THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 487, 21 May 1864, Page 4

THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

Tlie Presidency of Mr. Lincoln comes to its natural <■ end this year, and the question of who shall be his successor is beginning to be widely agitated. Mr; Lincoln has a strong party who wish to carry his reelection and tliere are several opposing candidates, among whom the names of Generals Grant and M'Clellan are most conspicuous. The correspondent of the Times, in a letter written from New York, on - 9th February, makes the following observations on the approaching election — It is evident that Mr. Lincoln will not achieve an easy victory in his attempt to be renominated, or to renominate himself, for the Presidency. There it danger ahead—danger not only of political _ convulsion, but of bloodshed. The question begins to override all others iv the minds of the people. Military events have lost their interest, and nothing short of a signal triumph o£ tho Confederates in Tennessee or Virginia will revive it. Tlie threatened conscription between the Ist and 10th of March awakes no solicitude. Tho bulk of the people—the men of the fighting age —undazzled by the bounty offered —believe that not a man will be taken forcibly from his home to be driven to tbe "bullock pens" of Southern battle, and devote what attention they can spare to tbe study of Mr. Lin* coin's chances, or of the prospects of Generals Grant, M'Clellan, and Fremont, or of Mr. Secretary Chase. Even the grumblers and stockjobbers of Wall and William-streets are learning to devote sob* portion of their leisure —once a week or so—w serious thought* of the future. Mr. Lincoln »££*" to have made up his mind to conquer, and mm* are busily at work in every direction lecturing, spew*- ; making, writing, publishing, organizing, bribing, and in every variety of way influencing or endeavouring to influence public opinion in favour of t b« rc J , ™_ date. Mr. Lincoln is palpably in the hands Of U* revolutionists, and is susceptible as warm wax to ta» pressure which they choose to put upon hun. UB» resist the revolutionary party—whose cry u •"■"•"J ; ate and unconditional emancipation, the *°™ t, "_r the estates of the Southern "aristocrats," andTtt« distribution among the Northern soldiery ■"*!■! Southern negroes (the soldiers to be the a^ e »f, ~a? " proprietors, and the negroes the small teMtori)— they will find a man to their mind in Mr -\™; But Mr. Lincoln will not resist. He will go wMWX be is led or driven, and in return for his doowrw. party will strain every nerve to secure his »*«***?"*» legally and peaceably if possible, but ally and violenllv if circumstances are un » T T: - able to the milder course. There are y«J™T months to the day of election, but; theMUme » short enough for the work that has to be done._«£ course,the whole body of Mr. Lincoln »?BPJK££_! not of one opinion ou the modus operandi, w" ~ men among them who believe that his it can be legally effected, will save trouble aAdaWbloodshed. There are others who woiildiwtnesuwto resort to unconstitutional measures—the men have fattened upon the spoils of the war "«■" .j protecting shield, and who doubt w l;? th enjoy such excellent chances of public plunder u*Jany possible successor. There is also aW f™ army of functionaries and P- 4 * o ? l^*^ lL* joyed good salaries during one period of lour who desire to enjoy them a second, *"<**"" tfha certainly be dismissed by any new incomer V* - * were a man of their own party. acting with them there is the aggreauTe pa*"*-

