Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-29
Tha prosnect.

The prospect
In less than a week the Presidential contest
will be decided and the partizans of the several
candidates become more and more solicitous as
10 the result us tho day of election approaches.
The question is propounded 10 US countless times
every day,-"What are the prospects of Mr..
Fillmore Waterman what of the night?-
We are not prophets nor the sons of prophets,
and therefore we would not desire implicit re-
lance to be placed in our predictions, were we
disposed to indulge in that amusement; but 50
far rs our views may seem reasonable, we COM
mend them to the consideration of the friends
of Mr.. Fillmore, and especially TO those who may
have been cast down by the results ofthe recent
elections at the North 1t is true that different
face has been put upon the aspect of the canvass
by these results but to our mind they ought not
TO dishearten the friends of Mr.. Fillmore, or
cause them to relax for ono instant their exer-
tions 10 secure his election. Let us look for a
moment at things as they were before the cleo
tons and as they are now. Then the friends of
the Union were trembling in their shoes, lest
the triumph OF the Republicans and the election
of Fremont should lead to the most disastrous
consequences, and that immediately y portion of
the Southern people, led on by men high i'll Of
fetal station, had openly avowed their determina-
ton not TO submit to the election of such man,
and whether right or wrong, there can be no
doubt that terrible commotion, if not revolution
and bloodshed, would have been the consequence
of Black Republican triumph Thousands Of
men at the South, fearing the election of Ere
mont, and desiring to AVOID the consequences of
his election, had abandoned Mr.. Fillmore, their
first choice, and determined to support Buehan-
an, under the impression, however mistaken, that
he alone could defeat the Black Republican can
didate. 1t is undenable that this idea pressed
with untiring industry by the Democratic press
and orators, had Withdrawn more votes from
Willard Fillmore than all other arguments CON-
bined.
Now the result Of the recent elections estab
fishes the fact beyond all controversy that the
election of Fremont is an utter impossibility, land
consequently all fears for the safety of the T.
Mon, so far rs he is concerned ARE entirely ground
less. The contest is thus narrowed down to
Buchanan and Fillmore, and the thousands who
had fallen into the Democratic ranks,w return
to their first love, il they were honest in the rea-
son assigned for their desertion. 1t seems ration
al to calculate then, upon an increased strength
for Fillmore at the South, now that the election
of Fremont is acknowledged on all hands to be
out of the question.
We argue in like manner in regard to the
North. The strength of the Republican party
has been tested and they have been found want
ing. If they had succeeded in Pennsylvania and
Indiana, they would have been encouraged in
the fight defeated in those States, they must
perceive that the game is mp with them, and
choose between Buchanan and Fillmore, which
ever in their opinion may be the lesser OF the two
evils Buchanan is t'ie Sectional candidate OPP
posed to them, and it is not probable that they
will sustain him. Fillmore is the National can
didate, and it is more probable that he would be
their choice. We conclude, therefore, in view
of the utter hopelesSness ofthe Republican cause,
that Mr. Fillmore's strength will be largely IN
creased at the North as well as the South, and
that the probabilities of his election are not dim
inshed to say the least of it, by the triumph OF
the Democrats in Pennsylvania and Indiana.
We can perceive no cause of Encouragement,
and if the friends OF Fillmore and the Union
exert themselves with an energy and zeal wor-
thy of their candidate and their cause, Old Buck
will be found tagging behind, painting beneath
tho WEIGHT of "Federal notions aud low wages,
Souatter-Soyeregnty and Filhbusterism.