The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-02
The Counter Re.oiutton-'ioss IL Can BE
Made triumphant.


The Counter Re,oiutton-'foss IL Can BE
Made triumphant.
We publish to-day an interesting CORES
ptrdence touching the Presidential election.
The letters which come from various quarters.
are descriptive Of the condition and prospects
of parties, and speculative as to the peril Of the
country in the event OF black republicansm
proving victorious in November. The writers
strongly urge union against the common foe for
the cake Of the national Union founded by our
ancestors; and one of them (the last in order)
endorses the plan proposed b. the HERALD, to
"loose the Gordian knot" and save the repub-
lie from the difficulties and dangers by which it
is beset.
From these letters and from all the signs in
the political armament it is evident that the
old parties are broken up by the corruption
and rascality Of the leaders, and out of the
ruins new conservative combination is being
formed, whose aim and object are to overthrow
revolutionary abolition. This is the only def
mite shape the counter revolution has yet taken.
All the rest liz involved in obscurity, and ia the
subject of conjecture and speculation. What
seems alone certain is, that none Of the candi-
dates opposed to Lincoln can be elected &C,
cording to present appearances and all human
probability. The first great object to be secured
is the defeat of the black republican candidate;
and TO accomplish that the claims Of all the
other candidates must be kept in allegiance.
The candidate who most strongly presses his
own pretensions. to the risk CT the common OBJ
ject, will find himself in the end the lowest in
the scale Of popular favor and the old saying
shall be verifed-"the first shall be last, and
the last shall be first
AT present the Presidential question is in a
state Of temporary chaos and confusion, be-
cause the old parties are dissolved into their
original elements. and the new combinations in
process Of formation are not yet completed.
But for this az for all other political evils,
there is o remedy in the constitution itself.
The electors, upon whom devolves the right of
choice, have the power in their own hands If
they will use it Alright Why does not the con-
st;tution give the people the right to elect a
President direct? Because the founders of the
republic thought il was wiser and safer to en-.
trust the important duty to honest discreet and
select men, in whom the people have confidence,
in every State, than to leave it to the masses Of
the voters, who might be temporarily led astray
BIZ party ar,iGce and demagoguism. The
electors ore the peoples committee to do
what their sober and deliberate judgment die
tates. BY the provisions Of the constitution
and the laws Of Congress, the people elect the
electors, in order that they may elect the
President according to the discretion vested in
them, and the obligations Of Their solemn oath.
Why does the law provide for delay after they
are elected, before they elect President! Why
is period Of three months allowed to elapse?
In order TO give the colleges Of electors time
for deliberAtion, and for consultation with the
colleges Of the sister States. This provision Is
utterly incompatible with the idea Of party
conventions making the President beforehand.
by the practice Of recent years the design
OF the constitution lie frustrated, and by gross
perrers;op, instead Of the electors electing
the President, b. is elected by vaga.
bonds in the barroom and the grog-
shop. and no discretion is left to
the electors but to do their bidding. According
to this system what farce ii is to have electors
at all Why not LET the rowdies and the shoulder
hittcrs and the blscklegs and thieves vote direct
for the President? The electors are really re-
sronsible 10 the laws and the constitution to God
and the country; and yet in the face Of these
considerations. and in violation Of their oath,
they have been hitherto in the habit Of voting
in obedience to the dictation Of bands Of con-
spirators who league together to plumber the
people. They are worse than useless; for If
there was direct vote for the President,
all decent men who have a stake In the
community would have fair chance. But
as II is now the electors do what conyen-
tons tell them, and the conventions are
the creation Of the bands Of burglars and bull
lies. and the scum and ofsccuring Of society.
II Is high time that the electors should
awaken from their delusion, aud become alive
TO sense OF their own responsibility. and act
accordingly. They are not elected by the peo-
PIE to elect Breckenridge. or Douglas, or Bell or
any Other candidate, but such man ~, after due
dciiberation. they deem best for the interests
Of better character and sounder Judgment than
the members OF conventions, or the members Of
Congress and they are better qualified to Sc
iccta President than any conventions which
have ye; met, or than such corrupt scoundrels
a. tbosc who constituted majority Of the late
House q Representatives.. Il remains for them
10 yipdica,e their own dignity and The free
dem of their choice. according to thc intention
"a The constitution, aud to give death blow TO
the system which has 80 long superseded It.
BY taking this high ground and making this
bold stand. they would save the country, and
immoT,alize their names In American history.
PrSNsYfyA.n roIuiCfkNs AND Nav IoRS
McNtr The Pennsylvania politicians are
main m the city endenxnrinr To- hnmhnr The