Year: 1861

| The LoNGoN TINES ON LINcoLNs ELECTION.
We give the following extract from the
London Times, not as rejecting our own
views at all, but by way of showing what the
English sentiment is regarding the present
crisis in America


Heretofore, when a President has been
elected, he has been supported at least by a
minority In every State of the Union But
ID the present instance there Is a considera-
Ole number of States in which uot q single
vote was cast for the successful candidate-
Ihls, 1t Is said, and not without some show
otjustice, tends directly to that state of par
ties against which Washington enphatically
counselled his w-citizens-the dividing
themselves into factions designated by geo
graphical limits. 1t must always be remem-
bered, however, that if Mr.. Lincoln has not
had even minority in the Slave States, this
has happened because on questions relating
to the extension or maintenance of slavery a
great number of the Southern States allow of
no minority. A man may have opinions ad-
verse to slavery, anda man may reside in
Slave State. but he cannot do both these
things at once If he asserts bis opinions, he
must change his residence, or must prepare





the jurisdiction of Lynch Law. If, then,
there be no minority in favor of the Presi-
dent elect in some Of the States. it is because
in them, on the question of slavery, there ia
no free discussion, no liberty of thought,
speech, writing or action; and it is to this
source, and not to any peculiar factiousness
in theAsupporters of Mr.. Lincoln, that the
sharpness of the division now made apparent
between the North and the South is to be
traced In the North there are maiorites
and minorities on the slave question in the
South there is at least apparent unanimity,
Just as there is an appearance of an univer-
sal belief in the Roman Catholic religion in
Spain or in the States of the Church.


Another effect of the change which has
just taken place is one not peculiar to Amer
lea, but which was strongly felt in England
thirty years ago. The Southerners and their
allTes owing to tenure of office extending
over SO many years, have obtained q monop-
oily of official knowledge and aptitude go
long and solhrmly established has been their
dynasty that the cause of the North has been
deserted in despair by the ablest of Northern
politicians. Seeing no chance of doing that
which has just been done, Mr. Webster Mr..
Everett, and number of eminent men of the
same party, have allied themselves to the
South, and sought by concessions to the slave
owning interest to obtain position which
they believed the North would never be able
to give them. These men, the natural lead
ers of the Republican party, were lost to
them owing to this fatal miscualclation, and
Mr.. Lincoln will have to carry on his Gov
ernment by new and untred officials in the
face of an Opposition full of abilities and ex-
perienoe. 1t is, besides, asserted that, atho'
the President is Republican the majority of
the two Chambers is Dcmocratc so that the
new reign starts with that which is only too
often the difficulty of American politics-a
direct conflict between the Legislature and
the Executive Probably this reflection will
tend as much as anything to soften the first
alarm of the South. Upon the whole, though
we do not expect any very considerable ben
ett to ourselves, and although we believe
the Southern States to be a great deal more
frightened than hurt by the recent election,
we rejoice, on higher and surer grounds, that
it has ended in the return of Mr. lincoln
We are glad to think that the march of
slavery, and the domineering tone which its
advocates were beginning to assume over
freedom, have been at length arrested and
silenced.