Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-12
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1850.
Moral of the October Elections

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1850.
Moral of the October Elections.
The elections recently held in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and Indiana were looked to with the deepest anxiety
by every Southern patriot Whatever may be the
bitterness existing between parties in the South, it
cannot be denied that they were united in concur
rent and common hope that the Old Keystone State
would prove true to her ancient fame and overthrow
the Black Republicans on last Tuesday. 1t mattered
little which one of the three antagonist parties
shared most literally and largely in the honors Of
the hoped for triumph. That was not the question
Like the allied forces at Sebastopol hereditary and
rival foes, with the exception Of part of the BELL
snd DOUGLAS factions, were seen, side by side and
shoulder to shoulder advancing, amid the tumut Of
action to the intrenchments Of the enemy. lhey
were cheered on by the entire Southern hosts, VINO
themselves are engaged at home in local teuds and
most strange encounter Their cause, as against the
Black Republicans is or ought to bea common cause
Disguise it as you may, misrepresent or smother the
common sentiment of the South as interested parties
may choose TO do it IS the cause of "the Consutu-
ton and the equality Of the States, (which the gar
liant BKECKNRIDGE truly says are 1.-The symbols Of
everlasting union" Let LINCOLN be elected and
Black Republican rule once established, and he IS
infs. aated who will deny that the equality of the
Stat is virtually crushed out.
Whatever effect the election Of Mr.. BELL or DOUG
LAS might have. this will undoubtedly be the result
of tie triumph Of candidate who has not even a
ticket IN one-half the States Of the Contederacy.
Can any true Southern man calmly contemplate such
a result without horror and the deepest humiii-
atiol 9 If he does no: feel Inundated for himself
he rust feel so for his childreus sake II this be
So has the South lost her manhood: Is she 50 weak
imbeciie and distracted that her sons cannot unite
and strike one good strong, healthy blow for her IN
depe ldence and equality before this election shall
forever decide her fate and consign her to the con
dition virtually Of an inferior province lnthe Unlon
or drive her to revolution and anarchy Every
true southern patriot will say, "strike the blow.
What csn be done then? There is no resource left
than 70 unite upon one ticket thanfOr all the South
ern States to decide upon casting united vote for
one candidate in this contest and thus present an
uubrs ken front to cur sectional OppressOrs. 1t Is
true We may not carry the election even with tie
unite vote Of the South, without the aid Of some Of
the larger Northern States. But we may teach our
enenl' IS to beware of Us We may give them to I'M
mat we ere NOT So F't1A' N4'.- anu Ni~
Cene tcd that we are ready 70 surrender to their
insoI-u tyraaical and insulting demands ami pur-
poses without resistance first by every constitution
al mems within our power, and If 1t must be. By
ever means that honest men and patriots may
adopt to save themselves from degradation and dis
honor. rorch2nce seeing our determination and
cordial union, some Of the Northern States may
come to our assistance in time and preserve Us from
the dread dilemma of submission TO sectional domI-
natiou or in the very last resort resistance to un-
const tutonal oppression. 1t will not do IN crisis
like this TO hide our heads in the sand, like
the moor ostrich. ard dream that there Is no
peril surrounding us because We have wlltuIly shat
our es to it. There is danger and the South might
as W, look il mantuily in the face. We are on the
brink of a precipce, steep and dangerous. We are
bese bv rers that every truly enlightened and wise
man does not fail to recognize. If not, what mean
these unprecedented mRorties in three of the great
central Northern States for those who are seeking
to crash out the Hfc-blood from our section' If
LINCOLN should be elected where viii be the man so
disloral to his section rs to accept a commission
bearing his seal? And if not, where will be Fede-
raj authority in the Southern States We say moth
ing Of the threats of South Carolina the resolves OF
Alabama. or the purposes of Mississippi We speak
only of the inevitable consequences Of LINCOLN S
election. Mr. BELLS most distinguished Elcctor has
denounced. in advance, the man who would
degrade himself by accepting a Federal once
,,nda- TrvcoIY. The sentiment of Col. PEUToN I'M
doubtedly finds a very general response IN the South
ern heart No man can accept a position under
such an Administration without bringing personal
odum upon himself, and, IN many localities, the tone
Of opinion viii drive him from the community INTO
the wilderness or among his more congenml assocl-
ates the Black Republicans.
Isit not time. that, the South pause and take her
reckoning? Is it not time to dispel prejudice and
party animosities among ourselves and unite upon
SOM one Of the candidates to show at least to the
world that We are conscious of the dangers by
which we are cnvironed? And in so doing,
we should discard mere personal and party
preferences and obey the unerring sentiment Of our
section, by yielding support to the candidates
who most fully and emphaticslly embody the gene
raj Southern sentiment, and who are the most &C
Ceptable to a majority Of the South' If we deter
mine On a united South, as we must now do, if we
are true to ourselves It is but Just and reasonable
that the majority Of those. seeking to be united,
should control the choice. such union is imprac-
tea le unless thus defer to the prevailing senti
men,. Not only So but the leader chosen 10 face
the approaching horGos of Black Republicanism
mus bear upon his banner written in uHmistak-
able .angusge. showed ana emphatic opposition to
the claims of our enemies. The syren song Of no
arts ton" the policy Of ignoring the great vital
issue about which Rlack Republican var upon
rs yin not do IN The face OF q bold. energetic
+-i,,,,rhant enemy. We must let them feel that ",
L7,oy, our rights and knowing dare maintain them
Il win not do for the South in this trying emergency
10 tsEes candidate who IN all the great battles be
tvye. c sections has voted side by side with thOs,
who are now coming with such dreadful pace upor
us. such policy would be regarded by enc
mics as IN act Of tlmidty concession OF our Prin
ciples through fear OF them Instead ofdriving then
back such policy would but urge them on, and IN
vite further aggressoHs.
1t has now been demonstrated that it Is most con
sumruate folly to talk about the Northern strength
Of either BEL OF D0UGIAs. Neither Of them ear
now aim. without dong violence TO public inteIlt
penee. the least show Of strength in the Northern
States Mr. BRsCEfyRnGE can rally to his support
the yoole strength Of the Southern States The late
elections in Delaware. Florida, and Mississippi de.
nonstrate. beyond qucation, his strength and popu.
larIty- The OBSERVATION u every A'1l' III MS Own
section confirms this proposition. If either D0va
las OF BELL were Withdrawn singly. BNHcgNEgDGy
would sweep every Southern State by oyerwhelnl
ing Il. ioritics over his remaining competitor
We have thrown cut these suggestions for the
consideration Of the masses. If they worth
anvil ny. If they are available to unite US, can
at leaa, 10 that and save the honor Of the South,
even II ali else be lost.