Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-07-31

The hearts of men will gladden.,
No longer dare rebel.
The States so free
All joined will be,
When they hear the name of Bell,
The name we love, &c.
The Four Great tPartfes-Their Relative Po-
siti0n and Policy.
The country now beholds the extraordinary
spectacle of four great political parties striving
for ascendancy in the Presidential contest
There is the Republican, or Northern Sectional
party, the Breckinridge, or Southern Sectional
party, the Douglas, or Squatter Sovereignty
party, and the Constitutional Union party. The
policy Of the two first named-whatever may be
the intention of their supporters necessarily
leads to disunon. Neither of them has the O.
der OF nationality about it. They represent on
ly the extreme opinions of their respective Sec
tions, and the success of either would be the tr-
umph of one section over the other The result
would be to strain to the utmost, if not to break,
the cords which bind the Union together. IL.
The Douglas party represents the small modi-
cum of nationality which yet belongs to the
Democracy. In Virginia it has its strength in
the Tenth Legion and other districts most devo-
ted to the Union, whilst in the secession, fire.
eating districts it is, powerless. Objectionable
as this party is, it is far more acceptable to the
conservative sentiment of the country than Ell
her of the sectional parties, because it does not
threaten the integrity Of the Union.
The only purely national party now before
the people is the Constitutional Union party
1t presents itself under the auspices of a Con
vention composed of distinguished men-men
known to the whole country-representing the
whole country-and with candidates entitled to
the confidence of the whole country. Bell and
Everett are statesmen of mature experience.
tried patriotism, and acknowledged ability. A.
midst all the excitement of sectional strife, nei-
ther of them has been led into the expression or
advocacy of extreme opinions or measures
They have been emphatically men of modera-
tion. Prudence, a wise discretion, and ca
tholic nationality, have characterized all their
public conduct. The crisis demands the servi-
ces of men of their stamp. The country now
has more need of the rein than the spur. The
temper of the public mind is explosive. We re-
quire men who, by wisdom and Cancellation,
will calm down and smooth the popular excite
ment, and restore harmony and the spirit of
concord to the nation. The divisions in public
sentiment are such as to render it extremely
doubtful whether there will be an election OF
President by the people. Judging from the past
the Republican party is likely to have plurali-
ty OF the electoral vote, though in common with
all men of national sentiments, we most earnest
ly hope that it may not rise into q majority.
The danger, however, as matters now stand, is
from that quarter. It behooves all national.
Union-loviDg men, therefore, to consider ma
turely the best means of arrestiDg such dire
calamity as the election of sectional Black Re-
publican President To this end, every arrange
ment for cooperation should be made by other
organizations, which can be effected without an
abandonment of fundamental principles.
Let Us then proceed to consider what is the
true policy of the conservative men Of the Un.
ion = hHA #4ea
The Republican and the Breckenridge or Sc
cession parties, being both as already stated es-
sentially sectional, and tending to the same end
-DIsUNIoN-but by different means-it is man.
fest that neither of the parties claiming to be
national and Union-loving can unite or cooper
ate with either Of them. 1t would belize ming
ling oil and water. 1t would involve an aban-
donment of the cardinal principles of their ma
tional organizations. Between the SECTIONAL
and the NATIONAL parties there is an impassable
gulf-as wide as that which separated Lazarus
and Dives.
But between the Douglas and Bell parties
there is no such insuperable barrier. True, they
dtfer-differ widely on many important ques-
tions; but these are administrative questions,
which are entirely subordinate to the greater
question OF the permanency Of the Union. In
view OF the strong bond OF sympathy between
them, arising out ola common devotion to the Un-
ion, these parties may well afford to adjourn all
functional questions for future adjudication, and
address themselves earnestly, energetically, and
patriotically to the preservation of the organism
of our political system. There is no vital antsg-
onisln between them, and no good reason why
they should not act together in the extraordina-
ry emergency that has arisen.
Let US next examine the proper basis of the
proposed co-operation:-, @7r
1t must be obvious to every friend of Douglas
that ne cannot be elected President by the Elec-
toral Colleges. He has great strength in the
Northwestern States and in some of the East
ern and Middle States, but in the South he is
powerless. His most sanguine supporters, there
tore, can hardly suppose that he will carry a
majority OF the whole number of electoral votes
The determined and relentless hostility of the
Seceders, headed by Breckinridge, aided by the
Democratic Senators, and backed by Buchanan
and his horde OF officials precludes the possibil-
ity of his obtaining majority. .1a
His only hope, then, is in defeating the elec-
ton OF Lincoln by the people, and going before
the House OF Representatives as one of the three
highest candidates. Lincoln will certainly be
one of these three It is almost equally sure
that Bell will be another. The only question.
then, is who shall be the third2 The contest
lies between Douglas and Breckenridge
vote cast for Breckenridge is substantially cast
against Douglas. 1t is death grapple between
them. One or the other must go to the wall.
and it Is entirely within the power of the friends
of Douglas to decide who it shall be-. We ad
wise the friends of Douglas to have clear per-
ception OF this view Of the case, and for that
purpose we will submit practical illustration
Of it. Douglas certainly has no chance Of car
rying Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Car
olina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky.
Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana.
The Seceders are stronger than he is in many Of
those States, and almost as strong in others2--
What then is bis policy in regard to those States
II ne should be soft enough to 60 into conven-