The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-08-19
The Late Southern Elections and
Their Sipnifioant Reaulta.

ted, are exceedingly interesting, signi6-
cant and instructive. From the scanty
returns received we are still unable to
enumerate the definite losses and gains
of the contesting parties; but SO far as
ascertained, the opposition in Kentucky
have suffered an inglorious defeat; the
emancipatienists in Missouri hold their
ground; in Tennessee the opposition have
gained Handsomely upon their State and
Congressional candidates; In North Caro-
lima they have advanced a little, while
from Texas it has been reported that,
under the lead Of General Sam Houston,
the coalition opposed to the regular do
mocracy have probably carried the day.
How are we TO account for these Curl
Gus results9 The solution Of the mystery,
we apprehend, is exceedingly simple
1t may be explained upon the basis of a
good and healthy public sentiment, as
contradistinguished from the sectional
ultraisms and revolutionary distractions
of the day. In that sound old conserva-
tive whig State of Kentucky, the opposi-
tion in this last canvass were led off into
that foolish experiment of Congressional
Intervention for the protection of slavery
in the Territories. Thus, while they dis
gusted many of their followers, they failed
todeceiye the ultra supporters ofslayery to
any appreciable extent. And so, in de-
fault of'any honest principles or practical
line Of public policy, the Kentucky oppo-
sition party have permitted this election
to 60 by default. Besides, the sober, re-
flecting electors of the State recognized
in Mr.. Buchanan's administration sub
stantial footing, and this recognition,
boldly made by the democracy, has con-
tributed essentially to their success.
In Tennessee, the opposition, wisely
refusing to be caught with that himsey
Southern abstraction 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 vindicated thewis
dom Of their course. Had they been
sustained by a similar programe on the
part of their brethren in Virginia in
May last, and in Kentucky, where the
election came off three. days in advance
Of their own, the opposition party of Ten
nessee, in view of q great conservative
national organization for 1860, opposed
alike to Northern and Southern ultra
heresies on slavery, would probably on
Thursday last have achieved a complete
political revolution. Asitis, in conneS
tion with the results in Virginia, Ken
lucky and North Carolina, enough has
been done in this Tennessee election to
show that at least in those important
central States of the Union, which con-
stitute the northern division of the slave
holding section, the prevailing sentiment
of the people is sound, wholesome, and
true to those broad national principles
which look to the peace and harmony
Of the confederacy, and to the sinking of
the slavery agitation.
With regard TO Texas should the re-
port concerning the election of General
Houston as Governor prove to be well
founded, we shall have had in that ex-
treme Southern State the accomplish
ment Of most important political tri-
umph, 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 agitation of
that question as a Southern measure;
while ON the other hand, the regular
democratic candidate and party had
somewhat committed temselves to the
extreme vagaries of the Southern fire.
eaters. In addition 20 this sharply de-
fined issue, Gen. Houston emphatically,
ON the stump, proclaimed himself cor
dial supporter of Mr.. Buchanan's admin
istration. as representing that comprehen-
sive national policy best adapted to har-
monize all sections of the country. Ac-
cordingly, we await definite report from
Texas with some degree Of interest, and
with some confidence that the results,
even IL they do not embrace Houston's
election, will substantially indicate the
intelligence of the Texas people and
their loyalty TO the Union. -ns5a-i
We have said that the emancipationists
of Missouri hold their ground. This fact,
however, does not prove the existence in
that quarter of a party devoted to the
disunion programme of w. II. Seward.--
Missouri, excepting the sparsely inhabi-
ted wilds of Arkansas on the South, is
now surrounded by a Gordon Of free
States. She is also the focus of an inn
mense overland and up-the-riyer free
white immigration. Her climate and
her production are admirably adapted 70
this sort of labor, and with its increase
within her borderH the value Of her lands
and products steadily increases, and the
local value of the Institution of slavery
as steadily dininishes. The emancipa-
ton issue, therefore, in Missouri, Is pure
" a local issue and must not be confoud-
ed, for it cannot be blended With that
general ''irrepressible conflict" Of the
Rochester manifesto upon the Rresidon-
tial question. ~
TO sum up the philosophy Of these
Southern elections of this year, from
Virginia to Texas, they reafiirm the con-
tinued asoendancs in the South of the
principles Of law and order, Of the con-
stitution and the Union, against all the
violent aud disorganizing nltfspro-sleye-