Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-07
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

4 Peep at last Falls State ESections-
TIE 'AmericaaS" and "RepublicanS,"
oRd their cfo1ts for u Union The
Measures Recommended By the PreSi-
dent and the D@y Of Congressman call
ing themselves Dcn,oc,uts- Prominent,
Popuidr, and UscfM Democrats Of
Baltimore -An Old IU9mgomriaa
l. WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 1859
Mr.. EDIToR: In opening my CORE
spondcnce with your interesting journal,
| ask you to join with me in taking
glance over the country to see how poll
teal parties stand, and what are the
prospects of the Union party for the pre-
sidental election of 1860. This we can
well afford to do, prior to the re-assem-
bling of Congress after their protracted
holiday, and whilst waiting for something
Of interest to turn up in the two Houses,
to be communicated to your intelligent
readers.
The Americans" and Republicans"
as the two parties in the opposition call
themselves, have for some time felt as
sured of quite triumphant success at
the next election; and if there were any
prospects of their forming perfect
union upon any platform that would not
drive from them portion of their forces,
they would be able to give us the tight
est race we have ever yet had. But,
anxious as the majority of both of these
parties may be for Union, there is
strong minority of the "Republicans"
who are determined to 90 into the fight
upon no other platform than that laid
down in his Rochester speech by VIM
II. Seward. The idea of Crittcnden,
Bell, Fillmore, or any other man identi-
fed with the American" party, being
taken up as the candidate of the united
opposition, is simply ridiculous; for the
reason that TIE shrewd Republican lead
ers know that dctcm will be their doom
under either of them. The strong anti
Republican vote polled in Boston at the
last State election and the largely III
creased Democratic vote cast in the State
of New York at the same time, plainly
tell US that thousands formerly attached
to the American" party, then cast their
votes for the Democratic candidates, and
that many more of them will do so in
1860, unless the opposition shall unite
upon some candidate who was formerly
of the Democratic party, and possessed
of liberal feelings towards the South. --
Such signs of the times are highly en-
couraging to US, and will sweep away
some Of the dark clouds that hung over
us at the close of the elections last fall,
taking them all in a lump.
In the Eastern States the opposition is
uppermost, aud they hold New York for
the present with Pennsylvania and New
jersey. Turning from these places to
the West and Northwest, we find Ohio,
Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa in the
hands of the adversary, with reduced
majorities, whilst in the general vote OF
Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota the De-
mocratic party can claim them by "thc
'-skin Of our teeth" Having this firm
hold upon the great Northwest, it seems
to me that sound policy should dircc
our eyes to that quarter of the Union fol
our next presidential candidate, and give
the delegates from those States to tht
Charleston Convention the privilege o.
naming the man. So far, oil our presi
dental candidates Excepting Gen. Cas-
in 1919 have been taken from the South
ern and Middle States and so long as
the South is threatened with the on.
slaught of Sewardism, her sons should
have prudence enough not to press any
candidate of their own, but cultivate the
favor Of the great and growing North
west, by graciously yielding to them the
candidate for 1860. Able, illustrous
and patriotic men are TO be found in that
section, and it is unnecessary for me Ia
name any of them to gentlemen of in
teligence.
The leading measures advised by the
President, such as diminution of the
list Of free imports to increase the reve-
nue., and substitution Of specific for
ad-valorem duties in many cases, to pre-
vent fHetRdtion Of the revenue, with
something looking to an immediate com
mencement of the Pacific Railroad. and
the establishment of protectorate over
two large provinces Of Mexico, are at
tracting the attention they deserve; but
whether Congress will promptly do lis
duty in the premises, is more than am
able to say. Our Government wants
money to pay its expenses, and those ex-
penses cannot now be conveniently cut
down lower than sevonty-iive millions
per annum. The President says it is a
wretched policy to be borrowing money
for the support Of the Government, and
having the sagacity to foresce that the
tariff, as now arranged, will ncrer yield
the revenue required, by some fifteen
million dollars. he suggested the above
changes for relieving the Government Of
such dilemma. am anxious to sec
how many men protesting to be support
ers Of the Administration, can venture
TO oppose any Of these recommendations
Of the President without forfeiting their
standing in the party, and how many
members from the South will prefer
Democratic defeat in 1860, to blending
erpediency with principles in voting on
important measures like these. If it be
treason in me to favor the concession Of
something to Pennsylvania, with the
view of bringing her back into the De-
mocratic fold, and the bearing Of a small
burden by us al for the sake Of the gen
eral welfare and the defeat of the avowed
foes of the South in 1860, then let me