The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-11-11
November Elections.

Elections were held on Tuesday in NJ, =.
chusetts, New York, New Jersey, Michigan,
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Mary
land.
In Massachusetts, the opposing candidates
for Governor were Bullock, Rep, and
Couch, Dem. The former is elected by
about $4,000 maj, which is about the usual
figure. Gen. Banks is elected to Congress in
the 9th district.
In New York, Slocum, the democratic
candidate for secretary of state, is defeated
by about 10000 majority. Both parties
stood nearly on the same platform. and very
little interest was taken in the election on
either side
In New Jersey the Republicans claim a
victory. Ward, the rep. candidate for Govern
or. is elected by from 5000 to 5000 maj. The
issue turned mainly on the question of rati-
flying the contitutional amendment abolish
ing slavery, to which the Democratic con-
vention had foolishy declared its opposition.
Michigan voted only for local officers,
and the result has no political significance
The democrats, as usual, carried Detroit By
500 maj.
In Illinois the election was also for local
officers only. OF course, the Democrats
claim victories in counties where they gained
on the Republicans, and vice versa. One
fact is noticeable everywhere, and that is,
that wherever the soldiers rebelled against
n
their own, they are defeated. The leaders
have evidently the whip hand Of the soldiers
and mean to make them drill hereafter in
the ranks
Wisconsin. as usual, has gone Republican,
though by reduced majority; and on the
Question of negro suffrage, which was sub
mitted directly to vote of the people, the
Republicans, who endorsed it and made it
an issue, are defeated. 1t was the only
really significant vote cast at all the recent
elections, for nothing is clearer than that in
less than six months negro suffrage will be
the one great issue, and the result in Wiscon.
foreshadows the end.
Minnesota also voted on negro suffrage
and as in Wisconsin, Sambo is defeated
The Republicans elect their Governor,
though by largely reduced majority.
In Maryland, the only election was to fil
vacancy Or two in congress. The vote was
small, and the result without political signif
csnce.
Tatop oil in all rosr1, of H.
Der elections IS more favorable to the Repub
Gcans than we anticipated, and must have
the effect of greatly stimulating the leader:
in their deep felt, but hitherto suppressed
opposition to the "policies" of Presiden
johnson. They feared before the election tt
take ground against him openly, though BY
failing in their convention directly to endorse
him, it was plain enough how they stood
The result Of the late elections must give the
leaders such confidence in their strength
that they will no longer lack the nerve tc
take their true position openly and boldly
That position will be against the simple ISSUE
presented by President Johnson's reconstruc
zion policy-whether the people of the Sou,l
SQ80 DC Asi6G Gu " ei6tc uCSiO
their own way; or, whether congress shall
regulate it for and force it upon them. Th
discussions in congress the coming winte
viii bring this question prominently befor
the people, and on it parties in future vii
divide. We do not predict that ON this issu
the Republican party will hereafter be de
fea.ed. All we mean to maintain now is
that as to the vital issues before the countr
the late elections have decided nothing
:. that those issues were kept out of view-tha
the result is only indicative of the eficienc
Of Republican party drill, and that the 6gh
over the living issues of the day is yet t
take place.