Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-09-11
How to Vote.

How to Vote.
No man is fit to vote who is not willing, in q
great crisis, to overlook bis party obligations,
and vote on principle. If ever there can be an
occasion for such determination, it will GER
tainly be presented at the approaching Presi-
Dental election. What principle shall be the
guide of all Southern men on that eventfu day
There are three candidates for whom our suf
frages are sought. How shall an Independent
citizen, forgetting party considerations and OBJ
solete issues, make his selection?
Tt is high time that these questions were duly
entertained and settled We suggest few facts
which ought to exercise some influence over pa
triotic minds. One is, that Lincoln's election
must be dangerous to the stability of the Union,
if not to the rights Of the States. Those who
regard the latter as most in danger, will of
course see the primary necessity of defeating him;
unless their professions are all hollow, and, in
reality, they desire to see him elected, in order
'to precipitate the Cotton States into revolution"
The advocates of Mr.. Breckinridge's election
profess warm devotion both to the Union and
to the rights of the States. If they are sincere,
they will make the defeat of Lincoln their first
object. In this State they have instructed their
electors to act accordingly. So far, SO good;
but it is very questionable independence thus to
delegate discretion to others in so important an
affair. We would not do so on an important
question of personal interest, We should be
still less willing to do it in case involving such
momentous consequences to the whole country
Every man should vote on the 9th of November
80 as most directly to defeat Lincoln.
Again, the election of either Lincoln or Brock
iuridge is justly regarded as the triumph of an
extreme over moderate opinions. The friends of
Douglas and the friends of Bell equally profess an
enthusiastic DEVOTION to Union and Nationality.
With them, therefore, the primary object in this
election is the defeat of both Lincoln and Brock
inridge. The Lincoln party embraces all the
dangerous anti-slavery egitators The Breckin-
ridge party embraces all the Southern disunion-
policy of the one class is aggressive insoent, and
tending to radicalism and sedtion. That of the
other is treacherous, disorganizing, olgarchical
and anti Christian.
It is vain for either of these parties to contend
that they are not responsible for the opinions
maintained by few. We assert that these fac
tionists would not act with them if they did not
know that their success would favor their own
wicked purposes. Leading aboitionists are sup
porting Lincoln, because his sentiments are
kindred to their own. Yancey and other disu-
nionists are supporting Mr.. Breckenridge be-
cause they regard his election as most favorable
to their ultimate designs. Here, then, is great
question for good, patriotic, pious men in the
South to ponder well. Shall they vote for Ell
Their of these two men, whose election would
tend to encourage the hopes and to facilitate the
designs of the fanatics of the North, or, on the
other hand, so strengthen the wicked faction at
South, whose aim is a cotton Confederacy on
the ruins of the Union, and re-openfng of the
African slave-trade, with all its enormties, cru
elites and horrors2
Between Judge Douglas and Mr.. Bell, we are
free to confess, no such question can arise. They
are both Union, National men by profession, and
both out-spoken, fearless, and emphatic in their
denunciation of the two factions to which we
have referred. Neither abolitionists nor dsunion-
lists can affiliate with their respective parties
With either of them, we believe the country
might safely rest under conservative admins
tration. We prefer Mr.. Bell for a number of
reasons, not only of party character, but per-
sonal and patriotic. But the only reason we
would mention now, is found in the fact that
Mr.. Bell can carry a number of the Southern
States, whereas Mr.. Douglas cannot. Who
doubts the statement? Who supposes Mr. Doug
las can obtain plurality in any Southern State 2
On the other hand, it is admitted by many of
the most intelligent Democrats, that Mr.. Bell will
certainly secure plurality in large number of
these States, and in some of them an overwhelm-
ing majority.
Here then is the final question to be decided
by Southern men. Shall they vote for Mr..
Douglas against hope, endorse his 'ssquatter SOW
ereignty" policy-that knotty plank in his plat
form, on which he has staked his fortunes-and
thus run the awful hazard of the election of Lin
coln2 or shall they vote for Mr. Bell, with con-
siderable prospect of success, with his unobjec-
tionable platform, and the strong probability of
the defeat of Lincoln7
There are thousands of voters, thanks to our
free institutions, and habits of personal indie
pendence, who do not belong to any party-in a
slavish sense-and these will probably elect the
next President. Upon them devolves the re-
sponsibiity and the honor, in the present crisis,
of securing the safety and repose of our country.
Every vote thus cast will be remembered by the
voter in after times with pleasure and with
pride. 1t will add a nsi to the fabric that COW
ers all we have been taught to prize. 1t will
add mite to the monument on which the name
and fortunes of our country are inscribed for the
admiration and study of future ages.
Superfuous.
Extra-Gov. Smith, with that sweet simplicity
of countenance for which he is SO distinguished,
gravely argued before his ''large audience" in
the courthouse here, that Bell stood ''no