The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-01-17
The President Elect at Home.

SrrISGFIELu. H.. Nov. -. 1860.
The M,GNETIsN OF PoLITICAL PowEE. The
axiom that success makes the man. holds
good in Lolitics, more than any other sphere Of hui
man aspirl tons. II any one doubts this. let him
come 20 this place and behold the eager crowds that,
ever since the result Of the late contest for the Presi-
Dental success On became known, have invaded this
miiile--izei western city, TO humble themselves AZ
the feet Of the vic t0rous Republican tandard-bearer
Let him see the respectful anxiety with which his
every word l. caught up, and hrs every motion watch
eI. Let him witness the reyereutiGI acqu.escence in
all the sentiments he i pleased 10 express. Let him
laugh at the frantic efforts 10 discover and admire
beauty in his unusually plain features and be dis
gu>tcd at = dlsCracetul peIsistencS IN attempting 10
discover heretofore-hjiden merits in bis moral and
intellectual composition.
The most marked illustration Of the aforesaid trujsm
lies in the enlivencd aspect Of this western burg, in
consequence Of the steady attraction Of luminous polit-
ical characters from all parts ofthe Union, by the aC-
cidental circumstances of its being the present seat
Of the powers that are 10 be. Springfield, like most
State capitals, was distinguished for an unmitjgatei
dizziness only. Its uupavei streets-fathomless N
muddy weather the unartistIc style and irregular
combination Of its business and other edihces the
want Of s~0ciablllty among Its inhabitants the mean
ness OF its hotel Accommodations, rather deferred
than attracted visitors. But now all these negative
characteristics appear 20 be forgotten. congressman,
governors, judges. editors, etc, wend their way 10 this
newly-risen Mecca simultaneously with a countless
host Of curious-aud expectauts. To the West, and
uo longer to the East, the country looks for political
light.
50 much Of the intelligence, wisdom, celebrity,
wealth, selfshness and patriotism Of the land being
now represented here, it Is no wonder that the capital
Of the Prairie State has suddenly got to be one Of the
most interesting spots in the Union. Already a sort
Of court surrounds the President elect. Gossip on
his internal and foreign policy on the probable char
acter of his Cabinet on his intentions a to- ppoint-
ments to office, etc, fills hotels parlors and bar-rooms.
Experienced tide walters commence lntrlgueS OF every
description for the realization of their plans.
How "OLD ABE BEARS HIS DIGNITY.-Sudden
and unexpected as his elevation to the highest Office
in the land must have been to Mr.. Lincoln, and daz-
cling as the great change OF his social position must
have proved to him, who had spent all his life amidst
humble surroundings, be 1t said to mis- credit, that
the acquisition Of Presidential honors has not affected
him in any way that might estrlnge or lessen the res
pect of his old friends. He has remained the same
frank, Open-hearted, good-natured, wel-meauing.
plain-snoken and hammered western man, that
through his many qualities of the head ami of the
heart. Is endeared both politically ana privately to SO
many Of the people of this State. There IS not a shad-
ow OF presumption or vain gloriousness perceptible.
One feels still more inclined TO bestOw his well-knOwn
nickname upon him than his hlgh-sOunding title. He
still communicates with everybody in his old familiar
way. lie still loves TO tell stories and play off jokes
on his acquaintances. Nor Is it likely that the air of
Washington will make him abandon his wonted ways.
lie Will horrliy many OF the fashlonables, who Will
flock around him nj the Federal Capital, by his per
sistency in frankness of thought and speech, simple
ity Of manners and habits.
How lie SPENDS HIS TINE Ever since the day aE-
ter the election, the demands of the public upon Mr..
