The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-21
From The Charleston Mercury.
THE SIGNS OF THE TINES.

Bentons defeat in Missouri and the triumph of the de-
mocracy in Arkansas, Texas North Carolina and Ken
tucky-whch last supposed TO be the stronghold of
the American party in the South-have produced
strange revulsions- The Benton democrats in
formed have dropped their electoral ticket and united
with the Bentonites while the Fillmore party has d
vided into wings-the southern going for Buchanan
and the northern for Fremont These statements not
yet positively verified bat their truth is very probable
We indebted teegraphic reports for the for
mer and to that of the Standard for the latter.
So far as Mr. Fillmore is concerned this course Of his
friends but realizes what the elections have made appa
ren-the hopeessness Of his in the South well
the North.
The letters OF the two senators from Maryland advising
the people of tina, State support Mr. Buchanan went far
to eIngush his hopes where before they were ssngune
and confident And then this in Kentucky complete
" bewdeed all the calculations Of his friends and fore
told his doom in the other southern States Mr. Fmores
only expectations in the South At the North there
a single State upon which reasonable hope
could be based and therefore in the face Of these deve
opmenB the South, nothing left but TO write the
verdict already declared and withdraw him from the
field To remain would be only ebarrass the
OF others, without benefting himself Regarding Mr..
Fillmore then in fact out OF the contes-whether with
drawn MOTT becomes matter Of interest TO consider
what effect his Withdrawal will have upon the chances Of
the two oompetitors-BuchanAn and Fremont.
In the first place it is clear that 1t win not affect Mr.
Buchanan prospects in the South The elections
show how united the South is in support Of the democratic
nominee and how idle the efforts Of the opposition
Mr. Fillmores withdrawal therefore win only secure TO
Mr. Buchanan larger majones in the South without in
any way affecting the final result Mr. Buchanans strength
in the electoral college, far the South concerned
will be neither increased diminished by any Mr.
Flmore's friends may see ct to pursue.
But how will il affect Mr. Buchanan the North This
is the point important to the result With the inf
mite shades Of existing opinions the force Of merely local
interests and preudioes the anmostes Of old party di-
visions and the thousand other elements which must enter
into the calculation it is Of course impossible predict
with accuracy what will be the effect the North OF the
withdrawal Of Mr.. Fillmore. But this point think,
must be admitted all hAnds-tha II will bring TO Mr..
Buchanan support the conservative feeling hitherto wasted
on Mr. Fillmore Divided between Mr. Buchanan and Mr..
Fillmore the conservatives Of the North offered in
States easy victory black repubcanism But uni
ted in favor Of Mr. Buchanan they viii improve bis pros
poets where till now they have been gloomy II cannot
be supposed that between the democratic par
~ and black rePublinsm, the northern conservatives
will hesitate in their choice.
On the other hand II is stated that Mr. Fmores north
ern friends intend withdraw him in favor Of Fremont
strange specimen Of party faith, when Mr. Fillmore bias
declared that be regarded the Of Fremont the
dissolution Of the UnionP But II does appear mprob
aole, When we renect mat MT maven member OF tne
House from New York. formerly the law partner and now
the confidential political adviser Of Mr. Fillmore voted
with the black republicans in their abolition amend
the appropriation bills The withdrawal Of Fill
more will, therefore give to Buchanan the conservative
and to Fremont the freeso portion Of his party II will
the contest down to single issue between the dem
oeratc party and black repubcanfsm 1t will present to
the North the simple question: whether the South Is her
equal in this confederacy not II win league all the
elements Of Awsssness fansticsm and sectional ambition
against the constitutional rights Of the South and finally
upon The issue Of mo slave States il viii decide
whether there is at the North party true to the South
and capable Of protecting her against the sggresons Of
abolition whether in word the South can consistently
with her existence free people, continue in the Union
We agree with the New York Tribune that the sooner this
issue tried and determined the better for all parties