The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-26

in Europe no travellers indulge more freely in
Sabbath eDjoyments than they; but that is proba-
bly, to see the folly of it, and warn their Hocks
against the rocks of perdition which the shepherd
hos discovered by actual experience.
The Coming Elections In tho Central States
Their Influence ON the Presidential Elec-
ton.
The fall elections in tn Central States, parti
cularly New York, New Jersey and Pennsylva-
mia, are of the highest political Importance, not
intrinsica,y, but for their bearing on the Presi-
Dental sction of next year, both as indicating
what way those States are likely TO vote in the
struggle Of 1860, and as influencing other States
follow their example. There cannot be the
shadow of doubt that in 1856 Mr.. Buchanan
sylvania which came off before the Presidential
contest and decided beforehand the question as
TO that State, thus influencing other States which
desired to be on the winning side.
In order to show the reader how very narrowly
the democracy won the battle of 1856, we subjoin
the electoral vote in that election
For FILLMORE Maryland, 8 votes
For FREMONT New York, 36 Ohio, %; Massachusetts,,
49, Naine s; Vermont, s; New Hampshire, s; Connect
cut Rhode Island, a Michigan, o; WISCONSIN, D; Iowa.
For BUCHANAN Pennsylvania, 81 New Jersey, 7; In
Is; KsnsScxy IT, Tennessee H. Georgia TO- North Caro-
lima, TO- South Carolina, s. Alabama, 8; Mississippi 7;
louisiana 8; florida, s. Texas 4; Arkaus A; Caifor-
mis-, 4-rosa, TIA votes.
Pennsylvania was only won by a very close
shave, and would have been lost but for the bad
management of the opposition and some of their
leaders having been bought by money sent on
from New York Now, if we take away the vote
of Pennsylvania from Mr.. Buchanan, there is
only LAT left, two short of majority of the
whole vote, which is necessary for choice, and
the election would have been thrown into the
House of Representatives. Fremont only wanted
tbirty-fve votes to elect him. Give him Penn
sylvania, and Indiana or Illinois, both Of which
were considered doubtful, and he would have
been elected. The gain Of Pennsylvania and
New jersey would have given him 14S votes, or
within one of his election.
These facts and figures, therefore, show how
nearly were the democracy beaten in 1856. The
new States since admitted, or likely to be ad-
mtted before the next election will not certainly
improve the prospects of the democracy Mime
sofa will have votes, Oregon 3, and Kansas, if
admitted, Sin all, 10 additional votes. The
whole vote would thus be BOG, of which 154 is
necessary to choice. Even with this increased
vote, the vote of New York is between one
fourth and oneffth of the majority, and Penn
sylvania constitutes upwards of one-sixth,
showing the Importance Of those two States
in every Presidential election. Had the
democrats lost Pennsylvania in 1856,
they would have lost the election. Arc
they in as good position now as they were
then? Have they any stronger security or any
better prospects for success in 1860? We think
not Their prospects at the present time are de-
cidedly worse, and the chances of the opposition
are decidedly improved If they will only skill.
July unite all their elements for a combined as.
sault
The democracy is split and divided in New
York and other States-it is demoralized in all.
If it loses the State of New York, with its thir-
tyfve votes, or if it loses Pennsylvania, and
with it New jersey, or Illinois, or Indiana, VIII
liam Fl. Seward will undoubtedly take possession
of the White House on the 4th of March, 1861
and sway the destinies of the United States for
the next four years, if not for eight and for the
rest of his life. There is only one thing likely
to prevent such result, and that is that Mr.
Seward, in his Rochester speech, having declared
it to be his settled policy to divide the North
from the South, or to compel the South to change
its Institutions by force Of arms if not otherwise
the Southern States may accept the election of
Mr.. Seward as the determination of the North to
enforce that policy, and they may recede in
body from our confederacy, and erect new
Southern confederacy of their own; and there
would be no alternative left the ruined
North but bloody civil war, the end of which
no man could foresee In that event Seward
would only be President of the Northern half of
the Union, if, indeed, the sober second thought
of the Northern people, indignant at the ruin he
had created, would not drive him from the
White House, and seek chief magistrate of
wiser and more conservative counsels. Some of
the followers and organs of Seward may explain
that it is only by constitutional means their
leader intends to deprive the South of its insti.
buttons. But that makes not the slightest differ
ence to the South; and it would, perhaps, prefer
solution by war rather than by the action of
tyrant majority in Congress.
The fall elections in New York, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania are therefore evidently of
great political Importance, involving perhaps
the very fate of the Union. Certain it ia that
even by peaceable secession of the Southern
States-if that were possible-New York, New
jersey and PennsJ lvania would be thrown back
half century, and the property in those States
would be deprecated fifty per cent. Their
present commercial connection with the Southern
States by railroad, by steamboat, and by other
descriptions Of shipping, is one of the great
sources of their wealth and prosperity. By the
severance of the Union, the Southern commerce,
which now enriches those States and the North
generally would go to England, our rival and
a fhAwv