Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-10-04
Tbe Approaching state Elections.


Great interest is felt, says the Washington
Syor in the result of the State elections to be
held in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa.
ON the 9th of October. Pennsylvania will
choose A Governor, besides "a Congressman, a
United States Senator in place of Edgar Cowan,
mart of her Senate, and an Assembly. Ohio
elects 10 Congressmen, Indiana l i, with legis-
lators and United States Senator In place Of
Henry S. Lane, who declines second term.--
Iowa will choose six menberso of Congress, with
a Legislature and certain State officers.
Last year, at the election of State Auditor,
Pennsylvania gave a Republican majority of
22,660 The vote was light. In 1864 the
State gave President Lincoln a majorityof 20,-
O3l The year before, 1881 Curtin, Repub-
lcan, was elected Governor by majority of
1926. These majorties show but little change
in the State for three years past.
Ohio, in 1864, gave Lincoln majority lhome
and soldiers vote) of 1886, but last year
General Cox was elected Governor by only 20,
$50 majority There are two strong Demo-
cratic districts in the State, l5th-Mungens
and l2th-Van Trumph's) and two weak Re-
publican districts, (10th-James NJ: Ashleys,
and 13th-Columbus Delano'sl.
At the Presidential election in 1864, Indiana
gave Mr. Lincoln Majority of 20,189. The
Legislature to be chosen will elect Senator in
place Hon. Fl. S. Lane The Republicans had
a majority of ten in the Legislature of 1865
Indiana has three Democratic districts.
Iowa, in 1864, gave President Lincoln the
large majority of 80, 479, but last year the Re-
publican candidate for the judgeship was cleo
ted by the reduced majority of 2l,022.
The New York World says in reference to
the approaching contest in these States:
"The great importance of the ensuing Con-
gressional elections does not depend on their
relation to the early admission of the Southern
Senators and Representatives, but on their re-
Iation to the next Presidential election The
ten excluded States make difference of seven
ty votes in the electoral college-ffty for their
Representatives and twenty for their Senators.
The Radicals are maneuverng to exclude these
seventy electoral votes To foil their intention
is the most solid advantage that we can gain in
the approaching elections
Happily, we do not need, for this purpose,
to elect a majority, but only one-third of the
members of the House. AS the laws now
stand, those States are entitled to their due
number of electoral votes, and the President OF
the Senate would be compelled to receive and
count them. To have the Southern electoral
votes counted, it is not necessary to repeal a
law, but only to prevent the passage of a new
one; state of facts which makes great diff
ference in the Congressional strength needed by
the Unionists. To repeal an existing law re-
quires majority of both Houses but to de-
feat anew law which the President disapproves
requires only one-third of the members of one
House. and one vote additional. If we eau
elect one-third of the House of Representatives
we shall effectually countervail the chief object
of the Radicals in their policy of exclusion
A gain Of t'renty odd Congressman will give u:
seventy electoral votes which we should other.
wise lose.