Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-09-22
The Presidential Election.

as of old from Maine to California, while at the
same time the field is occupied by two opposing
factions, the Bell men and the black Republicans.
What should be done9 1t would be alike impoitic
and Improbable to trace the causes which produced
our present divisions, or to dwell upon the causes
themselves. We must deal with things they
are, and do the best we under the circumstances
by which we are surrounded.
We assume, as fixed fact that the Douglas men
cannot in any contingency carry North Carolina.
The State will vote either for Breckenridge or Bell.
united Democratic vote would ensure the State
for breckenridge by ten thousand majority. Why
may we not have this united votea Mr. Brcckin-
ridge subscribes to and warmly advocates the prn-
cipleS which have always been held by the Demo
crazy Of the State. He is able faithful and true to
the Constitution and the Union; and that his
ciate on the ticket is equally faithful and true no
one will deny. On the other hand Mr.. Douglas
does not agree with the Democracy of the State in
his Interpretation Of the Cincinnati platform; nor
can the State rights Democracy, some of whom are
his supporters, by any stretch of devotion to his
interests find it in their judgments or in their hearts
to concur with him in the language which he has
used in relation to the means he would employ as
President and which he says he qoiU employ as
Senator, to coerce and su6ugate sovereign Southern
States. Mr.. Breckenridge is as much devoted to the
Constitution and the Union as Mr. Douglas can be-
All the interests, the fame, and the future prospects
of Kentucky, no less than those of Illinois, are
most intimately identified with the existing Union
He could not be disunionist, if he would HIS
own neighbors would discountenance and disown
him if he to lift his hand against Constitu-
tional Union. We will not insult the Douglas De-
mocrats by asking them if they would submit to
any but Constitutional Union. Wherefore, then,
this opposition to Mr. Breckenridge and this perss
tent purpose to cast few thousand Democratic votes
Tor Douglas? What good can it effect?
But we are told that though John c. Breckenridge
and 10 Lane are not themselves dsumonists, they
are nevertheless supported by persons IN the "cot-
ton States" who are Well, what of that We
admit the fact-but does that change the character
Of the ticket? Suppose Lincoln should be elected,
and before any overt act is attempted by the black
Republicans some of these cotton States" should
60 about to secede from the Union, what would be
the course of Breckenridge and Lane? They could
not and would not go with them. Their platform,
their antecedents their declarations their localities
to say nothing of their inclinations under the Cir
cumstances to which have referred are all against
a sudden and violent rupture Of the federal bonds.
They are practical as well as sagaciOus statesmen.
The evil which would drive them into the maStrom
of revolution must not be imaginary, or ordinarily
probable, but imminent They must despair of
justice and equality under old forms before they would
accept hehazards ofatemptingt establish ones.
We say justice and equality, because entertain
fears IN any event for the SAFETY of the saveholdng
States.
-Rpt if few disunonists per sc in the " cotton
States" are supporting Breckenridge and Lane, who
are numbered among the supporters of Douglas and
Bell? In the first place, Mr.. Bell obtained consd-
cradle vote for President in the black Republican
Convention which nominated Lincoln; and in the
second place, he is supported by thousands Of anti
slavery men in the Northern States. His record,
almost from the moment he entered Congress- is
more decidedly freesoil than that of any other
Southern man, Henry Winter Davis excepted He
has, therefore, number of bad supporters and he
has bad record. As for Mr.. Douglas he is the
chosen champion of Forney, who was elected Clerk
of the House by the black Republicans; and in ad-
diton to this thousands of his active supporters in
the free States the very men who deserted Gen.
Cass in 1s4S, and rallied to Mr.. Van Buren, on the
freesoll Buffalo platform. Admitting, them all that
is charged against Mr. Breckenridge to be true,
what advantage him in this respect is possessed
by Douglas and Bell?
But what are the chances in November? We
claim with confidence for Mr. Breckenridge the fol-
lowing States: Alabama 9, Arkansas 4, Florida 8,
Georgia 10, Kentucky II, Louisiana 6, Mississippi
Z North Carolina 10, South Carolina g. Texas f.
making in all 70 votes. California, Oregon, Missouri,
Tennessee, and Virginia consider doubtful Ma
| ryland we give to Bell and Tennessee, Virginia,
and Delaware may vote for him. Now, what are
Mr. Douglass prospects? With the division between
him and Breckenridge we fear that Lincoln will
carry every Northwestern State, Illinois included.
His recent tariff speech will, we fear, not carry
Pennsylvania for him. That State will probably
vote for Lincoln. The proposed fusion IN New
York has failed, mainly through the obstinacy of
Judge Douglass friends in that State; and as mat
tiers now stand the thirty-fve votes of New York
may be put down for Lincoln. Mr.. Breckenridge is
certain of from fifty to seventy votes but there is
no certainty that Judge Douglas will obtain single
vote What then2 What say you, Douglas men
of North Carolina? We may be in error, you may
be in error all of may be in error SO far as De-
mocratc usage and organization are concerned; but
the great question is hOaO shall zoe defeat the enemy'
The events of the past cannot be changed. Let us
take care of the present and the future. Can we
defeat Bef by dividing in the South ?-can we de-
feat Lincoln by dividing in the North? Such re-
suit is impossible. The more We divide the more
we strengthen the hands of our enemies,-the more
we abuse and revile each other now the greater will
be the difficulty of reuniting our forces hereafter
You will bear witness, Douglas men, that we are
treating you respectfully and kindly We appeal