Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-12-28
tFOr the 1ntollfgencer.l
Shall the Union bo Maintained ut All
Hazards!

Aessrs. EdItors:-You seem to have mis-
npprrhcnded the point of my former arti-
Gle. merely wished to know what Mr..
Lincoln's response would be to the qnes-
ton, Shall the Union be maintained at all
hazards? The Tribune and other Republic
can papers say, that it shall. Senator
rrnmbnll and the Springfield Journal
merely declnre that the revenue laws shall
be enforced. Whether this would be
equivalent to maintenance of the Union,
or not, is not entirely clear to my appre-
hension. Perhaps it would. Perhaps it
would not. But you may think that it
would not be judicious, at present, for Mr..
Lincoln to respond to the above question
in terms. Maybe not. You may say, it
would do no good, and might do harm
Maybe SO. If you think so, l shall not
press the question. / feel no disposition
to increase the cmbarrassmen1s of Mr..
Lincoln's position, knowing that they are
neither few nor trifiing, and not the less
so from tue fact that they could not have
been fully anticipated by him.
You refer me to Mr.. Lincoln's antece-
dents-his character-his record. That is
fair. ltis the doctrine of the Union party,
that mans record is Mt any time worth
more than his pledges. The soundncss of
this principle is evidenced by the history
of nearly every administration from An
drew Jackson's to that OF President Bn-
channn. However much men may repntli- :
ate it in theory, in times of high political
excitement, they must return to it again
when they come to consider it in the light
of calm statesmanship.
| have nothing to object to Mr.. Lin
coins character. 1t stands unimpenched.
Nor his record. It has always been fair
and open. And however much may diff
fer with him in principle and policy, | re-
gard him in the main as n conservative
man, and one who, if left to his own free
choice, and not unseasonably thwartcd,
would eudeavor to administer the govern
ment upon correct principles. Bearing, ns
he does, high reputation for intelligence,
and moral honesty, can almost persuade
myself that Mr.. Lincoln would carry with
him into the Presidential office, noble
ness of purpose, and an independence of
party, that would enable him to acccde to
such compromises and concessions as.
after mature delihcrntion, might be found
for the best interests of the country. At
all events, it would be very impolitic, not
to say the height of folly and madness, for
the friends of the Union, who are not pre-
pared to cooperate with him in all re-
spects, to attempt now in the time OF tile
StSt1S HSCesss4Iy3 W urtNe nltn
and his party to the wall.
This much have felt bound in candor
to say and entertaining these convic-
tions, think it but just and reasonable,
that Mr.. Lincoln's Administration should
receive the undivided moral support of
the friends Of the Union throughout the
country. This support can be rendered
without any compromise of principle, III
though, in some cases, it might cost n lit
tie sacrifice of feeling. But this is a sac
rifice that the good of the country requires
at the hands of every true and loval citi-,
zen. tits time, high time, forsus to cease;
our petty strifes, and come to the rescue of
tile nation The safety of the"U u nion de-.
mands it of us. Western Virgiria-our
own Western sNirginia-is stretching ont
her hands for projection against the rage
of Brutus, and tie wild rasingst Of the
Salamander. Union men, Of ali piaifties,
allow meto say to you, TINT yon cannot do