The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-11-07


The Election
This is a great day for the United States. Great
not on account of the interests involved in the ISSUE
though they are by no means trihing; not on ac-
count of the feelings excited the passions enlisted
and the ten thousand personal aspirations end self
ish purposes depending upon the result; but great
as an example to the world of the manner in which
civilized man should effect his revolutions and adapt
his institutions to the progress of the race in know
ledge and in virtue. 1t is our day Of revolutions in
which Governments are set up or overturned with
out bloodshed, systems of policy confirmed or con-
demned without the aid of the bayonet the can
non, and laws established or changed without the
accompaniment Of beseged cities, devastated fields,
mangled corpses, or widows and orphans - 81
The ballot box is the terrible instrument our
warfare, the disappointment Of rising ambition he
worst consequence to the defeated party, and HE
arduous duties of governing, subject to universal
censorship and faut-fnding, about the only trophies
of the victor. But how happy is our condition
compared with the rest of the world! France, and
Germany, and Ireland even our neighbors of
Mexico-what history has been theirs during the
year that is past what history must it be for
years to come With them political changes are
produced only by those tremendous commissions
which shake society to its foundations, destroying
public confidence and private security, and attain
ing the smallest improvement, at last, only by
wading through oceans Of blood, and paving the way
with quivering human hearts. How immeasuraby
we in advance of the most civilized nations of
the earth, in the possession Of political system
which may be peacefully adapted to all exigencies
how thankful should we be that the blessing ours
and how devoted and vigilant TO preserve it unim-
paired, and transmit it TO our posterity improved and
strengthened
The excitement of a canvass-the newspaper
squib, the stump speech, the song, hurrah and pa
rade, are legitimate means of achieving victory in
the contest-even a little irritation, and some
trckery, cannot be avoided-but when the ballot is
deposited and the will of the majority known, all
tile agitated elements subside into quietude. The
opponents of to-day will be the friends and brothers
of tomorrow, alike rejoicing or acquiescing in the
declared will of the people. And why should it
it not be 80! We may be divided on great princi-
pies, we may disagree as to important measures,
and we may have our favorite men; but, we are
are fain to believe that one and all are animated
by the same patriotic feelings and that both sides
have alike in view the prosperity, welfare, and
glory of our common country.
this city, but throughout the United States, will
be conducted in such manner as to leave the
peaceful and order-loving population no cause to
blush for their felIow-men, or to regret the oc-
currences of the day. Why should men quarrel
because they differ in opinion-why assail each
other when ten or a hundred lives cannot change
a vote, but may be the means, if persisted in,
of leading our country back to the barbarism
from which we have happily escaped Keep cool,
fellow-citizens! your country does not require the
sacrifice of your valuable lives-you are of far
more use living than dead-your exertions in rails
ing potatoes rolling cotton bales is of more ad-
vantage to the commonwealth than the manure
which could be obtained from your decomposed
bodies-the very worst use you can be put to is to
be killed. Therefore, lay aside your revoIvers,
put away your bowie-knives, and go to voting. If
you are victorious, give loud hurrah-if you are
defeated, grin and bear it; for you may be assured
that it viii make real difference to one out of
thousand of you, fifty years hence, who is elected
and as to the country, it has been ruined so often
and hourishes so amazingly Notwithstanding that
we may indulge the hope that il will not be alto
gether obliterated from the map of the world whe
Their Cass or Taylor has the dispensation of Execu
tive favors, or Butler Fillmore presides in the
Senate.