Smyrna times., 1862-10-16
No Party Contest.


The coming election in the free States is
not party contest. Were such the case,
we might pass it by as circumstance too
foolish and trivial to receive more than or
dinary attention. In the olden times the
party leaders rallied their forces ON minor
and secondary issues, and were inspired
simply by the desire to promote the success
and efficiency of their respective organiza-
tons. The tarif-internal improvements
territorial annexation-the political rela-
tlons of the States to the central Govern
ment, and OF the Territories to the States
foreign naturalization and slavery-all COM
bned at various times to develop party feel
ing and influence the general and local cleo
tons. In these contests the charges of
prescription and persecution were freely
made by one side against the other side, or
rather by one party striving to obtain pow
er against another party striving to retain
power All this happened in time Of peace
We are now i'll the midst of a wicked and
unrelenting war. We had hoped that in
the elections during the war there would be
an absence Of all virulence, violence and
anlmoslty. Thus far there have been moth
ing but anger and disappointment. The
energies that should be employed against
the enemy we are now wasting among
ourselves. There is no reason why the
people should not assemble and unite, with
out distinction of party, and defend the
Union at the ballot-boX as they are defend
ing it ON the battlefield. The enemy to
any such union is the Breckenridge Demo
cratic organization. Its platform, its lead
erS, its history and their avowed opinions,
all make political union with them impos-
slble. In Ohio we see such men as Mr..
aLandigham preaching his treason in every
school district; i'll New York Mr.. Seymour
Insults tie feelings of every loyal men in
Delaware McSsrs. Bayard and Salisbury
refuse the fellowship Of any one who does
endorse Their diSloyal course in the last
Congress. These men have all become ac-
tive partisans, and are devoted to the only
cause which Jefferson Davis does not dep
recate and dispise
All who claim to be loyal should be care.
tul to vote for candidate WHO'S not known
to be the warm friend of the Government.
The triumph of the Government at the next
election is a necessity almost as absolute as
the triumph of General Mcclellan on the
shores of the Upper Potomac. What would
be the use Of all the blood that has been
shed, and al the treasure that has been ex-
pended, if the enemies of the Union are to
vltlate the triumphs of the armies of the
Union! How long could we maintain the
Government with a Congress that would
reject the confiscation measure, defeat the
tax-bill, and prevent the passage of tariff
or revenue schedule? How long could we
keep an army togather with a House of
Representatives impeding its progress by
every obstacle that legislation could devise :
How long would it be before commission
ers OF peace would be sent from Washing
ton to Richmond with instructions to wei
come their old leader and representative
John 9. Breckenridge, with open arms
TO place the Government in the charge of
the Breckenridge Democracy would be like
committing the young King of England to
the care of his Uncle Gloster. If they con-
troll the next House they will control the
Government, and thus, by the apathy and
wickekness Of the citizens at home, all the
good results of this glorious war would be
poisoned and destroyed. To prevent a ca.
lamity so dire is the duty of every citizen,
and pre-enmently the duty of the Govern
ment.