Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-21
The Elections.

Inc biectl0ns.
While we are not wholly surprised at the re.
suit Of the recent elections in Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Indiana, we are yet disappointed at
the extent OF the Democratic gains in these To-
calites We do not accept them, however, as
indicative Of any change in the sentiments Of
the masses of the people in these States, res
pectipg the national Issues which have divided
parties in years past, bet rather as ey idence
that those who, ut the last Congressional cleo
tons, made the Republican majorlties, are now
much more numerous in the army than their
political adversares Months ago, sagacious
men in the Western States predicted this result
when they saw the great p.eponderance Of Re-
pubcans9olunteerIng for the war, and thought
they discovered plan, on the part of Demo
cratic leaders, to bringit about by this very
means. Ohio has sent 100 ,0S voters to the war.
Indiana has sent $4,000. Pennsylvania has
sent D5,00e. 1t would not be strange if the
absence OF SO large a portion of the voters
should materially change results on election
day, especially in localities where party leaders
discourage enIs0tments. Andif the truth could
be ascertaiDed, we believe it wGud appear that
the administration has in all these elections,
received as many votes froR those formerly
Democrats, as the Democratic ticket has re-
ceived from those formerly Republicans Neither
Is 1t certain that, so far as the people are con-
cerned, these apparent Democratic gains are in
all instances significant Of hostility to the ad.
ministrationq or to "a vigorous prosecution of
the war. it il oalg the choice of one man. in.
stead OF another man, to do the same work and
stand by the same principles. For this purpose
war Democrat is just as good as a Republi-
can, and the election Of such need not embarrass
the government.
But aler We have extracted all the comfort
we can of this sort. We are obliged 10 confess
that, on the whole, the defeat of such men az
Grow ia Pennsylvania, and Bingham in Ohio.
and the election Of such Democrats as Cox of
Ohio, and Voorhees, OF Indiana, are Indicative Of
anything but purpose, on the part of tie ma
Jorties IT. their districts, to heartily sustain the
administration in vigorous and uarelentinc
prosecution OF the war. As far as they are con-
cerned, the result is jus! what JEFF Davis would
have brought about il he had had the power
and he seldom is mistaken in choosing between
his friends and his enemies. And all through
the South, and abroad, the election will, in
these instances, be heralded as a triumph of men
who will endeaVor in some way to end the war,
without fighting it through until treason sue.
cumbs. Before the war, the rebels regarded
Northern Democrats as their political allies,
and supposed they would forcibly prevent any
attempt at coercing the South They were dis.
appointed in this at the outset, but have never
given up entirely the hope Of receiving some
help from them; and they will now accept tins
election as partial redemption Of this pledge
OF assistance. IL will give them encouragement
that their cause will again find bold champions
on the floor OF Congress, who may be able to so
embar ass the government in it's prosecution of
the war, as to defeat its efforts to suppress re-
'bellion
Wecannot be blind, also, to another evil re.
suit of these elections. The South have other
schemes than merely the independence of the
confederate States They can ioresee, if ever
che slave States are separated from the Union.
and their independence acknowledged, that the
free States must, II they hold together, ult.
pately rals this continent. They, therefore
are full as anxious to hopclessy divide the
North, allyipg part of it by treaties of amiy
and commerce to themselves, as they are TO cut
adrift from the cid Union. They not only wish
to escape from the Government, but SO utterly
end and destroy it, that their coniederasy shall
be the only really formidable power on this CON-
tinent To this end they have in various WAYS
talked OF free navigation of the Mississippi, pro-
vided the West would cut adrift from the East.
aud carry its supplies of breadstuffs to a
Southern market. And there remains now no
doubt that in many localities in the Western
States, secret associations have existed for somo
time, doing what they can, to further just such
schemes as these and we may be entirely sure
DO man belonging to any such ASSOCIATION voted
the Republican ticket. That this election will
advance such schemes as this we have no doubt,
IL will encourage the South in The expectation
Of alternating tho West from the East, and it