Year: 1860

The Presidential Contest.


The great Presidential contest of
1860, is fairly opened by the disrup-
ton Of the Democratic Party, and the
nominations of Baltimore and Rich
mond. 1t would be an idle waste of
time to enter into an examination of
the causes which lead to this breaking
up Of the Democracy but prominent
among them, us usual, was struggle
for the spoiIs. Neither wing Of the
Democratic Party cared any thing
about their respective candidates.
The Northern wing fight only for the
loavcs and fishes but the Southern
wing, equally Jealous in the work of
prcying upon the public treasury, de-
mandcd i'll addition, the actual posses
sion Of the Government as a means of
extending the institution Of Slavery.
The sagacity Of the Northern Dcmoc-
racy, taught them, that to yield to.
this demand would be fatal-that pub
lie sentiment in the Free States, is 50
unaltcrably opposed to the extension
Of Slavery, that the election of a
Southern man to the Presidency, is at
this time absolutely impossible and,
tltnr.f,rn tln, - l,,4tn, -, l.
up in row, and submit to the divis-
ion Of the party and the nomination
Of two candidates, rather than unite
in the nomination of Southern man
upon a Slavery extension PLATFORM
Hence the split and now let us con-
slider its consequences.


That the breakup in the Democratic
ranks, renders the election of the Re
publican candidate forcgone conclu-
sion, we chcerfully concedc but such
q result, certain as it is if we arc true
to our principles, is still contingent
upon our laboring with untiring zeal
in support of our candidate because
he faithfully represents the great
cause III which we are embarked.
All feelings Of disappointment at the
result Of the Chicago Convention, all
lukc-warmncss, and the disposition to
dwell upon the recollection of what
might have been but for the triumph
of trcachcry anl the success Of
scheming politicians actuatcd solely
by selfish considerations and the de-
sire Of revenge, must be sacrificed on
the altar Of Patriotism. Heartburn
ings and chickering's of every descrip-
ton, must be buried ; the hopes and
expectations of the past, as connected
with individuals, must be forgotten
and all who are at heart, opposed to
the corruptions Of the Democratic par
| ty-all who desire to check the cxtcn-
sion of Slavery into Free Territory at
the same time that they recognize the
right of every State to be protected in
the enjoyment of such domestic insti-
tutioms as they may deem it wise to
adopt--and all who really desire to
! see our Government restored To what
| it was under the Administration of
Washington and Jeilcrson-must unite
heart and hand i'll the support Of Abra-
ham Lincoln


We are well aware that language
like this will seem out of place TO
many, at a moment when the Democ-
racy admit that they are defeated, aud
when every Republican is congratula-
ting his neighbor upon the certainty
of success. And SO it would be if Il
plurality of the electoral votes elected
the President. But such is not the
case. Abraham Lincoln or some 9th
cr candidate, must receive a majority
Of all the votes composing the Elccto-
raj College, or the election goes TO
the House Of Representatives, where
each State casts one rote in dctermin-
| ing which of the three candidates who
received the largest vote in the Elec-
toral College shall be President
Now, we all know, that in no earthly
contingency, can the Republican can
didate be successful if the election
goes to the House of Representatives !;
and the Democracy having gravely
and wisely determined, that it was
impossible to elect any one named i'll
dividual by the people against the
nominee of the Republican Party, it
becomes the duty of our friends to look
steadily at their chance of success in
their effort to carry the election into
the House of Representatives..


The whole number of votes in the
Electoral College, is 304 necessary
for an election, 1873. The vote of the
Free States is 1873. OF this number
California and Oregon cast seven
votes and if we concedc as we may,
that the Republican party cannot car,
ry either Of these States, it follows
that the whole number of votes which