Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-08-30
An Election by the House OF Rep.
reSCntatlycS.

BY many it is thought that it will be i'm
possible to elect either of the four candidates
before the people by tho popular vote, and
hence calculations as to the probable success OF
this or that man arc being very generally dis
cussed. We hope the people will decide this
matter for themselves and not leave it to their
representatives. The election ofSpoaker last
fall nearly brought the Republic to the verge
of destruction, and as Congress now is, if the
election of President goes to the House, the
pillars of the Government will shake to their
very foundation if the entire super-structure
does not topple its fall Listen to what the
Philadelphia North American, a conservative
j,urnal says upon this subject:
No man who has observed oven superficial
" the events Of the last ten years. and who
has read our previous history with any in
struction or intelligence, but must be convinc-
Cd that to throw the election of President in
to Congress, in the present state of parties
would be likely to involve the most perilous
consequences. We should regard it as the
very gravest calamity which could now be-
fall the country, ard as more calculated than
anything else to subject our government to an
an experiment more hazardous and momentous
than any which has yet been tried. In con-
sidering such q subject oil political bias ought
to he put aside, and we should strive to weigh
il with the calmness and earnestness fitting
20 such an occasion. Those of us who regard
party ties as infinitely below the higher OBJ
ccts of good government, and who only Con-
slider them as passing agencies, by which the
interests, prosperity aud power of the Union
NAV be promoted and developed can have no
object in exaggerating the embarr@sments
which may result from this or any other po-
lhical probability. Looking ut the prospect
from higher elevation than that which may
attend the triumph or defeat of any party, we
repeat that to throw the election into the
House might precipitate that very crisis which
fanatics and fire-eaters so much desire, but
which every patriotic heart would regard as
the saddest and darkest day in our history.
Let lis look fairly at certain practical
facts. No party has majority in the House
of Representatives. OF the SO votes rep
resented by States in that body, 15 are
Republican, IA are democratic. are divided |
POLITICALLY and is southern Opposition
The period fixed to make an election in is
from the second Wednesday in February un-
I'll the fourth Of March-just sixteen legsla-
tive days. Let it be remarked that it is with
In tho power of one-ffth Of the House to call
the ayes and nays upon dilatory motions, and
that every such demand consumes more than
half an hour of time. Congress will meet
only ., few weeks afterthe excitement and
ex Evaporation of the Presidential campaign,
vbea the passions and bad feelings Of all o des
would necessarily be deeply stirred, and when
moderation and prudence would be the very
last counsel likely to be sought or adopted.
Each marty would charge the other with the
Of defeat, and this elimination
would az certainly provoke bitter retaliation
md resentment. This is the temper in which