Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-10-17
The Public Sentiment as EvInced by
the late Elections.

The election returns show what are call
ed Democratic gains. These gains are in
distinctly and Enthusiastically classified as
Democratic. Such a classification is cal
culated TO deceive the hasty reader. As
YET 1t is impossible to analyze the complex
ion of the returns, but it is safe to call at
tentiuu to the fact that scarcely any two
districts in all the States in which elections
have been held present the same features.
In some of them one democrat has been
run against another democrat, and both
claiming to be democrats. The contest
waspersonal between them. and commenced
rs in one instance, in dissatisfaction in the
way they were brought out. These candi-
dates were voted for professionally by Re-
publicaus aud Democrats. Again, in an
instance like that of the Toledo, Ohio, dis
trict, the contest was between two Repub-
licsns and a Democrat. Ashley. the old
member, had bad record in some of his
political dealings, aud better man, per-
sonally, was the issue. Again as in the
Washington, Pa, district, the hon. Jesse
Lazear claimed to have been peculiarly a
government caudidate-to have been, par
excellence, war man, aud his friends APP
pealed 20 his record and his personal
character to show that he was much
more to be trusted on the war issue than
his opponent Hundreds voted for him
because he was the soldiers friend, as was
elaimed,-because he visited the soldiers
in their camps and did much that a patri
otto man should do. Again, Sam Cox, of
the Columbus, Ohio, district, was, by his
own assumption, the administration candi-
date, and in strong Republican counties
he swept the popular heart by eulogies of
an extraordinary character upon the Pres
ident He was accustomed to swing his
hat at the close of many of his speeches
and propose and give "three times thrse''
for "Honest old Abe"
This is the mixed character that attaches
to the election returns of Tuesday last.
Until tue details of each district are pre-
scented it is gratuitousto classify them as
Democratic or otherwise. Il is not to be
supposed for a moment that in Pennsyl-
g Vania where the Union State ticket has
been handsomely carried, there is any
considerable disloyal element. She has
over one hundred thousand soldiers in the
field and yet has her hundreds of thous-
ands Of devoted Union men at home
The same is to be said of the gallant, fight.
ing Indiana. OF course in both of these
States all the disloyal element has
remained at home. That element has
been in many districts Influential for
evil, as in the district of Voorhees,, of Pen
dleton's aud in the one across the river here
A disloyal minority, bitter. intelligent, in
many instances wealthy, has been able to
complicate the great issue and lug in the
niger and alarm the prejudices OF many
good and devoted Union men. These state.
ments will be shown 10 thefact that not one
of the new Congressman elected as Demo.
Gratis will dare call himself anything else
than a war man. What such one may
do when he gets into Congress in year
from now, will, of course, depend upon the
public sentiment throughout the country
This war will be settled in all human prob
ability before any of these gentlemen can
take their seats. So that SO far as the prac-
teal conduct of the war depends, their
election really amounts to very little.
sOIIed Postage stamps.