Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-11-15
[FrOm Dc PhIIadelphIa Americans
Political OpIniona In nJn,,..Iln.,

Inc Boston Courier says that, atlihe late cleo.
ton IN Massachusetts, nearly one half of the |
qualified electors of that State did not vote. 1t
Is certainly curious circumstance, that over
one hundred thousand voters should have re-
NAMED away from the polls; and one too, that
demands some explanation. If the true cause
Is got at 1t will, we think, throw light not only
on tue opinions and feelings prevalent at this
time, In Massachusetts,, but tend also to clear
up the doubts that rest on the future character
Oh parties IN this country, and consequently on
To come to the point at once the fact pointed
out by the Courier indicates the existence in
Massachusetts of a conservative class, opposed
to sectional agitation, that has of late RETAINED
even IRON voting. To understand this, it is ne
cessary toremember that considerable portion
OF the great opposition party in Massachusetts,
the Republicans-hold extreme views on the
subject OF slavery. In addition, Massachusetts,
IS the home of such men as Mr. Garrison, Mr.
Phillips, and Theodore Parker. That State, in
word, IS the stronghold of the abolitionists,
and from Boston most of the abolition manifes-
toes issue. These circumstances naturally
create strong mutual repulsions. AS conse.
quence there arc thousands of men in Massa-
chusetts, of conservative views, attached to the
Federal Constitution, and to the Union of the
States, who could not bring themselves to CO.
operate With the Republicans in the late election
They feared to do so, lest they might seem to
Tor declarations on the subject of slavery, from
time to time put forth by the leaders of the last
named party. On similar scale, the same
feeling was operative in the New York election,
where, at the lowest, the Rochester speech OF
Mr. Seward alone must have lost to the opposi-
ton five thousand votes
On the other hand, the conservative men of
massachusetts,, who would not CO operate with
the republicans, could not vote with the demo-
Gratis They heartily condemned the outrageous
proslayery policy of two democratic administers
tons; they were justly indignant at the usnrpa-
tons and wrongs that have taken place in Kan
sas; they condemn the attempt to make the Su-
preme Court of the United States q political in
Strument IN the interests of slavery by obtru.
ding 1t beyond its proper judicial sphere; they
TeVolted from the dangerous doctrine of squatter
sovereignty, at one time set MP bv numbers of
the democracy, though rcceded from by them,
since IT IS discovered not to be favorable to the
extension of slavery; aud, finally, from having
always been Wings, they are opposed to the
general financial and commercial policy of the
democrats, which has tended, through so long
a period, to depress the industry of the country.
Thus, unable to act with either of the leading
parties IN the State, they have abstained alto
gether from voting. This seeIns;to us to be the
Eonly probable explanation that can be offered.
But does it notfurnish happy evidence that
parties may again be organized on some other
than sectional baSis2 Only think of it Here
l..
been considered extreme on the question, body
/ oil voters who are able to turn the voters scale
to the conservative side ten times over when
they come out, and they will come out on the,
right side too, whenever they see chance OF
success. They are not to be drawn into the
support of pro-slayery democracy by the ar
gnments and eloquence of Mr.. Caleb Cushing
They set down both Mr.. Cushing and his ora
tory for precisely what they are worth. But
they will not, on the other hand, be dragooned
INTO endorsing, by Implication merely, declara-
tons made by some of the leading politicians in
New England that are Incompatible with the
constitution of the United States: or at least
are utterly Mt war with that spirit of COM
promise in which the federal constitution was
framed and adopted. If this be the feeling in
Massachusetts, what must be the disposition of
Ipeoplesin the other Free States2 is it not man
ifestthat they will gladly see the slavery question
withdrawn from politics? There is no reason
to doubt It, There never was greater mis-
take made than to suppose that slavery agitation
is agreeable to the people of the north. The
mannerin which the compromise measures of
1850 were received in the north, showed that.
The greatest satisfaction was felt at the vexed
question beingput to rest. Unfortunately we
were not permitted long to enjoy quiet The
country was aroused by the aggressive, measures
that commenced with the introduction of the
Nebraska BILL But againwe may hope for ex-
iemption from turmoil and strife and for leisure
to devote attention to the great industrial inter-
ests of tue ccuntry-interests which lie at the
very foundation of our prosperity and greatness
The southern States, there is every reason to
believe, are satisfied, after the experiment
made to carry slavery into Kansas, audits utter
failure, that such attempts are vain They will
abstain from themin the future. Patriotic and
| good men in the southern States are again pre-
senting themselves to the people there, and
speaking words oftrue wisdom Many south
ern men who have been distinguished by ultra