■ * - __^-____^^___^_^^_____ ~ • puritans, and impracticables " : jfc^SSiin the vision of a mighty Federal Redare ready to forego domestic liberty for the p°*er ami the occupation of the first piise« ". paired world, vice Great .Britain, de3**s ,n j revolutionized. ward the representative of tbe first and Jk-jL has broken ground in favour of Mr. and fa journals which support his views - lii* 0 }? 1 ' ■_ suit. In his speech at Auburn with •re ingenuity which is the principal charaetk»?f j,;;, mind, he laid down tho proposition fcpftw ° , jj r jjnco'.n was first elected he was *■_! v well as de /««, the President of the the United States, that the rebellion, *_* -mmediatelv broke out left him President only **_!!that until he be again President de facto, he *__U of power and and authority, and that therefriobbea If' toDe contmltc d in the Presidency conquest of tlie rebels and the restoration il. Union he be—what he was intended to be in ___PreMdent<fe/ffC" of the whole Union from and from South Carolina and Oregon. ft* l '*? might be considered a very indefinite _j Nation of Mr. Lincoln's power, and equivalent Iv^pouitmentfor life, the timid Conservatives "i!; ■nDOort his claim have discovered a new Sbo/of dealing with the subject. It is the Stime that this section of the Republican party "' S found anthing to admire in the South; w in view of the approaching danger they have come conclusion that the Southern people have done !UtO nominate their Presidents for six years, in- „_ of four- They, therefore, hint that an amend_l!tof the Federal Constitution to that effect could -TmuOt carried through the present Congress, by , ■?.TnieaM Mr. Lincoln could be retained in the - SaencT until 1866, long before which time, they SSTS Union must infallibly be restored. " If," Mr- Seward's journals, "our Presidential SLjffll involved simply a change of Presidents, its l—nnenee in the midst of a great civil war, compliSdby the presence of the question of slavery, *_„ be well calculated to arouse anxiety; but in- , 2°£L _ it may a complete change in the whole _*j^ crT of our administrative system, which :'• "" JS iith the conduct of war, calling SOO.OOOmen -tottTfield, and which has to provide for a debt of . «_Booooooiols, it is something which nobody can - _£mplate without alarm." The writer, however, fcrnti that the legal amendment of the Constitution **Eacaurj to place Mr. Lincoln for two years lo—er in office—would be as exciting and dangerous J"Soeess as the ordinary election of a President. «£•__ article of the Constitution, treating •rftfce mode to be adopted for its own amendrnsst declares that two-thirds of the members of both-Houses must concur in the necessity 5 thst amendment. There might not bo much, _■ tar difficulty in that respect with tno present {Wress, where the Administration possesses a large Bujonijto both Houses; but, as the Constitution ~ S£ber prescribes that such amendments shall not be -did unless they be ratified by the Legislatures of 'thrWoaTthiCfthe several States, or by Conventions »f the people of three-fourths of the States, specially tf pobt<d for the purpose, the agitation of the subtatTOUldbe as perilous to the domestic peace of Efcomitrv at a time like this as the election it was Winded to prevent. Ujon reconsideration, the (Md supporters of the President may therefore see imm „ abandon this suggestion, and acquiesce in Ifclancoln's nomination of himself, upon the plea j .jjiMggljfl^bj Mi 000,000 SSBMlllffi l_e pliCO-holders, contractors, humanitarians, and ihasrists all act together, and have broader notions af Mr. laacoln's value to the State than the class of -tiea _i* Seward Is the representative. They -rtdw flutlr. Lincoln, like another great potentate, with itamhehas no other point of resemblance, has a • tar for anniversaries; that he would rather Ait nj of liis generals should achieve a victory on As kh of July than on the 3rd or the Kh, and that he seems to think there is peculiar BDCtujarluci attaching to the 22nd of February. X_4_ of July is the birthday of American hade«a_nee, the 22nd of February is the birthday of wWrgs Washington ; and if great things are again -tfrfe done America, it is Mr. Lincoln's belief that iTusulWU Sill 111 I» days on which to do them. Acting ~-apa* ti_ idea, the " Union Lincoln Association of Mr York," under tlie auspices of Mr. Simeon Dnasr.a* auctioneer, and formerly Provost-Marshal jf tab rity, and * committee composed of wealthy "Hsr—nte, contractor*, stockbrokers, and others, have tin instructed to make the first movement of the -fmidential campaign. In a circular addressed to attito postmasters in the country, functionaaies who - vm appointed by the party in power, and who will faiWhintly lose their situations if any other President Ha _r. Lincoln be chosen, these gentlemen have «Bs_ "oa all citiaens of United States, withont

