The southern press., 1851-08-27
THE SOJJTHERN PRESS.
The Recent Elections.

Inc h6Ctmt EiCethVnns
The results of the late elections are now SUI
ficiently known to Indicate the present and fu-
ture position of the people on the great questions
of the day, in the States where the elections have
been held.
In Indiana Mr.. McGAUGHEY, the late member
of Congress and candidate for the Terre Haute
or central western district of the State, has been
defeated He is Wing; he supported the
Wilmot Proyiso and opposed the Mexican war.
He is man of decided talent; yet, for support
ing the Fugitive-slave law, he has been defeated
The New York Tribune alledges that his sue
cessful competitor, Mr.. J. G. DAVIS, is a Free
soil Democrat We don't know how that is .
but Mr.. McGAUGHEY was elected before. by a
large majority, and now of course he has been
deserted by large portion Of his party.
In the Richmond, or central eastern district OF
the State, recently represented by MIR. JuLIAs,a
Free-soi Democrat, Mr.. s. W.PARKER, is elect
ed. II is said that he proclaimed himself bet
Ter Freesoiler than JULIAN; but we do not know
this to be the fact. It seems probable, from the
large numerical superiority of the Wings in that
district, and the success Of JULIAN before by
junction of the Democrats and Freesoilers. In
the Fort Wayne district, Mr.. BORDEN has sue
ceeded over Mr.. BRENToN, Free-soil Wing, by
small majority and we observe that the Iri.
bune claims one or two Others of the members
) elect as Freesoers However this may be, it
seems that Free-soil doctrine is stronger in In
diana than 1t was at the election before. The
parties stand now two Whig-the rest Demo
cratic. Mr.. HANNEGAN, ex-senator Of the U. s.,
was candidate for the Legislature in McGAUGH.
EY's district, and was defeated. He asserted the
rights of the South.
In Kentucky Democrat has been elected
Governor for the first time in many years. This
event is due, in great degree, to the slavery
question. Mr. Dixon, the Wing candidate, was
strong opponent to emancipation, when the
constitution of that State vas lately amended
Yet, although he warmly supported the compro.
mise, he failed to get the full vote of his party
iuany of whom were in favor of emancipation
On the contrary, between three and four thous
and votes were given to CAssIUs M. CLAY fol
Governor, an open and avowed advocate of en-
ancpation This vote is much larger than was
expected by intelligent politicians of the State
They knew the number of this class was much
greater than even that. But it was expected
they would net appear at the polls. They have
however, committed themselves and thus has
appeared for the first time in Southern State
Free-soil balance of power party, and already
is It strong enough to control the vote OF the
State, as between the two pre-existing parties
of Wing and Democrat-for the majority O.
POWELL is over one thousand. When il is con-
sidered that each Of the OLE parties is thus de.
pendent on this new one for success, and when
we reflect on the probable patronage which the
federal government will extend in future to thi'
new party, we will understand the significance
of the mt movement.
In Tennessee the Democrats have been de.
feated-thanks to the shallow cant OF Union
made by few prominent men of the party, anc
their attempt to demoralize the Nashville Con
yention. Governor TRoUsDALE, it seems, woulc
not join in this cant, nor congratulate the South
on the dishonor and disgrace Of the compromise
lie knew too well the sentiment of the mass o.
Tennessee Democrats. But he has been de-
feated by the detection of those who listened tc
che silly and suicidal course of those who op
posed the Nashville Convention, and supported
the compromise measures. Gov. TRousDALE
has been defeated, but he has the confidence o.
iis party.
Ia Alabama the contest has been more in
tense aud important than in the other States
The result is the reelection of Gov. COLLIER
who openly asserted the right of secession; ano
that is great point gained. Then there are
two, and very nearly four. members elected tC
Congress who denounced The compromise.
The political history of this country shows
that every party which has undertaken to resis
federal usurpation, has at first been beaten.-
Such is the case now. But the display o.
strength recently made in this last movement
however inferior to the hopes of its friends, has
largely exceeded the expectations of its enc
snies They thought that the cry of Unior
would be overwhelming; they proclaimed that
whoever would not fall down and worship the
idol of Union at the sound Of the organs, i
harp sackbut and psalter, should be cast into
the dungeon Of intamy and treason. But the
edict has been treated with scorn by large
body Of the most intelligent and patriotic poo
pie of the South and the cry of Union is now
generally regarded as the expedient of dema
gogues to escape from argument, and TO obtair
the spoils of government. The compromise has
been weakened in Indiana; it has been con
demned in Kentucky; it is barely endured il
Alabamy; II has been endorsed in Tennessee
10 Car as recent elections indicate.
In North Carolina every opponent Of the com
promise in the last Congress has been reelected
and we believe by increased and overwhelming
maiorities. Its most nctve supporter, Mr. STAN
b,y on,,a thraa hun nd raf