The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-15
American Institutions and the President

From the London Times Nov. %
The OF life interesting subject both 10 those
who have succeeded in II and those who have been dis
appointed in H. that the adventurous career Of the Pres
elect OF the United States the New York press
describes IT, Is 70 attract much notice IL put for
ward a remarkable instance Of what man can do
under the influence of American institutions and 50
undoubtedly il is We will only alter the phrase little
and say that II rs a remarkable instance OF what man
can do IN America IN the absence OF all institutions 10
check HIM Inc favorable popularity of American insti
tutions IN Mr. Lincolns has been that they did not
exist that has been the great Institution OF America
Old World have them. II Is plain that institutions, if
they are great assistance TO society the
marked professions entirely put Of anybodys head
that he should enter into them after certain time OF
life and without certain education Tho barrier s al
most insuperable which advenurer who Apr reaches
by short cut has TO In America it's quite diff
ferent. Mr.. Lincoln first farmer then q trader
upon which platform has risen the statesman and the
President OF the United states Now take man of Mr.
Lncolns versatile and fertile mind, this liberty of
professional ascent is gain. everything
TO him. In Mr. Lincoln have not your man Of one
talent S fSur %an Of one talent may 70 Ps
may be quite sure that he is born TO be drudge Mr.
Lincoln can do anything he sets his mind
an immense I power ''u Of sns his parity SS
whatever is before him. He starts without the
loghouse school when he was sixteen was his first and
last experience Of schoomaster but he is after
wards giving fifty minutes of fixed and absorbed atten
tion out of his midday hour of relaxation after
hastily swallowed mouthfuls, u is book The conscious
ness OF this power gives him confidence He knows he
can get up anything he likes. The boys catch him by
the arm and make him q militia captain out of a mo
mentary freak because he the most popular and plea
SAINT fellow'in thei New Saem' ordinary would
beg TO be excused campaign against the Black Hawks
but the storekceper In instant accepts the
It is with the same self-confdence that when his
storehouse, owing to fraudulent partner, fails him
and leaves him eleven hundred dollars in debt, he
follows the hint which accidental look into
book on surveying gives him He knows he can make
himself a surveyor in no time. Again, he knows he can
make himself lawyer, and accordingly lawyer he be
comes. We must add 10 this striking countenance,
commanding person, good manner properly combining
self possession and hcartness, and at
who has prodgious powers OF making his way.
Now, as We say, it is obvious what clear gain came
rican institutions are TO man of this aspiring mould Of
mind joined to such antecedents Such anecedens must
have been fatal drag upon Mr. Lincoln in any country
Of the Old World at least in its normal condition. aud
without revolution TO disturb IT, Would the profession
Of the law for example, have been practically open TO
exfarmer, x-bargeman exstorehousekeeper, ex-land
surveyor in this country would not have
been The idea would never have entered into
Mr. Lincon's head. The venerable looks Of the
sages Of the law their wigs their erminc, the divinity
which hedges in Judge the proud traditions of the pro-
fession, would have forbidden the aspiration At
tain time is too late to begin does not leap
practice at once with however clever he may be.
experiments. In country, however, where successful
professional ascent Is open 10 man after trying
previous lines where there is barrier TO keep
sudden vsiters where IL is necessary make
your choice before you twenty but where you
the option OF turning experience and growth of intellect
through whatever channels derived when
you like into the most dignied and eevating channel
where all this s sanctioned and encouraged by public
opinion and man creates no prejudice against himself
pushing and presumptUous asprant by such
course but rather feeling in his favor Of pro-
per spirit who only turning the advantages
OF the state OF society in which lves-where this is
the order of things country, powerful and extra
ordinary stimulus TO exerion il offered 10 one class of
men which not offered elsewhere--we TO that
class which Is conscious Of great powers but has the
drawback Of an unavorabe start and bad introduction
10 life These men do not hear the words "Too atc'
sounding In their within moderate compass II Is
'.too late for them. They in time long after
the clock of older institutions has struck. Time and tide
wait for them They have their chance when it would
have gone under another sun The prospect then,
enormous impulse to them, because, If II - never too
ate To succeed II s late 10 exert themselves
This indeed produces restessness in the activity OF
American society which we have not in our So
ciety with active but with the consciousness at the
same time of certain bounds which cannot be passed
There vs. tendency 10 men resting on their oars in all
professions in this way-that, inasmuch there no
way out Of profession when Is in, he
tents himself with advance in tho arts and facilities
or thar one profession IL is hard work at rst because
every material is difficult, being new, but
soon as aptitude is acquired the professional man has
toeraby straight sailing and then comes the disposition
10 rcpose IN the pleasant exercise and command Of
arts and knowledge already acquired The real
activity Of mind n more on the surface than be
low, because the main struggle with the OBJ
structive matter Is over. But American active life
Ia restless because material be mastered
comes in with every profession, whore a go
changing from profession another he mutpliee
the necessity for conquest and keeps up the struggle
life, and the most arduous part OF that struggle far
longer. Ia fact the American never lets himself rest
There s no harhor Of refuge which receives the &C.
compshed professional at a certain time ~ life,
where he simply occupies himself la the tools
which he has already mastered he migrate from
his professional home 10 another untried soil Every
body mgratcs ia America and the early removals OF the
Lincoln family from Kentucky TO spencer county, from
spencer county 10 Illinois, from Illinois 20 Coles
county, and from Coles county % Macon county
only typify the TRANSFORMATIONS of American in
tellect, the constant breaking of professional
ground, and the uninterrupted succession OF posi-
tons and opportunities which convey the Mississippi
boatman 10 the dignity the White House. If the new
system has its advantages however, the old has is
sition 70 enter into them all but may he mentioned
advantage that life should not consist wholly Of
motion, but that there should be little rest in II well
Such modified system may not produce the promi
nent instances Of individual elevation, but IL produces
large amount Of moderate distinction, which Is thorough
~ enjoyed because the has and enjoy H.
whereas the American plan for one great restless intel
lect which aains its complete object, has thousands
which go through the whole career Of rcstcssDess and
never reach the goal
The Secession Movement In the United
States.
From the London Post Nov 2s. 1
The question OF separation, which various occasions
length appears to be on the OF accomplishment.
South Carolina irrated at the success OF Mr. Lincoln,
who may be said represent the ant slavery sentiments
of the North threatens 20 seccde and TO assume posi-
ton Of isolation which will, reality, give her about
much dignity In the family Of American nations the
black republic of Iayt That south Carolina has
abstract right 20 withdraw from the confederation
ton. jefferson and Adams established based
upon the common consent OF the thirteen states and
there exists provision IN the American constitution
which prohibits the withdrawal Of that consent. But
viewing the question exclusively from American
point Of view and especially in regard 20 the interests Of
the south the policy which this insignificant and
tenous state appears determined ~ pursue s equally
foolish and criminal We informed that Georgia,
Florida and Alabama likely follow the example Of
South Carolina either by forming separate states by
uniting In confederation, the basis of which will
be slavery and the slave trade But the mere separa.
tou ~ south Carolina VIII dsaranga the entire maChn.
cry of federal administration In the United states The
Of the United states will be closed In south Caro-
lima possibly the mails may be stopped and every Official
appointed by the President may be summarily dismissed
by tho local authorities In addition, south Carolina y
al liberty refuse send either represen.