Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-24
The T.cssou of the Election,

The moral effect of the election, both at
home and abroad, will be Of the most i'm
pressiye character. 1t shows our foreign en-
emies that they have nothing to hope from
the divisions OF this country, while the rebels
will see in it the whitening and invincible
purpose of their loyal fellow. citizens, who
ask of them nothing but obedience to the
Constitution Of the United States, and the
laws and acts made in pursuance OF 1t.
Whenever they shall choose to overthrow the
military despotism that holds them fast;
whenever they shall see that no great section
of this country can, under equal and respect
ed laws, have any permant and profound in
terest different from all the rest-then they
will find that the loyal men of the country
are longing to throw down their arms and
cement Union that shall be eternal.
But the main lesson of the election is, that
every constitutional act and law must be alb
solutely respected. There must be no threats,
no revolts, and no hope Of extorting terms BY
arms. The Constitution is the sole condition
of the Government +; and if citizens differ as
to what is constitutional, that difference must
be peacefully and constitutionally settled.
This is what the people have declared by four
years of war, and this is what they confirm
by the reelection of Mr.. Lincoln. In him
self, notwithstanding his unwearied patience,
perfect fidelity, and remarkable sagacity, he
is unimportant; but as the representative Of
the feeling and purpose Of the American peo-
pie, he is the most important fact in the
world. ..
One other of the most significant lessons Of
the election is, that the people are conscious
of the power and force of their own Govern
ment. They expect the utmost yigor in the
prosecution Of the war BY every legitimate
method, and they naturally require that the
authority of the Government, which is to be
established by the continuance of the war,
shall not be endangered by its end. When
the authority Of Government is openly and
forcibly de6ed, It must be maintained uncon-
ditionally by arms. When that authority is
established and unquestioned, every wise
Government will be friendlylpatient, cOncili-
atory, but firm and just.
Yet the grandest lesson Of the result is its
vindication of the American system Of free
popular government. No system in history
was ever exposed to such strain directly
along the fibre as that which ours has en-
| dured in the war and the political campaign,
and no other could possibly have endured it
successfully. The result is due to the general
intelligence Of the people, and to the security
of perfectly free discussion. Let that be
maintained and jealousy defended by all par
ties in the land, at every country cross-road,
and in every city and State, and the Union
and the Government are forever secure. They
have been maintained by the authority Of the
Government itself, and we see the result.
Thank God and the people, we are nation
which comprehends its priceless importance
to human progress and civilization, and
which recognizes that law is the indispensa-
BILE condition of Liberty.-Ha7per's Weekly.