The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-11-01
Who is the Strong Candidate

Occasionally we hear Belleverettite or q
Douglasite declare that he is perfectly willing
to vote for the strongest candidate against Lin
coin; but the Belleverettite Immediately pro-
ceeds to assert that Bell is the strongest candi-
date, and the Douglasitc that nobody except
Douglas has any chance. The Belleverettite
is possessed Of the singular inGatuation that Bell
can unite the South the Douglasite labors
under the extraordinary delu ION that Douglas
can carry the whole North. So lar as Douglas
is concerned, we showed yesterday that, even
on the theories of his own friends, he is entirely
out Of The contest Bell Is even worse off than
Douglas. It is susceptible Of demonstration
that Breckinridge is the only man who has the
slightest chance to beat Lincoln In the Electo-
raj College.
As for Bell, we believe that not even the
most credulous Of his supporters will claim for
him the vote Of either one Of the States Of South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi Texas
or Arkansas very few have the cfirontery to
claim Alabama or North Carolina. Indeed any
candid Bell man will readily admit that the
only southern States in which there is serious
contest are Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Lou
isana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri
Nevertheless, let us be magnanimous Let us
give the southern people credit for that remark
able degree of placability End forgetFulness
which alone could induce them to vote for Bell
Let us suppose that Bell were to get the whole
tsouthern vote--12O in number-could he be
elected Let us examine. The only Northern
States in which there is a chance to beat Lin
coin are what are called the FuCion " States.
together " tn California and Oregon. The
EDouylas mcn claim Illinois and Rhode Island.
4shstin these States Bell is out of the question,
and therefore it IL not necessary to refer to
theln in this connection. On the New York
T" 9gson " ticket Bell has 10 votes, on the New
Jersey ticket votes, on the Pennsylvania tick
Ct not one. Suppose these 'ckets to be elected,
and Bell would have Ii votes on them. These
are all that he can possibly claim at the North.
Even adding to them the united Southern vote,
he would have but 1888, OF 10 less than the nee
sssary number. Mr.. Bells success in the Elec-
EtSral College is therefore, an impossibility,
oven on the supposition that his pretensions
were backed by a unanimous southern support.
Now, let us see how the case stands with Mr..
breckenridge. He has on the {: sion " ticket
in New York votes, on tie " .usion" ticket
In New Jersey votes, and on the regular De-
fmocratic ticket in Pennsylvania II votes--al-
together ~. If Lincoln lose California and
| Oregon, and Brcckinridge carry those States,
he would have 81 votes at the North. Add
these to the southern vote-l2O--a he would
receive 1854, Or more than are necessary for a
cholcc.
1t is thus demonstrated that of all the anti
Lincoln candidate, Dreckinridge is the only
one who stands the remotest chance Of success
in the Electoral College. Every vote cast
against him in the south only contributes tic
defeat al election in November and to throw
the Struggle into the Housc-a result which all
southern men would deplore, except as flasi
Iobssscle to the election of Lincoln. -
Il We wish it to be understood that we do moi
make these remarks With any intention Of de-
luding our readers with false hopes of Liaeolii's
q defeat. We merely desire to show the ludi
Icrous absurdity Of the pretens :ons set up by
those who give us reason for voting'for Bell
and they believe him to, be The strongest can
'Edidate against Lincoln. With those who sin.
cerely hope for united south, no such argu
ment, no such statements are necessary. A
sunitcd southern vote is demanded by far higher
I Considerations than any Involved in the profit
less and ridiculous discussions concerning The
4 relative strength ofthc various, candidates. +.
Precisely the same reasons That require the
south TO casta united vote, require that hel
4 united vote be cast for Mr.. Breckenridge. II
Isay that the South should vote as unit, with
!; out modifying the proposition by indicating
@ihe4 candidate for whom her vote should bt
: given would be equivalent to d declaration
that it is Indifferent whether she vote right o.
vote wrong; whether she be guided by corrcc
principles or false principles; whether sh
stand on well defined platform State Rights
Or on platform of perpetual submission t,
sectional aggression, and Abolition declaration
|-IeNa.