The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-09-14
Schenck on Lincoln An Old Line Whig
on Republicanism.

At Now York few days since Robert c.
Schonck, of Dayton, made speech in which
he spoke of the Republican nominee thus
! Mr.. Schenck, in his remarks at Stuyve-
SAINT Institute observed, that in the adver-
! tsement that ho was to appear at this
meeting. he was described as having been
an Old Line Wing. conservative, and one
who supports Lincoln, considering that to
be tho only course icff open to himself and
those occupying a similar position" Nov
that notice" said Mr.. Schenck, that fo,m
OF announcing my preference for the Re-
! publican candidate for the Presidency, was
doubtless we'll intended, by whomsoeVer it
was written, but it is phrascology liable to
misconstruction. II might be understood
/ to moan that accept our candidate only as
a choice of evils. Worry far from that.
have beer very glad to take him from
among all that were offered on his own sub
stantivo merits. do not hesitate to declare
and this is no newly conceived opinion of
mine, for moro than q year ago my hope
and my desire were pub icly expressed-I DO
no: hesitate, say, to declare, that, co nsid-
oring the time, the occasion, the cause, the
man himself. his locality, his antecedcnts,
his sterling integrity, and his high qualifca.
tions, the nomination of Abraham Lincoln
of Illinois. was the wisest, the most judi
cious. the very best that the Chicago Con-
vonton could havo made"
MY fellow citizens of New York, know
Abraham Lincoln-Ihis Western candidate
whom we have presented TO you-whom
you and we have chosen to be our standard
bearer in this battle for Freedom, for the
Constitution and the Union, as they were
understood by our fatbers--this leader of
tho host with whom we would march back
and entrcnch ourselves IN the old and sure
s,rongholds of that sound Interpretation of
organic law. and that wholesome and wise
practice and policy which we're established
and maintained so long by the great men
who have gone before us. l know him
IL was my fortune to sit beside him for two
years while no served in the councils of the
> nation, and until no had to decline, out of
| consideration for his personal duties and
necessities longer term in the public SER
vice and it has been my pride to contiuue
the friendly relations then formed through
the years that have since passed. Modest
and unobtrusve in his manner, vet in the
short period of that service, and with such
opportunity Of acquaintance and Observa-
J tion, it was not possible to fail to sec that
he was a man of no ordinary stamp-one
that might vet make his mark higher and
more couspicuously--one that by his clear,
logical intellect, his forccful power of argu-
mentation, his fair straightforward course,
; and his manifest unflnching honesty of pur-
J pose, would prove himself, on trial at any
time, if need be, worthy of and competent
! to anv station or trust, however high or re-
sponsibe, to which he might BIO called
Ard these ATE tho qualities Of mind and
character peculiarly needed in him who is
to bo put at the hoad of the nation at this
isis in our public affairs.
But Democrats object personally to our
candidate. They say he is not handsome.
Perhaps he may not be, according to the
incest standard oe beauty. Heaven help
5 many of us. If beauty is to be regarded as
tho test of fitness for honor or POSITION
!. But as to Mr.. Lincoln, he must have studied
i, that strong. marked faco with most unob-
; servant eye. who has not read in it tho lines,
and glowing expression, and light of thought,
> which tell OF Bonevolence. Integrity, Firm
ness and Mind, beneath its hoaviness. -
And remember, it is not to grace or orna-
ment tho gay and fashionable circles that
assemble in the brilliant saioons OF your
| rich City of New York, that wo offer you
, our MAN, hut it is to guide and rule, as We
believe him emncnty fit to do, tho policy
: and the destinies of this great nation
through what NAV prove time OF trial. IN
, which he will best succeed VINO has inc
trusting confidence of the honest, patriotic
, masses of the people, who desire TO SEQ the
Government wrested from the grasp of cor
ruption, and restored to its ancient purity
. and simplicity.
Our Democratic friends make further
objection to MIR. Lincoln because of his
oarly history, his strugglcs and necessities,
! and occupations in the beginning of lite.
3 "A splitter o. rails q fiat-boatman! CON-
e mon laborer D his youth and early man
f hood How can it be possible that he should
{ be ever fit for tho Presidency Strange
question this to be asked by men of that
party, by Democrats, by those who have
ever claimei to be peculiarly the friends OF
the working man How far must they have
3 forgotten themselves, how far yielded to
, the iEfuence of that scornfni tone which
has been taught them by their Southern
schooling, when they would thus dlsparage
and sneer at the honest labor and struggles
I of a poor Young man My friends, do moi
4 protend that ths fact of having split rails il
n in Itself any proof whatever Qf fitness fol
a Office. am not so absurd as to claim tina
# the capacity to steer fiatboat down Oul
!. Western rivers, must be evidence of ability
Il to navigate the ship of state. l make no
G J Il tn hiaA for