Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-11-12
The Result.


The recent Presidential canvass has resulted
in the triumphant election of Buchanan ana
breckenridge While this result is not in accord
ance with our wishes, it is not entirely contrary
TO our expectations as the reader has no doubt
inferred from the tenor of our paper for some
weeks past. The Baltimore American, in the
following remarks, expresses our views and
feelings. Speaking Of Messrs. Buchanan and
Breckenridge, the American says:
"They reach those stations, it is true, through
the will only of minority of the people, falling
farther perhaps behind majority of the popular
vote than was ever before the case where an e.
lection was effected by the people; but the
triumph is nevertheless q substantial one, and
fully satisfactory, it may be presumed, both to
them and their supporters. As q political sue
cess il is entire and complete, but it cannot just
" be claimed as a vndcation, by the people OF
the country, of the principles OF the platform up
on which they Were placed. circumstances anu
the necessities of the contest greatly favored
them. The uprising Of the sectional Republican
party, which, at one time, threatened to over
whelm the Democracy, proved in the end the
means of its political salvation. 1t divided aud
distracted the opposition, forcing many who OPP
posed the principles of the Democratic party in-
to its support, as the only means of preserving
the country from more imminent dangers, and
of preventing still wider departures from the
true spirit of Constitutional government. Why
the triumph was achieved and what will be Its
results, are, however,queStions that are not like
" to be now correctly considered. They may
be left for after and more eisurey consideration.
"Whie we Of course cannot rejoice in the re-
suit. except in so far as it carries with it the de-
feat of sectional party by one that claims for
itself devotion to the Union, we are not great
liz depressed by it. Though earnestly desiring
and laboring for the success of Mr. Fillmore, our
hopes of witnessing its accomplishments were
never very tlattering and they faded entirely a.
way under the blight Of the October elections
We therefore can bear the disappointment with
entire serenity and composure, and the same may
no doubt,be saidfor or Wing friends who thought
with us that Mr.. Fillmore was the only nominee
they could support without abandoning prin-
ciples that full conviction and long possession
had made part of themselves Politicians, who
view success as the only test of worth, may pity
and deride them, but they do not need the one
aud will scarcely be affected by the other. AS
Wings they have long ago learned how to meet
political defeat with philosophic resignation"
1t is unnecessary for us to say that we are nc
political admirers of Mr. Buchanan, but at the
same time we regard him IS in most respects fal
superior to any Democratic President elected il
late years In point of intellect and experience
in the public service he has decidedly the adj
vantage of most of lis recent predecessors in the
Presidential chair. From some of his antecedents
we would not augur satisfactory administration
of the government during his term OF office; but
having attained the highest place in the gift o
the people, and weighty responsibility being
thrown upon him, We indulge reasonable hope
that he will have the wisdom and firnness tt
manage affairs in the main judiciously and fol
the general welfare. Previous to the election
we did full justice to his patriotism, and we GER
tainly could have no disposition now to dispar-
age him in this important particular.
We are utterly astonished at the vote cast fol
Fremont. After the State elections in Pennsyl-
vania and Indiana, we verify believed that he
was out of the contest and that his friends would
scarcely make serious effort in his behalf. Vel
he has received one hundred and twenty-five e.
leotoral votes
P. S. Papers received after the above was put
in type state that the result in Tennessee is still
doubtful. Should Fillmore have carried Tonnes
see-which is scarcely possible, as the Demo
cratic vote in the Western counties is too heavy
to be overcome in the sparsely settled Eastern
counties-the vote of California would be requir-
ed to settle the point as to whether there has
been On election by the people or not.