Valley Spirit

The election is over and so far as the grand result is concerned there is no longer any suspense. The North has rolled up a decisive majority for ABRAHAM LINCOLN as President, and HANIBAL [sic] HAMLIN as Vice President of the Nation. It is the first time in the history of the country that its national head has been elected by a purely sectional vote. What the result of this sectional triumph will be it is not difficult to conjecture. Fifteen States are without a President--they took no part in his election, and refuse their consent to come under an administration founded upon a sentiment hostile to their social system. A contemporary remarks--"It remains for the fifteen slave States to say whether the Union shall continue, or whether by secession this confederacy of thirty-three States shall be reduced to eighteen. That occurring, it will then have to be determined whether the Middle States will consent to remain in association with the New England States, and whether the empire of the Northwest will remain as it is, or set up for itself. Let disintegration once begin, and no man can tell where it will stop."

While we fear the worst results to the nation from the election of LINCOLN we still trust that the threatened calamity may be averted--that He who holds the destiny of nations in His hands and whose high prerogative it is to change curses into blessings and to extract good from evil may turn aside the danger in our way, and our glorious union still remain--

"Giant aggregate of nations;
Glorious whole of glorious parts,
Unto endless generations
Live united, hands and hearts!
Be it storm or summer weather,
Peaceful calm or battle jar,
Stand in bounteous strength together,
Sister States, as now ye are."

The following table exhibits the vote for Presidential Electors in this county. It will be seen that the Republicans have carried the county by a largely increased majority over the vote at the October election. The apathy which has existed in the Democratic party since our defeat in October has allowed the Republicans to have things pretty much their own way. We are only surprised that the Democracy turned out as well as they did with defeat again staring them in the face. They have done nobly--they deserve success. Though defeated they have by their votes proclaimed their devotion to their party, and their country, and that is something to be proud of--something to fall back on--a rallying point for a future victory.

Republicanism under the rule of LINCOLN will be but short-lived--its days are already numbered, it will die by its own hands ere four years roll around. It is now intoxicated with a victory which it has not the inherent strength to achieve--it is only accidentally successful, for the moment, through division and dissension in the Democratic party. Its success cannot be regarded as a true expression of the public sentiment--when that turns up right, which it is sure to do, the Democracy will once more regain its ascendancy as the righteous head of the Nation. We extract from the columns of a contemporary the following sensible comment on the difficulties which will beset the incoming administration: "LINCOLN's Electoral majority will not be overwhelmingly large--only decisive. but he will have against him reliable and controlling majorities in both houses of Congress. He will only have the negative power conferred by the veto. From active aggressive mischief he will be restrained by these majorities.

Mr. Lincoln will be beset in the beginning of his administration, should he indeed be destined to have an administration, by three formidable difficulties.

The first will be to satisfy the South.

The second will be to retain his popularity and influence with the two divisions of his party--the rampant Abolitionists, and the more moderate Anti-Slavery men.

The third will be the distribution of the patronage and the spoils. A million of hungry, half-famished men, with mouths stretched, will be clamoring for place and plunder. All expect something, while few can get anything.

On these last two rocks he is destined to split, and that in a short time after this inauguration."