The Portland daily press., 1869-06-28
The sou,heru EIeclions.

There are several phases of these election
canvasses which are quite peculiar, such as
we believe never happened before in our coun-
try The late war cf the rebellion produced
many changes as wellas taught many lessons.
1t has made many strange bedfellows and
brought into fellowship persons who have
heretofore been as wide apart politically So
cially and religiously, as the North is from the
South. The canvasses now in progress in
Tennessee, Texas and Virginia are conducted
in very singular manner, and men, once the
most bitter political enemies, are now fighting
together side by side. 1t is singular, and to
us who heard General Hamilton in our city
Hall speak upon the war then in progress and
pitch into the hot-blooded seeessionists of the
South whence he came, an astounding fact
that the rebels of Texas perhaps the most Bit
ter of any to be found in any State should SO
earnestly support him for Governor. While
here he gave them severe shots from his heavy
artillery, yes, those from whom he once fed
to save his life; and now those same persons
who breathed out threatenings and slaughter
against him are rallying around his standard
and striving TO lift him into the gubernatorial
chair.
There is Senator Brownlow, too, going to
bed with his once most bitter and releLtless
prosecutors who threatened his life, and
no doubt would have taken it, had a good op-
portunity presented itself. His case presents
a conglomeration of strange and incoherent
political materials.
We all remember how fiercely and savagely
the Virginia papers not long since, pounced
hoe
them all sorts of names, and applying to them
the most opprobrious epithets they could ind
in their vocabulary which is by means a
limited one. And among these scallawags
they selected Col. Walker and the Rev. Mr.
Hunnicut as especial marks to shoot their
poisoned arrows at We remember this Hun
nicut and how he told his sad stories in city
Hall before large and sympathising audiences
He was very glib of tongue and toned his voice
to very plaintive airs. He evidently ''bored
for water" and drew some from tender wo-
mems eyes. He, too, had to escape from the
enraged rebels to save his life. Now the Jour-
mails which handled him SO severely without
gloves and pronounced him the worst devil let
loose on earth according to his ability for evil
roar him as gently as sucking dove and
Ieekoh nim DrlgnC and shlnlng light on the
conservative platform.
The Virginia election is now at fever heat,
and the "new movement brings together Con-
servative Republicans, uncompromising Dem
ocrats and all sotrs of scalawags, and Walker
and Hunnicutt are conspicuous among them.
Wonderful conglomeration of incongruous
materialsl Hunnicut is firing off his popguns
in rapid succession, and Walker is striving for
place and power 1t is mixed up mess q
politicians. They use as new argument the
apparent perfdy of Wells Republicans. But
it is now quite certain that the rank and file
of the Republicans will work hard to push
through the constitution entire and unexpur-
gated This party has never resolved to vote
for striking out any clauses. Whether Wells
or Walker will be elected is problematical. >
The mother of Presidents is surely in d
strange muss, but we hope she will become
Strengthened one of these days and present to
the world fairer proportions than she does
now That element which attempted to take
her out of the Union is still troubling her
heart; but we trust the medicine she has been
compelled to take will yet work an effectual
cure and make her once more shine as one oi
the bright stars in our political armament.