Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-11-17
THE RESULT.

1t will be seen that our latest despatche:
give the information that General Winfield
Scott, as the Wing candidate for the Presi
dency, has received only the votes of two
States for that office. 4 friend asked US q
day or two ago to what we attributed this
overwhelming defeat. We answered to thr
good sense of the American people. Be,
meath the frivolous party excitement there is
we are fully convinced, an under current OIL
sound sense, which, on extraordinary occa.
sions like the present, makes itself felt
throug hout the land.
Between the qualifications Of the two in
dividuals for the office sought there was no
comparison. Winfield Scott had not the
first qualification that we know of-and the
people have rejected him. The American
people are beginning to distrust the policy
Of electing military chieItans to the highest
civil office, and they have emphatically pro-
nounced against it. The political alliances
which General Scott had formed were repug,
nant to sound political conservatism, and
the people of the United States have given
the most overwhelming demonstration ever
made by them against the higher law doc.
trincs of Sewardism and Greeleyisnl. The
South could not trust the renowned chieltain,
who, in politics, was beyond all doubt the
standard bearer OF the abolition wing Of the
northern wings. For these reasons, rather
than the comparative strength of the two
political parties of the Union, the great Cen
eral, never before defeated, has met with tho
most complete discontinue ever suffered by
any political aspirant. Let others profit by
the lesson taught with SO much emphasis.
In Franklin Pierce, we simpl y recognize
the honest, straig aight.forwarl citizen, gifted
with fair talents aud abilities, and in every
way competent to administer the govern
ment. lie sought not the office, and his
past history shows that he never WAS amb.
tious for Office. Comparativc y retired from
political turmoil and strife, and free from the
trammels of party chicancry, having been
selected BY one Of the great parties of tue
Uuion as proper man to be chosen Presi.
dent, he has received the largest electoral
vote ever given TO an aspirant for that office
since the foundation Of the government. 4
man assuming the reins Of government over
thiyty-onc conlederated, though independent,
sovercignties, by the emphaticaly expressed
will of twenty-nine OF these sovereignties,
and thus placed at the head Of the affairs Of
a nation Of 25,00o,000 of people, is spec,
taclo which the civilized world has rarely
seen. Such an election brings to the pos,
-sessorsof the Office Almost tftremcndousft tes-
possibility, and willie it may gratIy the
individual, must impose upon Il conscientious
chief magistrate an unusual weight of care,
anxiety, and toll. franklin Pierce is not
merely the successful party aspirant-hc is
the almost unanimously chosen President of
the American people. Every right.minded
man, whatever may have been his political
creed, in the faithful discharge Of his duty as
Il citizen, must give such Il President, i'll the
legitimate administration Of the government,
a most cordial support.
Another fact, we thiul, is established by
the result of this election, and that is the
versi6cation of Daniel Wcbster's prophecy,
that the Whig party is dcinrct as Il national
party. The cardinal and leading doctrines
OF that party have been rcpudiated by the
people; whilst on the other hand, those Of
the Democratic party have become cngralt,
ed on the national polty. New issues, there.
fore must be sprung whcreon to rally the
scattered forces OF the old Wing party.
Another deduction to be drawn from the
remarkable result of this election, is the al-
most universal ratification of the so.called
compromise on slavery issues. South Caro-
lima, in casting her vote for Pierce, did not
thereby endorse the measures alluded to !;
but it is an undeniablc fact that Franklin
Pierce, with great consistency, from the be.
ginning, not only expressed his acquiescence
in these measures, but gave them his hearty
approval. 1t cannot be far erroneous, there
fore, to conclude that the compromise meas.
ures are most emphatically ratified, in the
unprecedented vote which he has received
from all sections Of thc Union.
Itis different question, however and one
which the future alone can solve, whether
the administration OF the President elect will
be able to execute the ouly measure of the
series worth anything to the South-the
! Fugitive Slave Law. We doubt it. And,
moreover, we believe, that Il widespread and
almost universal cohesion Of the antislavery
hosts Of the North will now be attempted
Foiled and defeated now, they will unqnes-
tionably rally all their strength at the next
favorable opportunity. If Mr. Pieree's adj
ministration be conservative, and the South:
crn people true to themselves, a blow may
may be given to Southern fanaliyism from
which it may never recover. 1t will be well
for us of tile South, while giving our conf.
dencc and support to Il conservative and
republican administration, to watch with
scrutiny the progress of events. ln tlli:
course rests our only security and safety.
South Ca:on'an.
Mn. WEBrER's DEnrs.-Tlie Boston
! Transcript states that at Il meeting OF the
citizens OF Manchester, N. H., on Sunday
evening last, the Rev. Mr.. Davis, who has jus'
returned from Marshfrld, remarked
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