The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-02

There ia now, at the very hour when tne
country ia about to put forth it, utmost
strenqth for final battle, the greatest possible
ACTIVITY among the politicians. seeking their
own ascendancy and profit. Enough men to
decile the result Of great battle - clearly
:, Stonewall Jackson's brigade decided the
hattie of Bull run are now most intensely
busy upon the organiz alton and arrangement
of conventions. by which they expect to secure
not the safety Of their country or the triumph
Of its cause, but the spoils, the government
patronage and power, the vast contracts, and
the countless profitable places. Even In the
republican party there may be no less than
three Of these corrupt conclaves One set OF
republicans have arranged to hold conven-
ton at Baltimore in June. They have oil their
arrangements made, cut and dried, to nomi-
nate Mr. Lincoln at that time. Another set
will hold convention ut Cleveland, Ohio, In
May, and will, perhaps, nominate General Ere
mont. Aud third set, opposed particularly
to the June convention, desire that 1t shall DO
held in September. a. they think that, by that
time they can effect change in tho arrange
ments that are now 50 decidedly il favor Of
Mr.. Lincoln.
All these conventions In the now dominant
party, a. we'll as the Shentper-shent Conven-
ton to be held at Chicago, are humbugs.
through and through. Not ono Of Thorn
has the least claim upon the intelligence
or support Of any portion Of the people
of this country Not . man who takes his
seat In any Of these conventions will represent
in any sense the people of tho district that
nomiually sent him there. The fact that man
Is tho member Of . nominating convention is
prima fdcie evidence that he is either place
holder or hunter, or contractor, or that hs
expects to be bought by place holder or hun
Ter, or contractor. Nothing In the world was
ever better understood between men than Il
was understood between this member Of the
convention and his clique Of barroom con-
stituents that in making him member OF the
convention they gave him piece Of property
vote that he could sell. Either vote that
he could sell, or In virtue Of which he could
bargain for good fat place in the event of the
success Of the candidate he voted for. Not only
did they understand and consider that they
were giving him piece of property in this
vote, but they would regard him as fool and
a iat-a "slouch"-if he did not use it to his
personal advantage, or sell it for good round
price. So positively is this the case that city
politician of any experience, though no arith
metician, will tell to nicely the value of such
. place. He compares seat in the convention
with place in the Custom House or Post Office,
and its value is found by comparison with the
value OF the place he compares it to.
We believe that the whole convention system
should be killed at once These conventions
are not one Of the good traditions of our poll
teal history, nor has their operation been such
that the people should adhere to them with
any tenacity. Al! our earlier Presidents were
chosen SEs put in nomination BY caucises Of
their party friends in Congress jackson was
nominated by great popular movement, and
with the next President the convention system
began. Nominating conventions then gave US
Van Buren,, Harrison and Tyler, Polk, Taylor
and Fillmore, Pierce and Buchanan. Compare
these men with our earlier Presidents, and We
esd~.ssest s,e,fs -kr-xs rhen-gsya us, indeed,
the men who built up and established the
countryside other system has given us all the
men Of contemplate intellect that have occu-
pied the chief magistracy, and under whom the
power and greatness Of the country has well |
nigh crumbled away. We believe that the |
country should therefore 60 back to the old
system, and rellnquish a system that noto-
riously puts . man at the head OF the nation
because hs lie not great man, and because he |
is q man feeble enough to be bent to their pur. |
poses by the politicians and spoiIs hunters who /
designate him for the place. lie. us rslinquish
at once these corrupt Observation-Disclosures |
pieces Of thievery, by which the people are !
swindled of their SURFACES, and give their
birthright to pay for some sharpers mess Of |
pottage.
The RELATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND EXC. \
LASD-THE NAPoLEoSro DYSAsrr.-The latest
advices from Europe state that Lord Claren- |
don, who visited the Emperor Napoleon for the
purpose Of allaying the irritation felt by the
latter ct the alleged participation of NJ. STAINS
field, member Of the British Cabinet, in the
recent conspiracy against bis Majestys life,
has succeeded in bringing about state Of good |
ceiling between the Eoglisb and French Courts.
md that it is likely he will settle Also the re-
ations between these Powers aud Russia upon
better footing. The fact that IL was deemed
necessary to depusize Lord Clarendon ~
to the Emperor OF the French \
,roves bow great an ascendancy the latter ba. I
ttained over the English government, ana is
N indication Of the great decrease OF it's
,ower England must indeed be lowered 4
When she il forced to sue for the good will Of q
Napoleon, and one whom for years her arissoc-
racy and her journals reviled as usurper-an