomina-
ton Of the present incumbcnts; another would
renominatc the President, but not the Vice
President; a third would rcnominate the latter
but not The former; fourth would present new
candidates for both positions. Each tnionist
then, * invited and encouraged to name the
men Of his choice, and to commend their nom.
nation by adducing such facts and arguments as
20 him shall seem cogcnt and effective, with
tacit understanding that We all say and do
nothing that shall preclude a hearty aud effect.
i've SUPPORT Of Whatever ticket shall ultimately
be presented. All who choose having spoken
and been heard the Convention assemblies,
gives heed TO every representation; and finally
decides a5 il shall deem best; and then we all
turn in and elect the ticket. Such il our idea
of the way in which this matter shOHid bc dealt
with. And, if this is to be the accepted view,
we think postp0nemcnt of the Convention to
August, If not to the lst OF September eminent
ly desirable, and morally certain to prove bcne-
hccnt.
But If a radically different view is TO prevail
if it is to be assumed that the choice is already
a particular course has already been
determined On-that the denomination of Messrs. |
Lincoln and Hamlin, or Of the former only, has
been 30 fixed that to suggest and commend |
other candidates. virtually to oppose the Union I
IF this view is to be sustained !
by Pronunciation and proscription-thcn we
think postpOncmcnt Of the Convention would /,
be most unwsc and mistaken, unless it might
be pOstponement without day. If we assume |
-he choice of Presidential candidate already |
made, it might be well to withdraw the call for |
a Convention entirely, have the Union Members |
If Congress and National Committee meet in |
caucus and select candidate for Vce-Pres- |
dent (for we do not understand il to be assumed /
that Mr.. liamln's denomination is dictated by |
m overwhelming public sentment), and thus,
regarding the whole bdsincsS as forecloscd and
settled, open the canvass forthwith. This seems
TO us the only practicable and wholesome alter
native 20 the course which we have indicated as
the true one. But the articles we collate on a
preceding page present quite other and diverse
views on the subject, and we commend them to
general and earnest consideration.
TIsE DIGNITY OF TIE BENCH.