Hgsrd to party," to meet on the 22nd of February, - *sl appropriate places within their towns, counties, - • fates, for the purpose of giving public expression )*jj~r sentiments" in Mr. Lincoln's favor. flmmlGrant is silent and quiescent, and possibly \ •&■—rant, but as a defeat in the field may make an " ttdof kit pfstsnsions it once and for ever, lie is wise iiswptng Ida own counsel. General M'Clellan is •fßsßy mate, and as no defeat of any other general c_ impair his chances, or do other than help them, MM still more prudent in tha strategy of silence. 'Wiifrwnds, however, are on the alert, and if there '■* MJ Strength or cohesion left in the Democratic Cy, or my lingering lore of liberty in the hearts of psopU, thaj will profit by all the mistakes of the ■spobbesm, nd oppose a stern front to the enW*e__nts of the Executive, and to all the attempts j[fo*'leTolutionisti (o oyertura oriet aside the - -"Wtiluuon. Tho supporters of Mr. Chase and g 1 —»1 Fremont are equally active. Neither of - _*» gentlemen, it is understood, will waive liis - 1 "* to tfci Presidency in faror of Mr. Lincoln, and, •*w sereral adherents seem to have as much faith "HM"* *—k of Washington* birthday as Mr. Lincoln, S i * l "f w * °* botn arfl tQ po i on tlie 22nd of the friends of Mr. Chase to meet at ChiJpX«d those of General Fremont at LouU-

_jfr—*hfl» the war languishes. The army of the "SJjy* attempts to "feel" the enemy across the and feels it to it sorrow. Butler makes attempt upon Richmond and is foiled, Gibnore raisps tha siege of Charleston "V_%__* ome ' —"* nobody is either surprised -SWfigßMt. A small force" is left upon Morris _Byy P9W Greek fire and shells into a city -2r' '•deral forces can annoy but which they to capture, and nobody is scandalised pettiness or the wantonness of the prompt* , flokl is up at nearly 60 per cent, premium, number of persons is alarmed, j** few who raise the warning voice are sneered •"Vcowards, denounced as traitors, or accused of JJJjpt to «bull" the market in their own

-It-ST**"- P«nrn.BQEß.~Most persons who have - *™* in Paris are aware that the porters * *hich apartments are let unfurnished ™ * w" on _1 the firswood purchased by the J*J_L - >rmer times, when nothing but wood fta_? n ? t,lttt9ed to be brought whole and sawn in • ■«___?. **** tfae P ortpr allowed to taketbe j S* "j** *» * compensation for cleaning up after- ] : »2r P*—snt, as wood is generally brought "^ tlie in ~ cts > ut lifcfle mconTC " 1j» r rf__ J* n " e<J to the porters— concierges as they t| 8( But though the reason forth© ." J Sjn_y' >^ty llaß ceased the porters have largely * Sa?fc^_r ,n * nds » M wUI be seen the following *3LftTj befoPß the T™ olll — l of Correctional ~ ; -Jfcnel y efore yesterday when a man n a med *_»L_ C * ter m the employment of M. Nozal, a -ZJ^*?- I*'1 *' was tried on a charge of illegally disr ««ls2J COal entr «st*d to him for delivery to M. ~*s»_* """*? tailor » of Ifo ' 2 » Bouvelard dcs Va °t—vers, the porter of tho house ? i an(i Hiixe, a journeyman cm*"'*t«aiSiL ' baneau, were also charged as his :Sfi|7^ m f * in receiving the same, It appearal fW ** ibUment It M. Baneau. that he

