Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-01-09


tFFom the n. Y. TImos Of ye.,sriluyl
The most important i:,rident of the day
- the G.potntment of Mr.. Seward 10 he
Secretary of State In the npproaching AL
ministraIion Of Mr.. Lincoln We believe
1t IS quite certain that he has accepted the
appointment. We assume il 10 be eauaIlv
certain that he would not have done so.
unless he had felt Satisfied that the puli.v
OF the President wonld be in harmony with
his own political opinions, and such as he
could adopt without any sacrifice of his
political position and his personal con-
sistency.
The fret effect Of this announcement
upon the public mind, especially NJ the
Sonth, will be to incrc, 8. The excitement
and apprehension which already nreyails
Mr. Seward is already regarded I,y the
great mass of tue Southern people as the
representative and Incarnation of thai
hatred % their section, and the determine
ton 10 ruin its interests, winch are pnpu
larry supposed to characterize TIE. North
ern heart. At the outset, - ere ore his
adoptlon by Nr. Lincoln a. the foremost
lnemner of his CabinrI, viii ~ regarded
Gy Tue majority of the Southern people as
the confirmation of their worst tt,rs5-
The more intelligent men OF the South
Will come to different conclusion. Reas-
oning from the ordinary modes and mo-
tlVcs OF public conduct, they win be very
npt to infer tln. Mr. Seward IL not ti,,.
man 10 assume the responsibilities of high
public Office, for the purpose of roufrmin,y
the cHlumnirs OF his f0es. They will know
Tat, IT he consents To hold a subordinate
position in the new Administration, it will
be from conviction of public duty. AMI
in the belief that lac can render the coun-
try some peculiar and important service.
Mr. Seward can have no personal motive
Tor taking this step. He has nothing
whatever to gain, and he has very much
to lose, by assuming responsibilities with
ont the power which alone renders respon-
sibility safe or IOlerable. lie has achieved
all of political distinction which any office
short OF the highest could give him, and
has made a mark upon the political history
OF his country which will endure, to his
honor and renOwn, so long as its annals
Shall be read IT, under such circum-
stances, he accepts this Pust, it is because
he believes he Can do something in it
which no other man can do so well.
Mr.. Seward stands before the country rs
the representative of the Republican par.
~. He has the confidence of that party
10 greater degree, probably, than any
other mnn:-and hs can probably 80 fur
Their than any other, in. the way If COM
promising matters of difference with the
tanned by the party in 50 doing. Ii MIR
Lincoln should be disposed, therefore, to
yield somewhat to the cxigcnries OF the
hour and the demands of the South il Is n
matter of very great Importance to him
that lac should have tbs coun;cnnncc and
support of one holding So influential and
commnding position in the North AS Mr.
Seward. On the other hand, If he had re-
solved on pushing the South vigorously to
Lao ,s..1 II. II
victory over lnisrule into n sectional tri-
nmph over the South. he would have
sought support in the quarter where
he would have needed il most-;ImOug the
conservatives aud modcrLtes of his party.
Tie inference winch will he finally
drawn from this appointment by reilecIiug
mem therefore, will be, ia our Judgment
favorable TO final adjustment OF pending
difficulties. Mr. Seward at the Aston
House proclaimed his coldl.acs in such
nm issue. His acceptance of this post
shows his willingness to undertake the
fulillnen; of his prediction. Ca the 9TH
or hand, the Republican party have no
reason to apprehend at Mr.. Stewards hands
the surrender OF any principle, or of any
position essential to the validity and full
truiti"n OF the victory they have achieved.
Mr.. Seward is not the man thus to throw
away the fruits ct his whole public life
lessons taught by his illusIrisus pscdeces-
EurS.
In our Judgment this appointment rem
dcrs it more than ever important that the
adjustment of this controversy should be
handed over to the incoming udministra-
ton, where it properly belongs The duty
OF the present administration is to sustain
the Government against all attempts to
overthrow it, II has not the power to deal
with the sectional difficulties Of the day.
Those difficulties have grown mainly out
of its msmHungemcnt--tul the people
have just elected now Administration,
because the old one had proved itself in
competent to secure domestic tranquility
upon this subject. Any scheme of com
promise that may now h. pushed through
Congress, will lack that hold on public
confidence which is absolutely essential to
its stability.