The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-04
THE NEXT PRESIDENCY.

THE NEAT PRESlUENGl.
The Different Men Talked of-Pros.
poets Of General Grant for RenOmi.
natiOn-His Republican and Demo.
cratic Competitors.
Correspondence Of the New York Herald.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Il, 1871.
The politicians and party managers
OF both the Republican ard Democrat
lc organizations, are earnestly at work
here shaping things for the Presidenti-
al nomination of 1872. The several
candidates and their friends, with the
exception of General Grant are anXi-
GUS to keep their movements as quite
as possible-first, because they are
afraid their rivals may ascertain what
they are about and second, because
they do not want to trot out their can
didates too early in the race. Grants
admirers make no secret of the fact
that he will be candidate before the
National Convention for denomination.
Indeed, the President himself, it is said,
is not in the habit ofdenying it. There
was time when no other person than
Grant was mentioned as the nominee
of the Republican party. During the
last few weeks, however, other aspir.
ants for the Presidency in the Senate
and House have begun to be mentioned
3y their friends.
Strong party men, like Morton, Ben.
Butler, Henry Wilson, Chandler and
Conkling, think there will be no seri-
Gus opposition to Grants renomina-
ton, except he should commit some
serious blunders within the next twelve
or fifteen months, which they say he
is not likely to do. With regard to his
election, they seem to rely to a great
extent for its success upon the blum
ders of the Democracy. An injudici-
Gus nomination and an obnoxious
platform on the part of the Democrats,
like that of 1865, will, in the opinion of
these sagaciOus politicians, enable
Grant to walk over the course in 1872
with more ease than he did two years
ago. A mistake by the Democrats of
this sort is regarded rs important for
the Republicans, owing to the peculiar
political complexion of the Southern
States and the doubtful position of such
large States as Pennsylvania and Indi-
ara.
There is a third class of Republican
politicians who manifest a cold indif-
ference about the denomination of
Grant, and yet show no peculiar par
tiality for any ether candidate. Care
full investigation shows that at present
this class is by far the most numerous.
Among them are such men as Fenton,
Trumbull, Patterson, Morrill, of Ver-
mont, Spencer, Upton, and Sherman
in the Senate, and Farnsworth, Dawes
Banks, Kelley and Garfield in the
House. These men are not absolutely
against Grants nomination, but they
are not enthusiastic for it. The South
ern Republicans, as a class, express
their preference for Senator Morton as
a candidate for the Presidency in 1872.
That gentleman, however, is too warm
a friend and admirer of Grant to allow
his own name to come authoritatively
before the Convention when General
Grant will be candidate. Besides,
the Southern Republicans will hardly
be able to carry any of their own States,
except, perhaps, South Carolina. Nor
ton, however, is strong with the lead
ing men of the party in the North and
West. Were he a candidate it is con-
ceded on all sides that he would give
General Grant trouble. But it is un-
derstOod that in no event will lie be-
come candidate except Grant should
voluntarily retire from the field.
Boutwells unpopular financial poll
cy has ruined whatever Presidential
chances he may have had.
General John A Logan, recently
elected United States Senator from IL
linois, Is talked of as candidate
against Grant. Unlike Morton, he
will have no scruples in allowing his
name to be brought before the conven-
ton. He is not at sworns points with
Grant; but he evidently does lfbt re-
gard the President as the greatest man
in the country, or even in the Repub.
lican party, Logan has some clements
of strength which the former asrirants
lack. He is at the head of that semi
political organization known Us the
"Grand Army of the Republic" which
has its ramlfications in every State of
the Union. If he chooses to use this
he can do go with great deal of effect
in sending Logan delegates to the Ma
tional Convention. Logan is one of
the "bOys," and his repeated election
to the command of the Grand Army
of the Republic shows that he is popu-
lar with whatever there is left of q
soldier element,
There are mysterious whisperings
about Colfax appearing upon the scene
when the scramble begins for the nom-
ination. Shrewd fellows from indiana
who are familiar with Colfax, having
known him from his first entrance up
on public life, assert that as a politi-
clan he is full of
Ways that are dark
And tricks that are vain.
These men regard his famous letter
Withdrawing from public life as a
smart attempt to conceal his real de-
signs. The majority, however, agree
that, politically, Colfax has fallen in
to "the sere and yellow leaf" and that
it would be hard to galvanize him into
popularity.
being able to settle the Alabama claims
the fishery question, and to secure the
acquisition of San Domingo and one
or two other West India islands be-
fore the close of his present term
Should he complete these negotiations
and make this part of the policy of his
administration an assured success pri-
or to the assembling of the nominating
convention it is conceded that he will
be hard to defeat. |
The Democrats are as busy President |
making as their brethren of the domi-
nant party. They are more bothered |
about candidate than tie Repubii-
cans, probably because they have more
material from which to select. Ex-
Senator Hendricks, of Indiana, has
been here all winter, watching every |
movement of the Republicans, and
keeping a sharp eye on the little games
in progress among the aspifants of his
own party. Ofcourse Hendricks is a
candidate. He wishes to be consider !
ed the only candidate upon that side |
of the House. At the brilliant stag
party given by Sam Cox, few weeks
ago, in honor of Hendricks and Blair, |
the sagacious Sam remarked, with an