The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-06-08
National Republican Nominations.
FOR PRESIDENT,
Hon. ADRIAN LINCOLN, of Illinois
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
Hon. HANNIBAL HAMLIN, of Maine.
Our Candidate.

That the Democratic press Of the country
should assail the candidate of the Republi-
can party for President, is matter of course.
The mode and style of attack is calculated
to attract attention. These are 90 modified
and softened in the case of Mr.. Lincoln, III
comparison with the bitter and virulent vitu-
tuperation with which Fremont was assailed
four years ago, that no one can fail to mark
the change.
We are not charitable enough to attribute
this change to any real improvement in the
character of that press.
A satisfactory solution may be found in
the fact that onr candidate presents in hit
career, political or otherwise, no points that
the most reckless malignity can hope to make
capital out of. His record is pure and IN
sullied one, such as lis friends can proudly
present to the country.
1t must not however, be supposed that the
democratic papers are satisfied with the NOM
nation. The better the man the more dis.
satisfied they are, because they have the more
reason to fear his success. So far as our ex-
animation extends the objections are mega
tive rather than positive. They all asser,
that he does not possess the requisite politi.
cal knowledge and experience to fit him to
discharge creditably the duties of the impor-
tant post to which the Republicans would ell
evate him.
Our answer to this is that it is not true
He is in all respects as we'll qualified as were
Polk. Harrison, Taylor or Pierce, a nd far bet
ter than some of these.
We agree with the Philadelphia Evening
Jru,nM that it does not follow that being a
wood-chopper and Aat-boatman, he is there
fore qualified to be placed at the head of this
great nation ; and We further agree with the
same paper that if our candidate is really fit
ted for the place, it is no disparagement to
him, nay, it is credit to him, that in his
youth he followed these occupations. 1t af-
fords pretty reliable guarantee that in the
highest walks Of political life he will be the
steady friend Of honest industry and free la
Dor.
Well. with these facts what is the conclu-
'ioa the Ereniny journal comes to :? 1t is
assuredly singular inference to draw from
them that Lincoln is not fit man to be made
President and yet the Journal seems to tend
that way.
Its logic runs thus, If man has no other
qualifications than having been bostman
and woodchopper, is therefore unfit for Pres
ident.
Would it not have been as we'll to have in
quIred into the fact whether he did or did
not possess other qualifications If it had
done SO it would have found evidence of tai
ent, energy, and knowledge of affairs. not
exceeded by any public man whom the peo-
pie have delighted to honor. Having been
born in Kentucky, his friends removed with
him to Indiana, while he was child. lie
there resided, amidst all the hardships and
privations of pioneer life, till he became of
age, before which time his father died. Abra.
ham then removed to Illinois, a young man,
poor, dependent on his own energiss and
character to carve out his path to success in
life, with mere common school education,
and that none Of the best. He went to work
as farm laborel on hire, in a free State
where labor is honorable. lie had yigor-
Gus frame and strong mind, and these were
turned to the best account, so that while bis
outer man was strengthened and invigorsted
his inner man was improved by the stores of
useful knowledge.
The first we hear Of him in any public ca
paclty is that he commanded company of
volunteers in the Black Hawk war; little
episode in military affairs, which at the time
created sensation in our North Western
States little inferior to that created by King
Phillips war in the time of our New Eng
land forefathers. He did not participate in
any great battles. He did his duty, howev-
er, as he has always done in ell situations,
winning the love Of his men and the conf
dsnce of his brother officers. Soon after he
was elected to the Illinois Legislature, where
the members are chosen by counties, as State
Senators are by US, save that they are chosen
Tor two years. In that body, to which he was
reelected three or four times, he made lis
mark. lie was of the Wing party, which
during his whole period of service was in Q
decided minority in that body. His ready
talent in debate, his knowledge, his GOODNESS
and prudence in the most pressing exigen-
cles, all naturally elevated him to the leader
ship OF his party. His 6rmness, his sterling
honesty, were such as to secure the entire
confidence Of his political friends, while his
native fairness, moderation, and
courtesy on all occasions, conciliated in
high degree, his political opponents. l,
was during his Legislative career that he
turned his attention to the study of the Law,
and such have been his application and ensr.
gy that he has attained high, not to say the
highest, position at the bar of his adopted
State
Before the great Kansas and Nebraska in
lquity he served one term as Member of
Congress, being elected as Wing by large
majority, in District usually Democratic