The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-05
NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, AUGUST s, 1861
President Lincoln and His PoiScy>


: No fact stands forth more apparent, aIdidst
the exposures Of laundering, venalty, and mis-
management that have characterized the con-
duct OF officials, high and low at Washington,
since the beginning of the war to suppress re-
belli0n, than that the President of the United
States himself, towers, both intellectually and
morally, above most of the politicians by whom
he is surrounded. He seems to have done right
Just so far as he has followed his ownstatesman-
like instincts and patriotic purposes, and only
TO have erred where he has permitted himself
to be guided by Cabinet majorites, or the force
outside representations. The reason of this
is, that while the various departments at the ca
pital have been convulsed and distracted by
petty jeal0usies and discords, and the thoughts
ofCabinct members have been principally Oc-
cuplcd with dividing spoils, apportoning con-
tracts, providing for friends, or catering to in
dvidual interests and passions, Ar. Lincoln has
bent his entire energies towards the accom-
| plishmcnt Of the great wish of the country and
the exclusive duty Of his administration, which
is TO put down instruction, and deliver the re-
public from the dangers that threaten its de-
structiOn. The pressure of personal RESPONSE
bility upon an upright and sagacious mind, has
made of President Lincoln statesman, while
his quondam rivals for the place he fills, have
not thrown of party shackles, and have failed
to rise above the level of political traders.
| Mr.. Lincoln was nominated TO the Presidency,
1 over the heads of several Of those who now
compose his Cabinet. Their apparent chances
of being elevated to power, were greater than
| his; their claims upon their party had been
more definite and acknowledged; and their long
| continued pubic careers had endowed them
with weight of external authority and infu-
ence, to which his was inferior. He naturally
| entered therefore, upon his Presidential duties
with extreme Difference for the opinions Of the
| distinguished leaders of republicanism, from
among whom he chose his advisers. Time has
taught him, however, that many of these gentle
men arc actuaied by conflicting motives of self
ishness and ambition, and that their collective
wisdom is marred by suspicious, rivalrics and
intrigues. The welfare of tho nation is made
subordinate to their private plans of sggrandize-
ment and emollmcnt, and il is only after these
have been attended to, that their cOunscls be-
come valuable. Under such circums tances, the
unwecome truth has forced itself upon the Pre-
sidents mind, that for all purposes of executive
responsibility, he stands alone, and must depend
upon no human being, besides himself, to carve
out the glorious future which we still believe to
be in store for the United States
We are in the midst of stupendous and I'M
prccedented revolution The overthrow of
dynasties in France England and Italy, cannot
compare with il, nor is there single panaNel
for 1t in the history OF ancient times. Over
threc-quartcrs OF a million of men are warning
with each other, in country where, less than
year ago, the bristling Of the bayonct and the
thunder of artillery were unknown, and life
and death struggle for national existence
is in progress, which the whole human
race oontemplates with amazed and anxious
suspense. The happiness or misery, prosperity
or degradation, of tens of miliens of people yet
unborn depends upon the issue of the contest
Yet the Washington Cabinet buYrOwed along in
its old molehill; military caste stiacncd itself
up into more than the old pipe-clay formality
and priggishness; parties chung to their old
formula; and patronage gainbled in lives as il
formerly did in Offices, until the terrible disas-
ter which mismanagement produced ut Bull run
opened the eyes of The public to the hideous
consequences of such state of things And
what do we secs That il Mr.. Lincoln, from, the
outset, had thrown his wrangling councillors
overheard, and fallen back upon his own clear,
sound unbiased Judgment, none of the calami-
ties would have occurred which we depl0rc
That he has now began to do so is rl,e most
auspicious sign for the future, ana we predict
from it the happicst results.
By an instructive perception Of right, which
can never be found in a vision beelouded with
petty ambitious schemes, Mr.. Lincoln has, in
almost every instance fathomed the necessities
| Of the different emergencies that have arisen
since he took the cath Of Office. The expedition
| TO Fort Sumter was devised aud executed, con
! trary TO the wish OF every member of his Cabi-
| net but one 1t appears tlat he attempted to
prevent the hasty movement Of oar army of the
| Potomac which resulted in The panic at Bull
run. The appointment Of General Mcclellan,
first TO command in Western and then over The
! federal forces in Eastern Virginia, was his ind-
vidual act. He has weighed each one of
his adrkcrs. military and civil, in the balance,
| and knows exactly what they are worth. The
inccndiarsm Of the republican press is so we'll
understood by him that he recently remarked
that If he were posse~sessel of judicial power,
| he would very soon mete out to each of the
New York city journals their just deserts.
1" Excepting one he added, 1.-THE HERALD,
which does pretty we'll, considering that it Is
on the other side - The details of army disci-
pine have also been taken by Mr.. Lincoln, In
hand, and be will rely on no one, We learn. but
himself in making sure that General Mcclellan
is fully aided in the many measures of reform
he has inaugurated These things promise
we'll. They wiz restore confidence and inspire
! the people with fresh enthusiasm in carrying on
Y Long ago, months before his inauguration.
the HERALD pointed out The certainty with