The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-08

The Late Southern Elections and their
Significant Results.
The general results of the late elections in
Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina
and Texas, though not unexpected, are exceed
iogly interesting, significant and instructive
From the scanty returns received we are still
unable to enumerate the definite losses and
gains OF the contrasting parties; but 80 far as
oscertained, the opposition in Kentucky have
suffered an inglorious defeat; the emancipa.
ionisrs in Missouri hold their ground; in Ten
lessee the opposition have gained handsomely
upon their STATE and Congressional candidates;
10 North Carolina they have advanced little,
while from Texas it has been reported that
under the lead of General Sam Houston, the
coalition opposed to the regular democracy have
probably csrried the day.
How are We to account for these curious re.
suits? The solution of the mystery, we appre-
lend, is exceedingly simple. 1t may be ex-
planned upon the basis of a good and healthy
public sentiment, as contra6istinguished from
the sectional ultraisms and revolutionary ab.
stractions of the day. In that sound old con-
servativs wing State of Kentucky, the oppo-
sidon in this late canvass were led off into that
foolish experiment of Congressional interven.
lion for the protection Of slavery in the Terri
tories Thus, while they disguised many Of
,heir old supporters with their folly, they
failed to deceive the ultra supporters of
slavery to any appreciable extent. And
SO, in default Of any honest principles or
practical line of public policy the Kentucky op.
position party have permitted this election to
go by default Besides, the sober, rejecting
electors of the State recognized in Mr.. Buchanans
administration a substantial footing, aud this
recognition, boldly made by the democracy, has
contributed essentially to their SUCCESS
In Tennessee, the opposition, wisely refusing
to be caught with that fimsy Southern abstrac.
ton Of slave code for the Territories or any
other will O. the-wisp Of that sort, but planting
themselves, like sensible men, upon practical
Issues, State and federal, detached from the sla
very agitation, have INDICATED the wisdom of
their course Had they been sustained by q
similar programme on the part Of their brethren
in Virginia in May last, and in Kentucky, where
the election oamc Off throo days in advance OF
their owp, the opposition party of Tennessee In
view of great conservative national organiza.
lion for 1860, opposed alike to Northern and
Southern ultra heresies on slavery, would pro-
baby on Thursday last have achieved com
with the results in Virginia Kentucky and North
Carolina, enough has been done ia this Ten
nessee election to show that at least in those i'm.
portant central States of the Union, which con
stitute the northern division of the slaveholding
section, the prevailing sentiment of the people
is sound, wholesome, and true to those broad ma
tonal principles which look to the peace and
harmony of the confederacy, and to the sinking
IF the slavery agitation.
With regard to Texas, should the report con
corning the election Of Gen. Houston as Governor
prove to be well founded, we shall have had in
that extreme Southern State the accomplishment
of a most important political triumph. Houston
was the candidate Of all the elements of the
opposition and Of the democracy opposed to the
revival of the African slave trade, or the agita.
ton of that question as a Southern measure;
while, on the other hand, the regular democratic
candidate and party had somewhat committed
themselves to the extreme vagaries of the
Southern fre-eaters In addition to this sharply
defined issue, Gen. Houston emphatically, on
the stump, proclaimed himself cordial support
er Of Mr.. Bucbanan's administration, as repre-
sentiDg that comprehensive national policy best
adapted TO harm0nize all sections of the country
Accordingly, we await definite report from
Texas with some degree Of interest, and with
some confidence that the results, even If they do
not embrace Houston's election, will substantial
Iy indicate the Intelligence Of the Texas people
aud their loyalty to the Union.
We bave said that the emancipatonists of Mis-
souri, hold their ground This fact, however,
does not prove the existence in that quarter of
party devoted to the disunion programme Of w.
II. Seward. Missouri, excepting the sparsely in
habted wilds of Arkansas on the South, is now
surrounded by Gordon of free States. She is also
the focus Of an immense overland and up-the.
river free white immigration. Her climate and
her productions are admirably adapted to this
sort Of labor, and with its increase within her
borders the value Of her lands and products stea-
Oily increases and the local value Of the institu-
ton Of slavery as steadily diminIshes. The
emancipation issue, therefore. in Missouri, is
purely local issue and must not he con-
founded, for it cannot be blended With that ge
neral 'irrepressible conflict" Of the Rochester
manifesto upon the Presidential question.
TO sum no the philosophy of these Southern
elections Of this year, IRON Virginia to Texas
they reatiirm the continued ascendancy in the
South Of the principles of law and order. Of the
CONSTITUTION and the Union, against all the VIC
lent and disorganiziDg ultra pro slavery aos.rac
tons and follies Of the day. And as it is in the
South, 20 we believe in the North the solid ma
jority Of the people are opposed to tier sectional
agitators, disorganizers and dsuniouists. We arc
sure that not less distasteful 10 the bulk Of onr