consumed in his establishment 40 sacks of coil per month, delivered in loads of 20 sack* Havinrecently suspected that he did not receive his fidl weight, he determined to investigate tho matter, and soon found that of every load .-nt by il. Xozal, one sack at least was always given by the carter to the concierge, with the connivance "of Row, his own journeyman, who also received If. each time from the carter. He accordingly lodged a complaint witli the police, and the three prisoners now appeared to take their trial. In answer to trie President's questions, the carter Miguel sit once admitted that he alvavs gave one sack out of every 10-id to the concierge, and If. in money to Roze ; in doing which he thought lie was only following an established U!»n:ic. Roze also declared that when he entered M. Baheau's service. Vautravers had said that he (Vautravers) was entitled to one sack out of every 20 supplied to tho tenants. The concierge, who was next interrogated, presented himself with the air of a man proud of a position which brought him in an income of 4000f. a year, conscious of his rights, and determined to maintain them. He boldly admittted that he had always taken one sack in 20, as he had a right to do, and as all other concierges did. The President then said, —"If the usage is universal it ought not to be, for it is nothing less than robbery." Vautravers.—" That is not my opinion. Were not concierges formerly entitled to one per cent, on the rent?" Tlie President.—"That has been replaced by an increase of wages. Ko doubt you would liketo revive the usage indirectly. I have been informed that you pretend to fix the sum tenants should give you as a present, on New Year's Day. You demanded 200f. from ono tenant, and were greatly scandalised when he would only give 50f. But to return to the charge against you. M. Baneau says that you have sometimes taken as many as five sacks of his coals in a month." Vautravers.—"The tailor may say what he pleases: I have never taken more than my right." The President, —" You have no such right, and your taking any coal at all is a robbery. M. Baneau states that, instead of being content with one-twentieth, you have taken one-sixth of the 1,200f. worth of coal* he buys yearly." Vautravers.—"l am not a thief. I keep the key of the coalcellar, and never take a bit." The President.—" Perhaps not ; there arc many people who will not openly steal, but are ever ready to purloin under some pretext or other." After hearing counsel for the defence the Tribunal declared the charges proved, and sentenced Miquel to six months' imprisonment; Vautravers to four months' ; and Roze to one ; and all three were conjointly condemned to pay IOOf. damages to M. Baneau.—Galigani.

Acclimatization.—At the annual meeting of the New South Wales Acclimatization Society, lately beld at Sydney, under the presidency of the Governor, Sir John Young, Dr. Bennett, the well-known naturalist of that city, concluded a very able report in the following terms:—" We have lately heard of acclimatization dinners in London and other places, but a dinner in New South Wales of food naturalised in the colony, occurs every day, aud a finer display cannot be surpassed in any country, for we are able to place on the table beef, mutton, pork, veal, rabbits, venison, hams, tongues, &c, &c.; our poultry market abounds in turkeys, geese, guinea fowls, pigeons, a great variety of fowls and ducks ; and the Acclimatisation Society could supply peacocks, pheasants, and BuenosAyrean ducks. Then we have our large supplies of wheat, barley, oats, and maize, and, by our system of naturalisation, are able to place brcad,*chccse, butter, EKkJE? JJW_.°_ _!!LtfillLr QL flsoulent acsßcie una noon coumioa co namo pioaaccj 10 noma have consisted of jfbbongs, fivo comers, cloud berries, lillipillies, and scarlet quandong, native currants, and tbe handsome but rather tasteless fruit of (lie Cargillia And Acllras, _i6Wn by the name of " native piling" and many others about equal in quality, and almost tasteless: indeed of these, by naturalization, we can now exhibit peaches, nectarines, pine apples, a large variety of choice apples and pears, plums, and also display oranges, lemons, citrons, shaddocks, grapes (in great Tariety), strawberries, bananas, cherries, and a number of others, the cberemoya and mango may also be included : and for oiotio flowers they are in great profusion; roses of every tint, and lillies of every hue, indeed flowering trees and plants have been collected from all parts of the world, and in a few years become naturalized—lavishing their gay and brilliant blossoms for the adornment of our gardens, gratifying by their display of bright colours, as well as by the diffusion of their fragrance. Well may Australia be distinguished as a land of fragrant flowers and delicious fruits, for by acclimatization they are produced in great abundance. I will conclude by relating an instance of so much interest being taken in a valuable product being introduced and naturalised, that at Quito (in South America) they show to this day in a Franciscan convent, the earthen vessel which had contained the first wheat sown there by a monk, a native of Flanders, in front of his convent, after cutting down the original forest. Humboldt says, in connection with this fact—' Would that the names had been preserved, not of those who made the earth desolate by bloody conquests, but of those, who intrusted to it first these its fruits, so early associated with the civilisation of mankind.'"

