The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-11-23
2olitifal.
The Character of the Victory.

II Is ue" SuIIlcieutlN evident t0al the re-
publicans have won the Executive and lost
the only branch of Congress that was open
to contest. This creates no particular disap-
pointment. because there has been for some
time no hope of gaining republican majori-
ty in the House of Representatives. but it
was generally feared that We should not
stand quite so well in the next as in the pres
ent House. On some accounts this is q mat
ter Of regret, while an entire view of the
field leaves it questionable whether it may
not prove just as well for the republican
cause in the end. With this fact We are in
clined TO put as another of the peculiar ele-
ments attending our Presidential victory, the
carrying of several Southern states by Bell
instead of Breckenridge. Let US see how We
stand in consequence of these results.
One of the first effects ofthis qualified vic
tory on our part and this political division of
the South, will be witnessed in the diminu-
ton of the disunion project. There is little
doubt that hopes and designs of breaking up
this Union have been nurtured for more than
quarter OF century at the South by
comparatively few feverisb minds, principally
in South Carolina ard Alabama These fana-
tics, from one cause or another, have been
the originators of much of the sectional ILL
will that has prevailed in the country, and
they have grown in arrogance in proportion
as they have been humored. If they could
be segregated from the mass of Southern
people, their insi ignifcance in numbers and
strength would render them ridiculous for
the remainder of their lives. Their strength
lies in keeping up an unobserved concert
with each other, while operating vigorously
upon the proverbial fears and prejudices of
slaveholdins community, and taking the lead
in every time Of excitement. Had Mr.. Lin
coin been elected, wit! strong republican
Congress to back him up, there would have
been ten times the alarm felt at the South
that is now manifested. and the disunionists
would nave struck while the iron vas hot
Now the case is changed with all Southern
men who know anything about the mode of
carrying on the government. So, to, if the
victory had been precisely coincident with
Mason and Dixon's line-all Lincoln above
and all breckenridge below-the defeat would
have been far more irritating, and therefore
more suitable for the purposes of the disun-
ion conspirators. As it is. the South is po-
ltically disconnected, discordant ; and just
those states that have suffered most, If any
have suffered, from the slavery agitation. are
the ones which reject the extreme pro-slave-
nv party. No sooner does Gov. Wise begin
| to rave like lunatic, than his own Virginia
claps an extinguisher on MIN. And so Ken
lucky disowns the leader under whom the
disunionists hoped to operate,simply because
such men were in his ranks. These things
will surely tell in quie,ing any disunion ex
citement, however it may rage for time.
Another consequence will be to bring back
the attention of Congress to matters of prac-
lical and national interest. No party having
power to carry out its own ideas with high
hand, all sensible men in both branches will
be in fair position to support the President
in the ordinary business of carrying on the
government, and to heed the patriotic and
pertinent recommendations which we have
no doubt he will make. In this way the coan-
try will be quieted and will enter upon new
career of prosperity. If this desirable result
is not attained, it will be in consequence of
the pro-slavery democracy in Congress tax
ing and maintaining purely factious atti-
tude. These men can do as they please. If
they continue the perverse course which has
made them so notorious in the present Con.
gress, they will cause the Constitutional In
ion members, and the Douglas democrats to
join the republicans in giving substantial
support to Lincoln's administration during
his first two years in office, and will bring
him a thorough republican House and Sem
ate for the last two years. As an old party,
fast going tc ruin, it is almost too much to
expect that the Breckenridge democracy will
learn wisdom in their last days. Blu: We can
afford to wait and see.
1t might be reckoned, perhaps, as an addi-
tional reason for being content with the
character of our victory, that it will test and
train the republican party in some important
requisites as governing party. The posi-
ton We are in necesstates great prudence,
generosity and good sense. As a RESISTING
> party We have shown ourselves 'irrepressi-
ble"-and it now remains to be seen what
: our capacity is as predominant, controlling
party. An entirely new set of obstacles is to
be thrown in our way. We perceive the work
begun already. A great pressure is applied
in certain quarters to induce Mr.. Lincoln to
come out with declaration of his views and
an intimation of the structure of his Cabinet.
iHc OtjeCts VI COuISt, IS tO uisoiSdulZc euC
republican party in advance, by getting up
an attempted distinction of conservative and
! radical sections within our ranks. These
schemes well illustrate Mr.. Stewards observa-
ton on the profound Ignorance which pre-
S walls respecting the character of the republi-
can party. We believe they are equally ig-
! norant of the character of Abraham Lincoln.
: Of whom correspondent says that be is now