The New York Herald

The Contest in Maryland.

[From the Washington Star.]

From the fact that the democratic majority in Maryland is so sweepingly large it has been supposed that there would not be a sufficiently sharp contest there in November to bring out the full vote; but we learn that the leaders of that party are organizing for a close and effective canvass of the State, with a view to running up a vote for Seymour and Blair that shall put Maryland in a position to wake its influence felt with the incoming administration, which administration every Maryland democrat, infected, perhaps, by the sanguine opinions of Montgomery Blair, believes implicitly will be Seymour and Blair. They estimate that the vote of the State will reach 110,000, and of this they are not willing to concede to Grant more than from 15,000 to 20,000. The total vote of Maryland for Governor in 1867 was 85,492; majority of Oden Bowie over Bond, 41,712. In 1864 the whole vote for President was 72,502; Lincoln's majority 7,414. In 1860 the whole vote for President was 92,142; democratic majority, 8,754. In 1868 both branches of the Legislature were unanimously democratic. In fact not a single republican candidate was elected, we believe, to any executive or legislative office in the State.

The main point of interest this year will be in the contest in the democratic ranks for Congressmen in the different districts. As nomination this year is equivalent to an election the contest will be mainly in the primary meetings, which take place the last of this month, to elect delegates for the nominating conventions, which meet all through the State on the 9th of September. The State Democratic Convention to nominate an electoral ticket and prepare for the canvass meets in Baltimore on the 3d of September.

In the First Congressional district (Eastern shore) the competitors are numerous. Among them are Hiram McCullough, of Cecil, the present member; Daniel M. Henry, of Dorchester, and Samuel Hambleton, of Talbot. The chances seem to lie between Hambleton and Henry, both strong men, as McCullough has served the two terms which, according to Maryland usage, is allotted to a Representative in Congress.

In the Second district (Harford county and portions of Baltimore city and county) Stevenson Archer will doubtless be renominated, as he has served but one term and there seems to be no dissatisfaction to him.

In the Third district (thirteen wards of Baltimore city), the contest will be between Governor Thomas Swann, Robert J. Brent and Chris. A. Buchanan. The recently appointed Senator, Pinckney Whyte, was a candidate for Congress in this district, and, according to Baltimore gossip, his appointment to the Senate by Governor Swann was with a view to getting him out of the way of competition with himself for Congress. It is probable that Swann will get the nomination.

In the Fourth district (Upper Maryland) the candidates are J. Philip Roman, of Alleghany; A. K. Syester, of Washington; William P. Maulsby, of Frederick, and Frederick K. Nelson, also of Frederick. The contest seems to lie between Roman and Syester, with the chances in favor of Roman, as Syester has the disadvantage of belonging to a county already represented in Congress by the election of Senator Hamilton.

The contest in the adjoining Fifth district has some local interest from the fact that several of the candidates named are gentlemen well known in Washington. Among the names presented are Joseph H. Bradley, Sr., William Dove (formerly in the plumbing business in this city), Judge Samuel H. Berry and E. B. Prettyman, of Montgomery county, and the present incumbent, Frederick Stone, of Port Tobacco. Mr. Stone will undoubtedly be renominated on the two term principle.