Hoy ours at Cambridge.—lt appaars chat 104 gentlemen took honours at Cambridge this year, of whom 43 were wranglers. In 1863 the number was 100, and there wero S3 wranglers; in 1862 the number was 85, and there were 32 wranglers ; in 1861 the numbsr was 93, and there were 34 wranglers ; and in 1860 the number was 121, and there were 38 wranglers. On the restrictions as to the Classical Tripos beiug removed in 1861, the mathematical honour-list perceptibly diminished in numbers. Trinity College this year, in addition to the senior, second, and fourth wranglers, claims 13 other wranglers ; seven representatives of this great College are among the first twelve wranglers. The senior wrangler is Mr. JV H. Furkiss, of Trinity College, and formerly of the City of London School and the University of London. Mr.Purkis3 obtained a foundation sizarship at Trinity a few months after coming into residence, and his University career has been throughout a brilliant success. — Times.

Livebboql and Bibkejjhead.—The Liverpool and Birkenhead authorities are about to have another battle in Parliament concerning dock extension on tlie Liverpool side. The Mersey Docks and Harbor Board are about to apply to Parliament for powers to raise £875,000, to be expended on new docks for the steam and other trades at the extreme north and of Liverpool. At the monthly meeting of the Birkenhead Commissioners yesterday it was resolved to petition against the Rill of the Mersey Board. The chairman entered into a lengthy explanation of the motives for thus contending that Parliament had repeatedly decided that no furthei extensions were to be made at Liverpool until the Birkenheadlworks were completed. If the Birkenhead dopks were completed with proper appliances there would, he said, be ample accommodation for tho whole of the trade of the ports, and the commissioners would be unworthy of their trust, as representing not enly local but national interests, if they did not oppose the useless expenditure of £875,000, in order to save the dock rate payers and the commerce of the world from paying interest upon such an outlay. They also opposed the bill because there -was nothing with, regard to any improvement of the approaches to the river side. It was resolved to solicit the support of the borough and county (Cheshire) members in making the opposition successful.— Manchester Courier.

Sebastopoi.—"The operations of Messrs. Teliatnokoff and Dolgolenko to clear the mouth of the port of Sebastopol," says the Invalide Eusse, " are going on. At the first barrier have been removed the corvette Pylade?, the frigate Flora, and the ships Grawrul and ISilistria, as well as in part the ships Warna and Ouriel. At the second barrier have been removed tlie ships Twelve Apostles, Tchesme, Swiatoslaw, Empress Marie, the Yagoudil, and the frigate Kagoul, but all of them more or less damaged. The works are executed by means of eight large boats and a steamer of 55-horse power, and of several engines purchased at Paris. Our Russian workmen | pursue and acliieve the work with wonderful intelligence and success."

Fkom Wilmington to Nassau. —Running the blockade is now-a-days so common that tragic accounts of narrow escapes of blockade-runners' experiences are almost without interest. Notwithstanding all that lias been published on the subject, the contents of a letter received from an officer of the steamer Fanny give so much of the novel that we gladly give them publicity. Pacing over the outward trip and liis description of Wilmington—which, by the way, he says, is full of cotton and of steamers to take it— we come to the day of sailing. All, says he, was rcadj*, cotton and tobacco all stored, steam up, when • lie protest guard came on board. All hands, passengers and all, were called up and underwent a strict examination. They were detained on deck while a search was made below, and all places where a surreptitious passenger might conceal nimself underwent a close investigation. All being found correct, away we go down the river to near the " foot," where we come to, and are boarded by another party of soldiers. They were provided with a machine, in the shape of a large syringe, filled with some chymical mixture known in that locality as the " sneezing compound." This stuff was vigorously pumped into every possible or impossible place where a person could be concealed. Any one subjected to its influence in close quarters must sneeze or come out. It is said to be a villainous compound of stink and tickle which no person can sustain and live. All parts had been fumigated but the coal bunkers, and they were so closely packed with bags of coal that it seemed impossible for a cat, much less a man, to be concealed therein. Hut no j in goes the sneezing compound, and out comes a suppressed sneeze, quickly followed by a vigorous expletive. In a few minutes out comes one, then another, till four, anything but jolly Duichmen, black as negroes, half-smothered, and sneezing with a 20-horse power, stood on deck. They were immediately taken in charge, and escorted ashore, very much against their inclination. At night the Fanny stood away for the bar, and after a very near chance of running into one of the blockading squadron, got safely over and to sea.— Liverpool Courier.