Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-11-19
THE UNION AND AMERICAN AS A POLITICAL
PROPHET.

THE UNION AND AMERICAN AS POLITICAL
PROPHET
For years it has been the habit OF our oppo-
nents to deprecate, on all occasions, this paper.
Particularly during the late canvass, we have fur
nishsd the opposition stumpers and presses the |
most prominent subject of attack and comment. |
Any person ignorant of the issues and the csndi-
dates would have supposed, from the attention |
paid to it by the know nothing speakers, that it
vas of more consequence with them to break
down the influence of this paper than to defeat
BUCHANAN.
Now we don't care the value of q brass farthing
for all this. We rather like it. But the fact that
it has been so, gives us the right, now that the
election is over, to ask the public to turn to our
files and see how exactly we predicted the results
which have Gene TO pass. Our statements were
based upon reliable information, and we invariably
moderated the estimates of those who, in our
Judgment were oyer-sanguine.
Thus, we claimed this State by si1 thousand.
This was not hap-hszsrd guess. We conversed
with men from almost every county, and recorded
their opinions. We also had numerous letters from
every county. From all these letters and verbal
opinions we made up q table, showing gains of s.
500, and giving us the State by 1900. But that
we might be certainly right, we struck of l.
600, and claimed 6,0OO. Had we published our
estimate as originally prepared, we should almost
exactly have hit the actual majority. In thirty
counties, the result varies less than thirty votes
from our original table.
We mention these facts to show the care with
which our estimate was prepared, and the accura-
cy of our information. We have right to ask the
public to contrast these estimates with those of
many who are loudest in throwing discredit on our
statements Our friends have lost no money by
believing our predictions.
The same care has characterized all our state
ments in regard to other States. When, in Octo-
ber we thought the result of the election in Penn
sylvanis doubtful, we frankly said so. Indeed,
some of our friends have complained that we were
too careful, and made some States doubtful about
which there was really no doubt.
We refer our readers to only one other of our
estimates. On our return from trip through the
northern States, last July, we wrote the following
article. Our readers will find it by referring to the
Daily of the 10th July:
PoITIoAL PRosPFcTs.-As Is known TO readers, one
Of the Editors paper been absent for
Our engagements called to Cincinnati during
Democratic Convention in that city, and West POin
during the examination at the Military Academy WeWere
long enough of the large States form decided
opinion after mixing with well informed men, Of the chances
of the present Presidential campaign.
Nothing is clear any visiting the Northern
that only real in those States be-
BUCHANAN and FREMONT. In the Northern States in
which FILLMORE is Strongest he will still be very far behind
candidates. There is serious effort being
him nOn-slavehoding States, except New
York. there he will be very badly beaten both by FRE
and BUCHANAN. Any other representation than this
opinion entirely false and deceptive We entertain
doubt whatever that Mr. BUCHANAN will receive the yOte
syUaRa, Indiana, Mem Jersey Illinois, and Cali
torHa of ncn-slavehoding States. Our friends coun
confidently also the States of Maine, New Hampshire
Connecticut and Wisconsin. part all Of these State
may Democratic ticket The remaining nOn-slaVe
holding States think, will for FRENoET certainly
OF them for FILLMORE. Mr. BUCHANAN Is TO be elect
receiving the nearly unanimous vote OF the Southern
States. Should any considerable number Of the Southern
States throw away FILLMORE, the election
go into the House of Representatives, and this coming
eney would place the Union in peril than ii has
been since its formation.
These are candid opinions. They have been freely
pressed in with friends since return
and we publish them because subscribers have RICH
opinions and because hear that repoue
as having expressed different views.
The object running Mr. FILLMORE is clearly-and some
times admitted-to dveTta few Southern States from Mr.
BucHANAE thus throw the election into the House
Representatives. hoped that Mr. FILLMORE could the
slip in the leading candidates. 1t is for III
South 10 decide whether she willing risk her rights
her equality Union, and the Union itself uc
remote contingency. The history Of people has
vet exhibited an which would equal this in rockies
folly.
- The foregoing article was written before any
elections subsequent to thePresidentisl nomination
had been held. If, as we confidently anticipate
California has voted for BUCHANAN, our prediction
as to the democratic strength north have been ex
actly verified.
In the south, we claimed all the States up to III,
time of the October election in Baltimore. TIL,
riots there gave that State to FILLMORE We have
carried sll the other States by msorities large
to show that none of them were ever doubtful
- Such have been our predictions. Contrast
ing them with the predictions and estimates of GU
opponents, we think we may quite as rghtull!
claim hereafter exemption from know nothing
abuse, as credit from our friends for foresight il
predicting results and care in recording them.