Lincoln's time have been so numerous and constant
that he was obliged To divide il so as to enable him
To do Justice to all. His habit TO rise early assists him
greatly iu this respect. Daybreak always finds him
astir. His morning meal is taken at ! o'clock, and
after spending half an hour with his family, he repairs
TO the State House, where the Governors room was
given up III view OF the llmltedneSs Of space In his own
private residence. From 8 until 10, he busies him
self in examining his mail matter, in which he is as
sisted by the Private Secretary he has been obliged
to engage from the pressure OF his correspondence, or
receives visitors of distinction who are entitled to pri-
vate interviews. AT lOO'c!ock the doors of his apart
ment are thrown open, and the general receptions
begin. Everybody is admitted sitter that hour until
noon without any further tormality. Regular pre-
sensations are not made in a majority of cases. Peo-
pie walk in, mention their name themselves, and are
allowed a shake of the Presidential hand without be-
ing backed up by some one personally known to the
President.
At noon, the latter retires from the public gaze.
and spends his time at home until 8 o'clock, when
he returns to the State House; 10 reopen the levees,
which are then continued until ~half-past .. At that
hour he again seeks relief at his private dwelling un-
till Z p. NJ, when he resumes his labors with his
Secretary. The daily increasing number of letters he
is now receiving, renders it altogether impossible TO
answer them all himself Only those from persons of
distinction elicit personal replies, while the bulk of
his cOrrespondence-mostly from petty aspirants to
office, and disinterested, but indiscreet, patriots, who
offer gratuitOusly advice-is either left unnOticed or
to by his amanuensis. Light is hardly ever
in his room before 10 o'clock.
WHAT HE THINKS OF THE QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
No discrimination whatever being made in the nu-
merous callers that daily ask n sight at the President
elect, it is but natural that he should be frequently
approached by parties, of whose nature discretion is
not the better part. Interrogatories on the most del
icate and embarrassing questions of the day are con-
stautly addressed to him with a perfect-looseness by
the unsOphisticated sOvereigns, who, in consequence
Of having contributed their elective mites 20 his sue
cess, presume to have as good Il right to cross-exam-
inc him rs any of the candidates for local Offices in
their own county. But very pertinent, and At times
even impertiuent, rs some of their ). pumping at
tempts are, Mr.. Lincoln but rarely tries to evade a
He converses with the utmost freedom on
current topics during his public receptions, and hence
his opinions may be reiterated without mourning the
Of undue revelation of private matters.
The secession movement in the South pre-occupies,
Of course, his mind. Although far from acknowledge
the right ofthe Cotton States to sever the ties that
attach them TO the contederacy, he yet thinks that
attempt at coercing them to remain in the Union,
would but increase the calamities likely TO arise from
n separation. While he believes that it will he his
duty rs Chief Magistrate to uphold the Federal laws
with all constitutional means. and hence to protect
United States property, and secure the collection Of
customs in the rebeniUus States, lac Is yet disinclined
TO interfere IL any other way. He is confident that
the di>uniOn epidemic carries ats remedy in itself, and
that the violent flames that now blaze, whereof cot
ton is king, will soon subsiie it unfe1 by aggressive
demonstrations. Conscious of being elected in strict
conformity to the Constitution, having committed no
wrong, and determined TO do justice to all sections Of
the country, he hopefully faces the future.
rs to his views on the Slavery question, 1 feel
warranted TO say that Mr.. Lincoln, as President Of
the United States, will never allow his private opin-
ions to weaken his sense Of duty and render him
slow in executing the mandates of the Constitution.
As it was stated by Senator Trumbull. in his short
but pregnant speech, delivered in this city on the
evening Of the 10Th inst, on the occasion OF the Re
publican jubilee, = Mr.. Lincoln, although the can
didate of the Republican party, as Chief Magistrate
viii neither belong to that nor any other party
When inaugurated he will be the President of the
country and the whole country, and | doubt not will
be as ready to defend and protect the State in which
he has not received a solitary vote against any en-
cr0achmCnt upon its constitutional rights, rs the one
in which he has received the largest majority"
Senator Trumbulls effort, the whole of which was
dOubtlessly received by you ere this through the PO-