Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-06
Correspondents Of the North American & U. s. Ca
g II tte.
The Next Congress and the Presi-
dency.
BRATTLEBoRO, August 90

| Having presented in a recent letter. some
| suggestions as to the policy of organizing the
next House of Representatives upon broad
and liberal basis, by which the northern and
| southern wings of the Opposition may CO.
operate, it remains to consider the position Of
parties, should the election of President be
| thrown into that body, either 10y accident Oh
design. And while this contingency may
seem remote in itself, and has not been con
templated seriously no prudent estimate can
be made. without assigning to it a place and
AN Importance of considerable interest.
In the contingency supposed. each State
will vote as unit. New York and Delaware
being equal in their numerical strength. The
| States which have already elected represen-
| tatives are TO be classified as follows:
Northern OppositiOn-M Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Rhode Island. Massachusetts, Vermont
Connecticut, New Jersey, New York. Penn
| sylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa,
| Wisconsn-l4.
| Alabama. Arkansas, Della
ware, Florida, Illinois. Missouri, South Car
DINA. Virginia, Texas, Oregon-lO.
| Southern Oppositon-Tennessee-
| Tied-Kcntucky. North Carolina, 2.
The States yet to elect, are MINES ia,
California, Georgia. Mississippi, Louisi; na
aud Maryland. As Kansas will undoubied Y
| be admitted at the next session, il may he
| added to the number. COnceding Minnesota
and Kansas to the northern Opposition. they
| would have an aggregate of siyteen votes.
Allowing Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana
to the democratic side. it would have aggre-
gate of thirteen. Adding Maryland to Ten
nessce. and the southern Opposition would
have two States. So far as California is con-
cerned. the result there depends upon cOmbi-
nations. and the present probability is that
| the representation will be divided, like that
| OF Kentucky and North Carolina.
Including Kansas, The number of States
| entitled to vote will he thirty-four, requiring
| eighteen for majority. Under the most
| tavUrOble circumstances the northern Oppo-
| sition can muster but sixteen votes. or two
| short of the necessary number. Should the
| election go to the House, contest like that
in 1924 may be reasonably anticipated, I'M
less a course of cancellation should be puF-
sued. by which the southern Opposition might
be enabled to unite. No sOphistry or ingenui-
ty can remove this stubborn fact.which is plain
to the most obtuse or obstinate understand
| ing. The obvious dictates of policy, there
| fore, point to compromise of extreme OpIn-
| ions. and to union such as has been indica-
| ted, for the purpose ofprOrccting a contingent
| cy which Is by no means unlikely to happen,
if rash leaders and extreme theories are
allowed iull swing.
But this is only one aspect of the case.
| The condition of parties, as thus represented
| through the States which have elected, and
| are yet to elect representatives, is only To a
| certain extent II reflection of the sentiment OF
| the country. For example several States
| are classified with the northern Opposition,
| and in some quarters claimed as distinctly
Republican, which may not be retained in
| the Presidential contest. unless proper can
didate and proper policy shall be adopted.
| They may be driven Off again, just as they
were in 1856. Hence, in estimating the pro-
| liabilities next year, it might be as well Tor
! sanguine calculatOrS to take this TACT into
| the account Pennsylvania can be given TO
any conservative statesman, north or south,
who is sound upon the great questions which
| have divided parties since the repeal oil the
| Missouri Compromise, who iavors mndlhca-
ton of the tariff. and who will be pledged TO
reforms in administering the government,
| and retrenchment in the public expenditures.
| This is platfurm enough for her, and for all
who desire success in 1860. 1t covers the
| whole ground, without examining abstract
| theories down the thrOats OF those who desire,
| in good faith to join with us in redeeming the
| government from mi,rule. The same remark
applies TO New Jersey and to Indiana. These
| three StEtes stand Hs a moral balance a
| power between the extremes of both sections,
| Without their aid, no candidate can be- elect
ed 10y the northern Opposition. and with it.
upon a basis like that proposed. success is
certain. Delaware, Maryland, and Tennessee,
at least. may BE- relied upon for co-operatiou
| from the south and with such a union, the
false cry of seclionaIism will at once be boot
ed down, aud an Administration come into
| power which will give substantial protec-
ton to every vital principle which
| the north has sustained against the OPpres-
| sions and outrages of those now in office.
Any other course will be followed by disaster.
! INDEPENDENT.