The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-24

| houses ana put an END 10 the uOmiuans anu 10
moralizing habits of the hour. So long as the
roots remain the branches will flourish.
The Southern Whites tho Presidential
Question.
The splendid fight made by the conserva-
tives Of Georgia in the election which closed
yesterday, and the prospect of their having
carried the State by decided majority, to-
gether with the vigorous contest now going on
in North Carolina, indicate that in the largest
and most important of the Southern States the
whites are not disposed to tamely submit to
negro supremacy. This being an evident fact,
the position of the whites in those States on
the Presidential question becomes of impor-
lance, because they may actually hold the
balance Of power between the two great
political parties of the North. Supposing that
(and it is very likely supposition) Virginia,
can be controlled by the white conservatives,
there will then be thirty nine electoral votes to
begin with-no unimportant element of strength
to any party in closely contested election.
And, BESIDES it is not at all improbable that
with but one day to poll the votes the whites
Mississippi, with their superior political skill,
can keep sufficient number Of negroes away
from the polls to ensure the success of the con-
sentative ticket in those States. In such an
event the number of conservative electoral
votes from the South would be increased to
sixty-three, leaving but seven votes from
South Carolina as the gross results of radical
reconstruction.
Believing in the very great probability of
the radicals being badly whipped in the South
ern States, we will now take glance at the
Southern Presidential candidates-that is, of
the men who are most popular with the South
ern whites as candidates for the Presidency.
We have heard so much from the radicals and
their newspaper organs of Southern disloyalty
that we must confess to having had serious
ideas of copperhead being the first, last and
only choice of the ex-rebels for the first Office in
the gift of the people. 1t may not be gratifying
to the supporters of Congress to know it, but the
fact nevertheless remains that even Pendleton,
touched as slightly as he is with apprehension,
is the least popular in the South of all the
prospective candidates Of the conservatives;
and If we were not aware of the cause we
would be surprised at the equal fact that the
most popular name in that section of the Union
is that worn by one of the ablest Union
generals Of our recent war;. Indeed, the popu-
larity of General Hancock in the South approx
mates to positive enthusiasm. The noble and
generous conduct of the General while in COM
mand of the Fifth Military district no doubt
cndeared him to the Southern people, who,
ground down as they had been by former COM
manders, were touched by his magnanimity to
fallen foe and by his rigid and answering
respect for civil and constitutional authority.
Now. no one-not even the most prejudiced
radical-would dare charge General Hancock
with being copperhead or a sympathzcr with
treason. As consequence, then, the fact of
his popularity in the South is a most complete
vindicatiOn of the Southern whites from the
charge of being disaffected towards the govern
ment of the United States, and with being
ready, at the first opportunity, to engage in
another rebellion.
This position of the Southern conservatives
in favor of an undoubted war democrat for the
Presidency will probably render Mr.. Pendle-
toms defeat in the nominating convention a
comparatively easy matter. Already are the
anti Congressional reconstruction newspapers
of the South flying the name of Hancock at
the head Of their columns, and as they I'M
doubleday control and direct public sentiment
in their section il may be regarded as settled
fact that the Southern delegates will vote solidly
or almost 30, for that officer. The situation
will then be an interesting one when the
Democratic National Convention meets at Tam
many Hall, in this city, next July. From the
present indications the Northeastern delegates
will be almost unanimous in favor of candi-
date with q positive war record, while the
Northwestern delegates will favor Pendleton.
The South will thus hold the balance Of power
for If even the votes from that section added tc
two thirds vote in favor Of any one war demo
crat. II will give a very large majority, thu
moral effect of which will be sufficient Il
swamp Pendeton and the West II is in th
respect that the position of the South will be
come of Importance, promising as 1t does
almost for the first time, an alliance Of tina
section with the Middle and Eastern State
against the West. The candidate nigh
then be Farragut However, it was not on
purpose to speculate upon the chances o
any person receiving the conservative nomina
ton. Our object was simply to show that
Notwithstanding the abuse Of the Southern
people and charges of disloyalty brought agains
them by the radicals, the South is disposed +
act most patriotic part in the coming Presi
Dental campaign, and to cast her vote for
candidate prominently identified with the wa
for the preservation Of the Union.