Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-04-10
The Presidential Election.

Az the times approach for holding the Nation
al Conventions of the VARIOUS political parties OF
the country, the Washington correspondents OF
the New York press are busily at work figuring
out the chances of the different Presidential as
pirants, FIRST for nomination and then for cleo
ton. These gentlemen are exceedingly well
posted, but their calculation do not always prove
correct, and we give them for only what they
are worth The Democracy of Virginia having
elected majority of Hunter delegates to the
Charleston Convention, the two most prominent
candidates before that body viii probably be
Mr.. Hunter and Judge Douglas. In contest
between the Democrats and Republicans, Mr..
Hunter would undoubtedly receive the electoral
votes of all the aaveholdirg States, and proba-
bly of California also. This wopld give him 124
votes, whereas 152 are necessary to eset, The
chances of his carrying any of the free States are
considered doubtful The Richmond Enquirer
SAYS that the friends of Gov Wise believe Mr..
Hunter ''to be utterly unavailable, with no
strength in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana
or Illinois" These States, together with Mime
sofa and Oregon, casting SO votes. are classed as
doubtful" They will probably turn the scale
in the Presidential election, and leading politi
clans of both parties, who are not welded to
particular men, will endeavor to nominate the
candidate who is most likely to obtain their sup
port.
In regard to Judge Douglas, his friends claim
that he will go into the Charleston Convention
with 1913 votes certain. While he may carry
the doubtful Northern States, it is apprehended,
on the other hand, that he would lose South
Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and perhaps other
Southern States. His opponents, however, esti-
mate his strength at Charleston as only n votes.
Should Hunter and Douglas both go over board,
Gen. Lane, of Oregon, who is already looming up
as a formidable candidate, is as likely to carry
the day as any one else.
The result of the Connecticut election is re-
garded as favorable to Mr.. Hunter. If the Dem
ocrats had carried that State, it would have been
taken as an indication in favor of Judge Doug
las; but the Republicans having triumphed, it
shows how little aid is to be expected from the
North, and will discourage the nomination of
candidate from that section. 1t has also proba-
bly, improved the prospects OF Seward for the
Republican nomination, that party being embol-
dend by the result to put man on the track
who is fully identified with their principles.
The third party, whose Convention meets at
Baltimore on the 9th OF May, will have finger
in the pie, and the recent election in Rhode
Island is a straw which shows how the wind
blows. In Connecticut where the contest was
between the Democrats and Republicans, tie
latter triumphed; in Rhode Island, the Wings
and Americans nominated conservative can
didate for Governor, who was afterwards en-
dorsed by the Democrats, and the Republicans
were defeated. This result encourages the hope
that the Constitutional Union party, if it accom-
plishes nothing more in the Presidential contest,
may rescue some of the Northern States from
the Republicans, possibly throwing the election
into the House of Representatives, where, it is
admitted, Republican President cannot be
chosen,