New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-05

military conduct generally, though censured by
ardent souls as too slow for the demands of the
crisis, have commended him TO the respect and
confidence Of all who are coguizant of the diff
culties that he has had to encounter.
We think that the eminent citizen who has
been placed by the nation at its head he's shown
himself to deserve the confidence thus placed in
him by his conduct up to This time. We cannot
doubt that he win continue TO prove himself
worthy of the great trust reposed in him. We
approve the vigilance Of the Press, and the close
scrutiny to which all public actions are now sub
iected. We have not been, and we shall not be,
wanting on our part in this respect. But we
think that tho President should be allowed
reasonable time to develop his plans, and be ex-
cused from communicating them to the cores
pondents even of the most respectable of presses.
In our anxiety lest the enemy should be before
hand with the authorities, we should remember
that it is not to be supposed that the President
is not fully informed as TO the condition and POSI-
ton of the enemy at every point aud in every
guided by that information. With the money at
his command we appreheDd that he might nave
any amount of intelligence from Floyd or Cobb,
Judging from their antecedents, if he were not
furnished with more Trustworthy esplals. We
hold that the great Office of the Press is better
executed in keeping the President informed OF
the state OF public feeling at the North, and OF
the action it demands and will sustain, than in
criticsing too curiously each successive step that
he takes. AS long a. his course is in the right
direction, he should be sustained By the generous
confidence of his constituency. As long as he
holds a firm hand on the plOw, We will not an
ticpatc any danger of his looking backward.
We should be false to our trust, as we have
Just defined it, if We withheld the fact that the
fears that have lately agitated the Northern mind
Though much diminished since the Proclamation
of Friday have not been Of an assault from the
enemy, but of a surrender to him. Any peace,
any armisticc, any arrangement with the rebels,
after their base cruel thieyish, and lying conduct
toward the Government and Northern citizens,
aud before they have received condlgn aud sig
nal chastisement would be looked upon by the
Nation US a simple and shameful surrender at
discretion 1t is only some false counsels of this
kind that are feared ut the North. But we be-
leye that President Lincoln must know TOO well
the moral and political, as well as military me-
cessties Of the situation, 10 lend an ear to any
such adviser The People have pouredtheir money
into the Treasury, and are ready TO pour out
their blood in the field; but il is not 10 play the
game Of any man for the next Presidency, or to
give this or that direction TO contracts or patron
age. 1t is to establish their Government forever
on a frm basis, and to preserve the integrity oil
the Republic. They have enlisted in this warfare
for posterity and for the world. They mean that
a memorable example shall lie made Of the nien
and the States blackeued with the iliamy OF this
treason. They are in no mood to accept any half
measures, or anything less than the sternest jus
tce requires. They see that nothing but total
and unconditional submission on the part either
of the United States or of the Rebels and Con.
spirstors can avert the arbtrament Of the sword
They do not believe the Rebels will surrender
except on conpulsicp; and they are sure they do
not mean to surrender Themselves. They are for
no tracefin the war. 1hy efk for no uatimcly
lenitiyrs for the disorders 81 tho land. The dis
tcmpcra Ure of the tunes calls for heroic treat
mcnt The soothing system has been tired long
enough The Nation has faith that the man into
whose hands it has committed its hic and it's
honor VIII prove himself equal to the mighty re-
sponsibiiiiy he has consented to take upon him.
self. No man ever held mightier issues in his
hands than he, or had more illustrious career
opening before him.