Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851

by Various

Monthly Record of Current Events.

UNITED STATES.

The political events of the month just closed have been of considerable interest. November is the month for elections in several of the most important States: the interest which usually belongs to these events is enhanced in this instance by the fact that they precede a Presidential contest, which occurs next year, and they are scanned, therefore, with the more care as indicative of its results. In several of the States, however, the elections of this year do not afford any substantial ground for predicting their votes in the Presidential election, as questions were at issue now which may not greatly influence them then. In Georgia, for example the old political parties were wholly broken up, and the divisions which they occasion did not prevail. Both the candidates for Governor were prominent members of the Democratic party; but Hon. Howell Cobb, Speaker of the last House of Representatives in Congress, was put forward as the Union candidate, while Mr. McDonald, his opponent, was the candidate of those who were in favor of seceding from the Union, on account of the Compromise measures of 1850. The same division prevailed in the Congressional contest, the nominees being Unionists and Secessionists, without regard to other distinctions. The general result was announced in our November Record. The Union party elected six out of the eight members of Congress, and Mr. Cobb was elected Governor by a very large majority. The following is a statement of the vote in each of the Congressional districts, upon both tickets; and gives an accurate view of the sentiments of the people of the State upon that subject:

	GOVERNOR.			CONGRESS.
Cong. Districts.	Cobb.	McDonald.		Union.	Secession.
First district	4,268	3,986		4,011	4,297
Second ditto	8,213	7,050		8,107	6,985
Third ditto	6,114	6,123		5,853	6,011
Fourth ditto	7,568	5,391		7,750	5,601
Fifth ditto	13,676	7,082		13,882	7,481
Sixth ditto	6,952	3,037		6,937	2,819
Seventh ditto	4,726	2,134		4,744	1,955
Eighth ditto	4,744	2,669		4,704	2,538
	———	———		———	———
Total	56,261	37,472		55,988	37,699
Cobb's majority	18,789	Union Cong. ditto			18,319

This shows a popular majority of over eighteen thousand in favor of the Union. The election of Members of the Legislature took place at the same time, and resulted in the choice to the Senate of thirty-nine Union and eight Secession Senators, and to the House of one hundred and one Union, and twenty-six Southern-rights men. Upon the Legislature thus chosen will devolve the duty of electing a Senator in the Congress of the United States, in place of Mr. Berrien, whose term expires next spring.

In South Carolina an election has taken place for members of Congress and delegates to a State Convention, in which the same issue superseded all others. One party avowed itself in favor of the immediate and separate secession of the State from the Union, while the other was in favor of awaiting the co-operation of other Southern States. Both held that the action of the Federal Government had been hostile to Southern interests and rights, and both professed to be in favor of taking measures of redress. They differed, however, as to the means and time of action, and the following table shows the relative strength of each party in the State—those in favor of the Union as it is, of course, voting with the Co-operationists:

Cong. Districts.	Secession.		Co-operation.
First district	3,392		4,085
Second ditto	1,816		5,010
Third ditto	2,523		3,467
Fourth ditto	2,698		4,377
Fifth ditto	2,475		3,369
Sixth ditto	1,454		2,827
Seventh ditto	3,352		1,910
	———		———
Total	17,710		25,045
Co-operation majority			7,335

Elections in Mississippi and in Alabama, involving the same issue, have been already noticed. The results of the canvass in these four Southern States are of interest as showing the relative strength of the two parties in that section of the Union. The following table shows the vote upon each side, in each State, in round numbers:

	Total vote.	Union.	Secession.	Maj.
Mississippi	50,100	28,700	21,400	7,300
Alabama	74,800	40,500	34,300	6,200
Georgia	93,733	56,261	37,472	18,789
S. Carolina	42,755	25,045	17,710	7,335
	———	———	———	———
Total	261,388	150,506	110,882	39,524

In Virginia the election was for members of Congress, and upon the adoption of the new Constitution. The result has been that the Congressional delegation stands as before, and the new Constitution was adopted by a very large majority. Among the Whig members defeated was Hon. John Minor Botts, who has since written a letter attributing his defeat to the stand which he took in Convention in favor of a mixed basis of representation. The new Constitution adopts the principle of universal suffrage in all elections, limited, however, to white male citizens who are twenty-one years of age, and who have resided two years in the State and one year in the county in which they vote. Persons in the naval or military service of the United States are not to be deemed residents in the State by reason of being stationed therein. No person will have the right to vote who is of unsound mind, or a pauper, or a non-commissioned officer, soldier, seaman, or marine in the service of the United States, or who has been convicted of bribery in an election, or of any infamous offense. In all elections votes are required to be given openly viva voce, and not by ballot, except that dumb persons entitled to suffrage may vote by ballot. Under the new Constitution, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General are to be elected by the people. These officers for the ensuing term, as well as members of the Senate and House of Representatives, are to be chosen on the 8th day of December next. The seats of all members of the General Assembly already elected will be from that date vacated by the effect of the new Constitution.