Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-04-29
THE COMING FALL ELECTION.

interest taken by the Democratic press
throughout the State in the elections to
take place this fall. 1t is true, so far as
the State ticket is concerned, it is of lit
tie or no political Importance, there being
no officer to elect except Comptroller of
the Treasury, who has no patronage
whatever; but it is Of the utmost i'm
portance for the Democratic party to have
majority in the next Legislature. Its
Importance is so well expressed by the
PLANTERS Advocate" that we beg leave
to transfer to our columns what it has to
say upon this subject, in its issue of the
Goth instant:
But it is hardly necessary to observe
that, as the world wags, the election of
Legislature, ordinarily, is regarded with
about as little concern as the performance
of any duty that devolves on the people
and we know not, therefore, any con-
sideration that would justify US in attri-
buting any importance to the ensuing
contest, were it not that the accident of
one single duty which the next Assembly
will have to perform, renders it matter
of the highest political consequence who
shall obtain control of it. This declara-
ton is warranted by the fact that the
term of Mr.. PEARcE, in the Senate Of the
United States, will expire in March,
1861, and that the Legislature elected
next fall will have the appointment of
his successor.
"Our opponents will at least give us
credit for sincerity in observing that, in
our judgment, this single fact ought to
be enough to precipitate such contest
for the control Of the Legislature, on the
part Of the Democracy of Maryland, that
has not for many day been witnessed.
The composition Of the next Assembly
lays duty upon them which they cannot
discharge except by manly and hand
to-hand struggle for the victory-for,
while it is sufficiently important in its
mere State consequences, it involves con-
siderations Of a much wider and inhuen-
tial character. Passing over any refer
ence to the wild and revolutionary legis-
lation that was attempted at the last
session-sucl as the attempt to construe
the Constitution by partizan acts of AS
sembly, to refuse to execute the United
States laws of naturalization, and to I'M
settle ard reform even the Constitution
itself in the interest of party-and the
consequential importance of returning a
majority of conservative members who
may pursue more acceptable,pol we
may observe that hearty effort, with
view merely to the Senatorial question,
is due, in the first place, to Mr.. ?earce
himself. When the recent mutations of
parties rendered it important and neces-
sary that prominent statesmen should de-
clare their positions it will be reiltfi-
bcred that no man did this more prompt
ly, more fully, or more acceptably tothe
Democracy, than Mr.. Pearee. lie made
no conditions or reservations, but boldly
and manfully took up his position, in de-
fiance of unusual detraction and abuse.
where his duty and the necessities of the
country obviously led him. aud whittier
he was followed by hosts who had acted
with him in the past. This position, it
is superhuous to add, he has ably and
faithfully maintained Whether Mr..
Pearco would be the choice of the party
for reelection, or whether he would ac-
cept it if he were to be, we Of course
know not; but, upon the assumption that
he desires to remain in public life. we
may be allowed to observe that his friends
viii show poor appreciation of eminent
services, if they do not strain every nerve
to crafty his wishes. Apart from this
view Of the duty of the party, it is hardly
necessary to refer to the reputation which
Mr.. Pearce enjoys, or the very high rank
he occupies among our public men, We
believe it would be universally accounted
public misfortune, if the accident of
political change were to terminate his
public life-and this regret would not be
diminished by the manner in which bis
place would probably be filled We shall
not refer at present to the names of the
several worthless among the Eastern Shore
Americans who are represented as striy-
ing for the place, further than to remark
that, should that party centre! the Legs
lature, there is an alarming likelihood
that their action in this behalf would be
little, if any, more eommendable, than
that very brilliant exploit of Senator
making which they once heretofore ac-
complished When we pray for deliver
ance from such a catastrophe, we are
confident of the sympathy of all who
wish our State to maintain her wonted
prestige in the Federal Councils.
Warning, however, the Senatorial
question as connected with Mr.. Pearce-
and letting the foregoing reflections pass
as mere gratuity of our own there is
more important view of it that, we arc
satisfied, must command large sympa-
thy and concurrence. We think no man
who has noted the violent course Of our
national politics for the last five or six
years, can fail to hayo recognized the
noble hulwark against sectional aggres-
sion and sectional prejudice that has been
found in the Democratic majority in the
Federal Senate composed, as it was and
is, of Senators from the North as we'll as
the South-its position from the start,
upon al; questions of national import and
sectional rights, has been harmonious,
determined, and unwavering. 1t has
proved an effective aud insurmountabe
obstacle 10 the realization Of the fondest
hopes Of Northern fanaticisn, and so
well appreciated fact is this, that the
country rests in the confidence Of almost
ahaoluto qncnrifv so lon0 az that maiori