The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-01-27
Are We to have Another President.

We know that many intelligent people
who have looked closely and thoughtfully
at the progress of usurpasion, and watched
with straining eyes and thrcbbing hearts
the course of this administration, since their
attention to retain power in their hands
became obv:ons, entertain serious appre-
tensions that there will not be another Presi-
Dental election. On this point their doubts
are 50 stroung that they amount almost to
conviction. But we were not aware until
recently that Horace Grseley was one of
the number and we confess that we were
somewhat startled when, in reading his
brief remarks, following Wendell Phillips's
speech at the Cooper Institute, we made
the discovery that he was. In these re-
marks he made the astounding declaration,
in substance, that 1t would be time TO con-
sider the question of succession TO the Presi-
dency, after we bad ascertained whether we
were TO have another President. s'He could
MOI get decide," he said, "wheiher we
should ever have another President, but he
hoped we wouid. When that question ,Das de-
cided Il tcouId be time" sc. Really, when
Mr. Greedy expresses doubt on the sub.
iecs, there is ground for apprehension, and
we cannot blame those who, with far less
information as to the designs Of those in
power than he possesses have come TO the
same conclusion, and begin to "despair of
the Republic"
The World, in reference 10 the speech OF
the philosopher ofthe Tribune, says
There is ore point in that little speech of
Mr.. Greeley's which We cannot approach
without pain. We refer to the misgivings
he expressed as to whether we are to hare
another presidential election. This may
have BEEN the crude suggestion of The mo
ment, il may have been cant but even il il
is the mature fruit of Mr GreeIey's reflsc-
lions, it does no discredit to his understand
ing. The form Of presidential election, of
some sort, we shall no doubt have in the
coming year ; but there is real danger that
that form may be 80 deceiful and invalid
that the people will not respect it. The
possibilities OF evil are 80 many that we
can allude to but one or two of them. Sup
pose for example that there should be
close vote between the Two leading candi-
dates in the States which have maintained
steady loyalty, and an attempt should be
made to control The result by electors (real
or pre;ended) chosen in some OF The sece-
dsd States.
The subject is so grave that we will en-
deavor TO speak upon il without partisan
bias. There is too much reason TO fear
that in the event we have supposed, the
beaten parry would not submit. II North
Carolina should choose electors under the
auspices of her axisting State government.
and their votes would elect the Democratic
candidate, would the Republicans submit
to have them counted Would The Demo.
Gratis submit to have them rejected If
again, the ELECTORAL vote of Louisiana would
control the result, and electors should be
chosen under the auspices OF one of Mr.
Lincolu's new governments, representing
one-ienih of the voters and wholly control
led by him, would the Democrats consent
10 have these votes counted 2 Would the
Republicans consent to have them excIud-
ed There are various olher ways in which
the respect oil the corLiry for what purport-
ed to be presidential election might be so
shaken as TO make it practically nugatory.
In such an emer gency we we may be sure
o! this that lawless and vau.ting ambition
would not be idle. But precisely what
plots would be formed, what conspirscies
hatched, or whether the gordian knot would
be cut by the sword, are things no, given to
moral foresight to descry. We have believ-
ed from the first. that tae war is a simple
and easy matter compared with the polit
ical difficulties ;hat will emerge with the
success of our arms. MIR. Greedy may well
look forward with apprehension to ibe
straining not unlikely to be put on the Tins
bers of the Constitution in the next Presi-
Dental election.