Year: 1865




The Presidential Qusstion-Ths Men and
the Issues OF the Future.


| While the attention of all parties, North and
South, is drawn to the magnificent, momentous
and intensely interesting movements Of our
armies against the last stronghold, the last army
and the "last ditch" ofthe rebellion, political di
version to the Presidential question may appear
to be waste of time. As our present purpose,
however, is simply to show the folly of certain
movements in progress at Washington for the
succession, we incline to the opinion that brief
review of our present political situation and
the prospect before us will not be labor in vain.


We understand that there is "an irreprsssibls
conflict between the radical Chase faction and
the comparatively conservative Seward faction
Of the republican church for the inside track
for 1868; that the conflicts particularly marked
in every case involving the distribution
Of the federal spoils and plunder Of
this city, and that between the disci-
pies Of Mr.. Chief Justice Chase and the
adherents of Mr.. Seward in the present Con-
Rress There has been more interest betrayed
over the Office Of Surveyor Of this port than
over all our recent victories. The pipe-layen
Of the Chase faction and the Seward faction
seem to think that our political parties and
party issues in 1868 will be substantially a.
they are now; that the republican party Will
thus hold its ground, and that the fiction or
clique which shall have secured meantime the
control Of the govsrp.nent patronage Of this
city Will have 4 good foothold for securing the
next Preus.ent For the benefit Of Mr.. Seward,
MI: CCnase and all concerned, we cannot resist
} :.ae temptation to expose the fallacy and the
folly of all such shallow calculations.


We are still in the midst Of mighty political
revolution, the fruits Of which are yet to be
developed. The great issue determined by the
last Presidential election was that the war for
the Union shall be maintained to the complete
disarming Of the resisting forces Of the rebel
lion. All other questions in the late canvass
were made subordinate to this We have
now every reason 70 expect speedy settle
ment Of this great issue In the final overthrow,
Dispersion and dissolution of the armies of JefE.
Davis. With this paramount object accom-
plished we begin the work upon which the
political parties Of 1868 will be organized in
the work Of reconstruction. Assuming that the
simple, practical, constitutional and common
sense policy Of General Sherman will yet be
adopted In the restoration Of the rebellious
States; or that, in any event. within year or
two, they will oil be again keeping step 70 the
music Of the Union" II is not dif,cult to recog-
nise In the new order Of things before us Q
new organization Of parties upon new issues,
and under new men, for the Presidential sue
cession.


In the first place, tho political capital Of tho
democratic party and the republican party in
the slavery question will have vanished.
The constitutional amendment abolishing
slavery throughout the Union, already ratified
by seventeen States, win surely In the interval
70 1868 secure the ten additional States re-
:. 'ired to make II the supreme law Of the
,s.a The political agitation Of the rights
"a Crcags, benefits and evils Of African
sI..ery, VIII thus be effectually stopped. That
bsue Of party contention, sectional snimosi-
te.. ., ,litical dscords, revolutionary conspira-
cies ana civil war-the slavery question-will
be out oi the way. The free Negro question,
however, ,+~ay take " place upea such s0hsus'