Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-08-30

Congress would be likely to assemble IN tho
contingency suggested.
We ask, then, 10 it probable under such
circumstances that an election could be made
within the short time allowed for this pur-
poser 1t would be the aim Of factious mi
nority to prevent an election by the House.
even surprising combination Of electors
possible-with the design of carrying it into
the Senate, where democ ratio majority is do
cidel and certain. Nothing would be easier
if any inducement was offered. A few men
need only band together to call the ayes and
NAYS, and vote might be prevented from
first to last. They have tried this power be-
fore, and know how potential il can he made.
In the 34th Congress, the election OF Speaker
was DELAYED nine weeks, by combination
of factious clements, and at the very last ses-
sion, within one day of the same time, by a
similar combination. The incidents of that
recent struggle are too fresh in the public
mind to need being recalled now. A. times
there was great daDger that collision on the
floor was imminent, and the calmest specula-
tors of those exciting scenes were moved with
the deepest apprehension, lest some bloody
cncouter would every day occur, and force a
terrible catastrophe. Yet the only provoca-
ton at that time was miserable pamphlet,
which nobody had read, and which when eX-
amined proved to BIZ compilation OF statls-
tics, with some rash and offensive reflections
of the author upon slavery.
The very men who figured in that drama
are those by whose votes the election of Pres
ident is to be decided, if it should be carried
to the House. Can we expect moro reason
from them, under the exciting influences OF
such an occasion, than they exhibited with
so little cause during the Speakers contest?
Let every man canddly ask himself this ques-
ton, when he reflects upon the material oil
which the disunon element in the House is
composed. One blow struck at such time
would almost involve the consequences OF a
revelation, for each section would be instant
ly innamed with tho violence of partizanship
and the factionists who riot and rcvel in dis
cord would seize upon the opportunity for
consummatins their unholy and rash pur-
poses.
There is one other view Of the subject en-
titled to serious attention AS nearly balan-
ced as parties are in the House, with the votes
OF three States actually depending upon the
decision of three men and with the majorities
in other States held nearly by the same I'M
certain tenure, the greatest inducements would
be offered to bribery and corruption. How
easy would it bo for one man or five men not
10 attend the sessions Of the House; to become
conveniently sick, or to be called home by
alleged indispensable duty or business. With
the prospect of S3,500,o00,000 Of cxpendi-
lures in four years and an Administration in
power already practised in all the arts of pur-
chasing votes, as morally proven before til e
Covode Committee in regard to the passage
of the English bill, who can doubt that the
most desperate and the most venal exped ents
would be adopted to secure the election. A
million or two of dollars could be raised in
forty-cight hours, by Il tax on the office hold
crs, or by dispensation of contracts, and the
ex perionce of the last few years has painful
ly demonstrated that there are plenty of men
in congress Of all parties who have their prices,
and would gladly welcome the chance of be-
ing bought. Next to revolution, an cleo
ton procured by such means might be look
ell upon as the beginning Of that inevitable
decline which struck down the Roman repub-
lie in its pride and grandeur when the high
honors were purchased by the power of a We
nal soldiery.
Much az we would deprecate the election
of Breckenridge or Douglas, believing fully
that the success of either would be bat con-
tinuation Of the present corrupt and reckless
misrule, and be attended by injury to the peace
and welfare Of the country, still We should
hail such result as blessing, compared
with the hazard of going into the House with
the election. For, result how it might, moth
ing but misfortune could follow, in some shape
or other. When Mr. Clay, acting under the
highest promptings of patriotism, determin-
in 1928, and subsequently sacrificed his own
convictions of policy and of interest in accept
ing the Secretaryship of State, he was de-
nounced by the whole democratic party ms
being guilty Of "bargain and SALE"