Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-02-24
copy a paragraph or twOo of his spoculations and

copy II paragraph or two of his speculations and
counsel e
"Thus, in the election of Wilson, and the re-elec
ton of Seward, we have the key to the next Presi-
Dental campaign. 1t will be II sectional canvass,
q medley, II confused guerilla fight, q scrub race.
No Democratic Baltimore Convention can patch up
n platform that will stand on both sides Of Mason
ard Dixon's line. 1t will be top-heavy, and must
fall over, on one side or the other. No wing ma
tional platform will. We dare say, be attempted.
We shall probably have a Northern coalition anti
slavery ticket u Northern Democratic conserva-
tive ticket, so Ear as convenient a Southern Dem
ocratic ticket a SOuther opposition ticket, and
independent electoral Know-Nothing tickets in all
the States, leaving the issue of their candidates for
President, as far as they are concerned, North and
South, to be determined in a national council.-
Among these conflicting sectional parties and fac
tions, She election of the next President will prob
ably be thrown upon the House of Representa-
tiyes, and there the Constitution has provided a
rescue.
The Constitution ordains that in the event of n
failure to elect a President by the people, the three
highest candidates shall go up to the House OF
Representatives, and that one of them shall there
be chosen. But in the mode of this election lies
the self-protecting reservation TO the South. Each
State shall only cast one vote; and thus Florida,
with only one representative in the House, will be
equal to New-lurk with her thirty-three. There
are now thirty-one States-sixteen free States. and
nllceD sldNC GllleS, liCluulDp tldWHTt II
North have a majority of one vote but in the con
fict between rival Northern Candidates, the vote
of California will be sufficient to turn the scale in
favor of any conservative candidate upon whom
the South may be united.
From the present complexion of things, then, i
will be the policy of the South, in the next Presi
dental canvass, to secure one of the three highes
candidates from the people, as a candidate before
the House. Otherwise they may have to choos'
between three men each man of them more or les;
pledged against the extension OF slavery in ali,
shape or form.
The anti-slavery sentiment, as illustrated in tn,
election of Wilson, and tho return Of Seward t
the Senate, with the support Of the Enow-Nothing
lis paramount and predominant IN the North. AM
t cannot be resisted. 1t will give II sectional charnc
ter to the Presidential campaign, while the diver
sion of Know-Nothings, and the independent frag
ments Of the old parties will reduce the contest T.
a scrul, race Of the highest excitement and impUr
tance, not unmixcd with the elements of secession
and disunion.
In this view, we repeat. it is the policy OF tn
South to abandon all Baltimore Conventions, an
make sure of their candidate for the house of Re
rescntatives, There the Know othings may com
to the rescue. Who knows? Who can tell no,
whether this mysterious but powerful party wi
exist intact so long? 1t may in the interval be brt
ken up and dispersed. There are some symptom
of this in this State and in Massachusetts, Thei
Oaths of submission are too ligid, their disciplin
, \ TOO ucSpotlc, long TO hulu Independent, 1rce hor
men together. They must reform this feature
l their sacred mysteries. Where a pledge Of honC
c cannot be relied upon in politics, vain are the II
straints Of inquisitorial espionage, spells and to
lures. These things will not answer. The rebe
r lion at Albany provcsit. Let the Know-Nothins
I act accordingly, or abandon at once all their est
mates Of the Presidency.
Ii In any eveat, North and South, let all rarti,
prepare for the most exciting and momentous scru
race for the succession. Let all the outstandil
candidates put meant have too many. Let Il
South make sure Of ono for the House. 1t
the last chance against Seward and his Norther
coalition,