The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-10-17

similar speeches began to figure up the
possibilities Of Mr.. Lincoln's election.
There is no mistake about it-there
was great deal of uncertainty as to
an election by the people. There were
four candidates, and, with the Demo
cratic two, their probable vote was of
the widest conjecture.
IN VIRGINIA
such men as Hunter and Mason would
favor Breckenridge, whilst Governor
Letcher, with his official organ, the
Valley Star, and other leading politi-
clans we're doing yeoman service for
Douglas. Clay, Yancey and Fitzpat-
rick were laboring for Breckenridge
in Alabama, whilst Forsyth and Par
sons were the friends of Douglas. And
SO all over the South. Wherever you
would find two Breckenridge men you
would find the third for Douglas; in
some places the proportion greater;
in some less. Under different circum-
stances John Bell, the nominee of the
American party, would doubtless have
Jared much better at the polls than he
did. The New York Tribune styled
his party the "Old Gentlemcn's party;
and what the leaders of that party ex-
pected. to accomplish was then and is
even now difficult of solution. 1t may
have been thought that in case the
election was thrown into the House of
Representatives their candidate would
be chosen-this and none other. The
American party only held a majority
of the Congressional delegation in one
State--Tennessee; fifteen States were
Republican, and one, Illinois, with
four Republicans, four Democrats and
one anti-Lecompton (Douglas) Demo.
crat. The remainder were Demo-
cratic. The political views of the
chivalrous Tennesseean we're those of
THE PATRIOT.
In an interview he is reported as
saying: "That his party was the best;
it represented sentiments that were
neither sectional nor disloyal. Of the
other candidates, he disliked the prin-
ciples of Mr.. Lincoln's party, and he
thought Douglas was more of a ma
tionaI man than Breckenridge" Mr..
Bell was one-third owner of four hun
dred slaves, the remainder being the
of his wife. He was pos
sessed of moderate means, and could
not assist financially to any great de-
gree in bis campaign. The party, of
which be was the head, succeeded in,
electing few Congressional repre-
and that was all.
A quarter of a century has elapsed
since that campaign, Many who were
the leaders in the various parties have
gone to their long homes. Since then
stirring and sanguinary events have
aiken place in this country-events
hat were never even dreamed of by |
,he bellicose orators of that day. The
republic liVesl But would it not have
iVed through other and more peaceful
neans2 Could not reason conquer
he swordi Or was it to be that homes
ihould be made desolate and the hor-
'ors of war permeate every household
n the land that negroes in their ig-
lorance should be freed and thrust
lpon the society of the Caucasian as
;itizensl to voice ths sentiment and
progress of the nationl Was it thus
o beG Men in their impulses do many,
many rash things; and the cruel war
hat was precipitated upon US might
nd could have been ayoided-even TO
be emancipation of the sIaVes--if
eason and friendly argument could
ave been substituted for the blind
assion which prevailed, But it's all
veT though the campaign of 1850,
nth its alternate lights and shadows,
'ill never be forgotten.
KEIoKERBooKER.