Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-09-08
The Presidency.

If signs are to be trusted which are fast
spreading exultation through the ranks of one
political party and doubts and dismay through
those of the other, the chances that Horatio
Seymour will be the next President of the Uni
ted States are steadily on the increase. I'm
foreseen circumstances may undoubtedly defect
or restrain the current of popular feeling. but
its present direction is unmistakable. Eight
State elections VII be held, however, between
this time and that of the great event in Novem
ber; and from their results that of the Presi-
dental contest will probably become quite evi-
dent Of course, should the struggle be very
close in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the prognostica-
ton may be less trust worthy. But there are sew
eral States which short time since were assigned
to Grant and Colfax which even Republicans
now concede to be doubtful; and should this
process of mutation continue, not even the vote
of either the Keystone or the Buckeye State
would alone necessarily be decisive in the Re-
publican behalf Thus, should its opponents
lose Ohio and gain Pennsylvania, or vice versa,
from calculations generally accepted at this time
the Seymour ticket will carry the day. Suppose,
for example, the following which now appears
sufficiently plausible to show the final result:
Seymour. Arkansas, 5; California, 5; Con-
necticut, s. Delaware, 3; Georgia, 9; Indiana,
l3; Kentucky, Il; Louisiana, 7; Maine, 7;
Jersey, I; New York, SO Oregon, 8 Penn
sylvana, 26; Wisconsin 8. Total, 164.
Grant Alabama, 8; Florida, 3; Illinois. 16
Iowa, 8; Kansas, 3 Massachusetts,, -; Mich
igan 8; Minnesota, 4 Nebraska, 8 New
Hampshire, 5; North Carolina, 9; Ohio, "a;
Rhode Island. 4 South Carolina, 6; Tennes
see, lO;' Vermont, 5 West Virginia. s. Total,
*l3S.
II, on the contrary, the, Republicans carry
hot chr fbo
Indiana, the main result would still be unchang
ed. j.. I5@ji-r. ,..-re..t..j
L The State elections will probably, to con-
siderable extent, Influence each other, the float
ing vote always running more or less with the
prevalent tide, but as the succession happens to
fall encouragement is likely to be pretty evenly
distributed. Thus the first State election-that
of Vermont, September lst-will of course be a
a Republican success California, on the fol
lowing day, will as certainly show triumph for
the Democrats The Maine election, Septem
ber l4th, will be much more interesting and
significant, because it cannot be counted as a
of 20, 600 in 1866 was reduced by 10000 votes
in 1867. If the process of reduction is still going
on-and this Democratic leaders sanguinely
hope and strenuously claim-the Republicans
may find their last years majority of IL 600 en-
tirely dissipated in November. After the Maine
election, comes month which will doubtless
witness the hardest work of the canvass The
four States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, aud
Iowa hold their elections on October 13-the
same day. Iowa will, without doubt, go for
the Republican ticket; but Indiana is uncertain.
Mr.. Hendricks strength is very great, but he
has majority to overcome-that of the last
election of '66-of $4,000. On the other hand,
Mr. Lincoln majority in "a was $4,000, and
it remains to be seen how far the reaction has
proceeded here as we'll as elsewhere. As re-
CARDS Ohio, opinions are naturally very much
divided. The wish, in political matters SO
potentially father to the thought, produces de
cided convictions that are highly antagonistic.
TO the impartial observer it seems suggestive
enough to perceive that the Republican major
ity of $4,000 in 1864 was less than 10000 in
1866, and had dwindled to 3,O00in 1867. From
present appearances, the election in Pennsylva
MIA will be closer than in any State. As to New
York, scarcely any but strong partisans now
questions that she will go for the Democratic
candidates by heavy majority. t,...,
*This table omits the States of Virginia 10