The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-15
The Pennsylvan,a Election.


The Pennsylvania Election.
a.a
From the Philadelphia North american, October Ia.
The result Of the election in this State on Tues
day, though very different from what we could
have wished, has neither surprised alarmed US,
nor, 20 far our observation extends, has II in
any degree disheartened our party. To friends at
distance who have sought our opiuions we have
invariably said that, while the vote Of Pennsylva-
MIA was certain for Scott, there was great danger
that we might be defeated in the October election,
and that by very considerable majority.
Our reason for this belief was derived from
the experience and observation of many years,
which taught US the extreme difficulty, nay the
almost certain impossibity, of inducing the Wings
to make a full turn out of their numbers unless
upon some extraordinary emergency. The Locofo
cos-and they deserve all praise for it--look upon
the exercise of the right of suffrage valuable
privilege which they are never willing to forego
In all weathers, and under all circumstances and
no matter how unimportant the officers to be
chosen, they throng to the polls on election day.
In sunshine and in storm, there they are; and they
make 1t a matter Of conscience never to neglect
this duty. Even in localities where they are in
hopeless minorities, they are always found at their
posts; and so OF places where their majorities are
assured, they never pretermt their exertions. On
the other hand, too many-by far too many
Wings regard voting as labor, which they are
always disposed to avoid unless come special end
is to be accomplished. Unless there happens to be
some very exciting controversy, they cannot be
Induced to take any practical part In is settlement.
Where they are too few to make successful resist
ance, they surrender without a struggle; and
where their triumph is placed beyond conjecture,
they are content to win it without caring to make
1t exemplary.
Now 1t SO happened that neither of the State Off
GERS voted for on Tuesday was considered by this
class as of any great importance. The Canal Com
missioner, it was felt, being in a minority in the
Board, could exercise no control its action and
1t was, therefore, not held worth while to make any
special effort to elect Hoffman; and as to the Judge,
as it was hardly to be supposed his political princi
Piles could influence his judicial conduct there was
no urgent necessity to defeat Woodward, So ar
gued-most absurdly and alaciousy, it 10 true, but
still 30 argued-these stay at-home Wings; and the
result was that thousands of them never went near
the ballot-boxes. Besides this, in the strong Whig
counties the local tickets were all presumed to be
80 sure Of election, that large numbers Of voters
would not trouble themselves to vote, because they
could see no pressing occasion for doing SO. In
consequence OF this feeling Of indifference, the
Wing vote of Tuesday fell very far below it's usual
amount, especially in the Wing strongholds; while.
on the other hand the Locofocos brought out their
whole strength, and particularly in those places
where they are strongest. There were accidental
circumstances, also, which swelled the vote of
Woodward and Hopkins in certain II ighborhoods,
which we may have occasion to discuss hereafter
We have not the slightest doubt that the twenty
seven electoral votes of Pennsylvania will be given
to General Scott. Tens of Thousands Of Wings,
who would not lose the time nor incur the trouble
necessary to reach the polls, when merely local,
and as they unwisely considered them unimpor.
tant issues were at stake, will mngle actively in
the Presidential contest; and hundreds upon hun
dreds of Democrats who on Tuesday voted with
their own party will cast their ballots for the gal
liant old veteran whose name now shines 90 conspi-
cuously in his country's history. and whose fame
will hereafter be among ito priceless inheritances
There is scarcely man who cannot find within
the sphere Of his own observation one or more
Democrats who have avowed their determination
to 60 for Scott; and there are much larger num-
bers that intend to go for him who do not choose
openly to declare their purposes. z
The turn out in this State in November will be
greater than any we have heretofore had. The
causes which on Tuesday led to indifference will
no longer exist. and the Wings will be found
marching in solid and unbroken column to the
achievement OF brilliant victory. In regard to
their llustrous leader there is no dssenson in their
ranks; all honor and reverence and love him, and
all are burning with impotence to manifest to-
wards him substantial tokens of gratitude and es-
teen.
At this moment, while returns are coming to US
from different points of the State showing that
our friends have been careless to the result of
Tuesdays election, assurances reach us from all
quarters that in the great fight which is approach.
ing we may look for an earnestness, spirit, an
enthusiasm which have not been paralleled Here
in our own vicinity the friends ofScott were never
more confident of carrying this State than they
are now; and in their temporary defeat they find
motives to such exertions as cannot fail to COM
mand success.