Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-11-05

there is evidence which can hardly be dis
puted, that it has reacted upon the South,
and has produced there, to considerable
extent, many of the evils with which they
threatened the North, OF which they simu-
lated or prophesied at home, to alarm their
own people, or to make a show of excite
ment to bully the North. Bankers and cap
italists in the South have been alarmed by
the continual threats of politicians to pre-
cipitate collision. They are curtsiling and
calling in their loans, which causes peculiar
hardship at this time, when so great financial
facilities are needed to move the cotton crop.
In Georgia and Virginia the papers state
that the price of negroes has greatly de-
clined and holders who are forced to sell by
other embarrassments, do so at a sacrifice of
$500 or $400 hand. These hardships come
upon them at time when they need more
than usual credit, on account of the de-
fcit in the cotton and grain crops which
compels the planters to buy more than the
usual proportion of their food from abroad,
while their resources from their staple are
cuftaied. Besides this, the negro question
has been agitated so furiously by Southern
politicians, in the presence of their negroes,
and abolition declared as the inevitable re-
suit of the election of a Republican Pres
ident that either the alarm of the people
imagines disaffection among the slaves, or it
really exists. How could it be otherwise.
when there is evidence that can hardly be
disputed, that in some of the Southern States
the farce of negro insurrection has actually
been played, as a means of frightening their
own people and the North, and as a pretext
for driving out the poor whites from among
them, or disposing of them by Lynch-law-a
proceeding about as sensible as to build
bonfire in a powder magazine in order to
create a false alarm.
Much of this criminal trihing with their
own safety grows out of the fact that the
politicians who hold the Federal offices and
the political control of most of the Southern
States, are not of the class which holds the
great property interests in the South. The
Democratic party there, as in the North,
represents numbers against property. The
Democratic politicians are not the great
slsveholding class. This was formerly in the
Whig party. Now it is chiefly included in
the Opposition. Consequently the Demo-
cratic politicians are as ready to USE and
sacrifice, if necessary, the property interest
to their political purposes, as Northern poll
ticians are to sacrifice the interests of their
own section fol, their political profit. %
But this sham fright has resulted in real
distress and danger in the South. The ex-
citement destroys confidence and paralizes
business. 1t is indispensable that it should
end at once. And this is the point to which
we wish to direct the attention of patriots,
of whatever name. What other way of
ending this agitation is there, than by an
election of President by the people2 Who
is there that dare resist the great Uox popuLi,
spoken in the way appointed by the Consti-
tution2 The whole nation win bow in sub
mission TO this fiat. Alarm will subside,
confidence will be restored, and every sec
tion will then bethink itself that this coun-
try is not like France, whose whole political
rights hinge on a single election; but gov
ernment of separate departments, with dis
tinct powers prescribed by the Constitu-
tioD; and that constitutional rights are not
subject to the chances of a Presidential cleo
tion, but are fortified by every department
of the government.
What man can call himself friend to the
Union, who would defeat an election by the
people, and throw the election into the
House, to be subject to such contest as that
which disgraced the country over the cleo
ton of Speaker, aggravated by the immense
patronage at stake, aud exposed to the vio-
lence of the reckless politicians who have
been threatening disunion, and who think
that by getting up scene of violence and
bloodshed in the House they can precipitate
it at any moment2 What mockery to call
this friendship for the Union -r- --
Nor is the idea of some of the fre-eaters
that they can precipitate a revolution at any
time, entirely improbable. Let blood be
shed in the House, and the affair will be
telegraphed instantaneously over the whole
country. Thousands of infuriated people will
rush to Washington; and then where it is to
stop2 The imbecile President will be help
less and perhaps a traitor and reckless
Southern politicians, who at home would be
put down in one Of thsir own villages if they
attempted any disunion pranks, will riot in
the storm which they have raised.
Thousands of Federal Ofice-holders from
the South, and perhaps from the North, who
would sacrifice the country rather than give
up their hold on Office, will be at Washing
ton urging on violent measures, and the
public safety will be entirely in the hands of
a reckless, unserupulous and irresponsible
class Of gambling politicians, many of whom
have already threatened treason.
Certainly no friend to the Union can de-
sire to trife with its safety in this way. Its
worst enemies could not contrive any thing
so dangerous to it. The moral power of
election by the people
will be sufficient TO put down all
threats of resistance to the Inauguration
of any President from any party. An cleo
tiOn by the people is necessary to the safety
Of the country. AS soon as that is an
nounced panic will subside. Business will
again resume its accustomed channels. Sec
Lional animosities will vanish. The South
will take care of its own disunionists. Con-
Ititutional rights will be safe. They are not
ubject to any President; and, besides, will |
)e protected in every section of the country
1y President elected by the people. An |
election by the people is the only safety for