The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-10-07
Political Moveme = ts-Ths October Eiec-
tions North and Sossh.

Pelitic.I Moveme.ts-rhs October Eiec-
tions NORTH and sossh.
| On Monday last there was an election for
Governor in the great Southern rebellious State
Of Georgia. On Tuesday next a Governor 10
to be elected In each Of the great Central loyal
States Of Pennsylvania and Ohio. In Georgia,
Judging from the late election in Alabama, we
think il probable that Hill, an old line Union
whig, has succeeded over tho present ineum-
bent, Brown, democratic ire-eater Of that
intractable Southern ultra war faction whose
| motto il "the last ditch" and the "last ex-
tremity." In regard to Pennsylvania, we have
| no data from which, applied to the present con-
| dition Of things. we can arrive at definite
| conclusion; but in regard to Ohio 1t is proba-
BILE that, following the standard Of their ex-
IRENE copperbead candidate valiandigham.
the democrats will be defeated.
Turning for a moment TO the elections OF the
last fifteen months, North and Sodth, it will be
found that their results are exceedingly sug-
gestive, inasmuch "a, North and South, they in
dictate the predominant public opinion to be in
favor of the restoration Of the old Union as far
as possible, considering the irreparstle acoi-
dents Of the war. THUS In August, 1862, the
present Governor Vance, Of North Carolina,
who is now recognized a. the head of the Union
party Of thst State, was elected over an impla-
cable war secessionist. More recently the fire.
eaters have been defeated in Alabama and In
Texas; and what these elections signify has
been explained we think, by the late Kentucky
election, in which the Union party, repudiating
the extreme abolition war measures Of the abo-
lition faction, and the absurd peace projects Of
the cspperbead faction, were successful over
both by fifty thousand majority.
The elections Of last autumn in New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana turned heavily
against the administration in consequence of
the then recent disasters to our armies and
the dissatisfaction Of the conservative masses
of said States, resulting from the de.
structve measures and controlling malign
influences Of the abolition Marplots at WASH
ington. The elections Of last spring in New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut
resulted each in a decisive popular verdict
against the designating copperhead peace
faction; and the late elections in California and
Maine have gone the same way. Yet the
results of all these elections, North and South,
are perfectly consistent with each other.
Those Of the North show that, while the people
Of this section are not disposed to entertain
any dispnion peace projects, they do not wish
to prosecute the war a. an abolition crusade;
and those of the South show as plainly that
the suffering people there are becoming wea-
ried Of the war and the exhausting despotsm
of Davis, and are nclining to peace, even II it
shall involve the sacrifice Of an impracticable
Southern confederacy. ~.
Should the approaching election in Ohio
result in favor of the democrats, notwithstasd-
ing their extreme copperhead candidate and
platform, it will indeed be terrible warning
to the administration; but should vallandig-
ham be defeated by heavy majority against
him the copperheads of New York will be
apt to swamp the democracy here in No
vember Judge Woodward. the democratic
candidate for Governor Of Pennsylvania, stands
upon conservative ground, is . popular man.
and is actively supported by the mass of his
party. But Governor Curtin Is also popular
man. and bis practical activity and usefulness
in support of tho war sud in behalf of Pennsyl-
vania's soldiers in the field have made him
very strong But, on the other hand, Governor
Curtin has q standing democratic majority
from last year Of three thousand against him to
begin with, every vote Of which, and large &C.
cessions besides, will doubtless be cast for
Woodward
But still the result is doubtful. We have
passed that epoch of plain sailing whom the
elections Of one year in any State could, within
few thousand votes, be anticipated from the
returns Of past election or two in the same
State. The tremendous events and problems
Of this gigantic war are constantly creating
new party issues or modifying old ones; and 1t
remains to be seen whether the abolition war
faction or the copperhead peace faction is at this
day more obnoxious than the other to the
conservative masses Of Pennsylvania The
vastly increased popular vote in the Maine
election, as compared with that of last year,
discloses the important fact that the approach
ing Presidential campaign is beginning TO
exert powerful influence upon the contending
political parties Of the day. We may therefore
IA
and Pennsylvania on Tuesday next a larger
aggregate vote than has been polled on
any other occasion since the last Presidential
contest; and this Is all that We can undertake to
predict from the conflicting lights before us,
especially in reference TO Pennsylvania.
The contest this year In both Ohio and Penn
sylvania may be considered as involving the
| -
the copperbead peace faction shall 60 first to the
wall; for that both will be superseded in the
Presidential campaign is morally certain. The
Southern elections, to which we have referred,
indicate ripening Of public opinion in that sec
ton, which single great Union victory In the
battle Geld may develop into decisive South
ern counter revolution In favor Of The Union.
In this event our Northern political parties
viii have 10 be reorganised to meet the new
condition az thinrp and the Administra t;on III