The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-04-10

L--..ts-.-ll-z.-
less. They have no other leadership-nol
other means Of uaion-no possibility Of
i making their wishes known or their will
felt, but through the action Of the Govern
ment to which they hsVe intrusted their vel.
fare and delegated their power.
1t is the high, the imperative duty Of Pre-
sident Lincoln, In this solemn crisis Of the
nations fate, TO give the American people
this guidance and leadership. He was per.
fectly right in saying at Springfield that
upon bis shoulders rests q responsibility
more weighty than has ever fallen upon any
one Of bis predecessors. That responsibility
is not met by supervising the distribution OF
office. Mr.. LiDcsln should reserve his
thoughts and bis strength for nsbler duties
then presiding over the wrspglings of hun.
cry end selfish hunters for patronage and
place. He wastes powers that belong to
the natioD,-hO squsndeFs opportunities
which millions upon millions Of gold will
never bring back, for rescuing the nation
from the most fearful perils. We shall not
be suspected Of any but the most friendly
sentiments towards the President OF the
United States, when we tell him, what the
courtiers who hang upon his favor will not
dare to whisper that he must 90 up to
higher level than he has yet reached, before
be can see and realize the high duties to
which he has been called He has spent
time and strength in feeding rspacious and
selfish partisans, which should have been
bestowed upon saving the Union and main
tanning the authority of the Constitution he
has solemnly sworn to defe.d. He has not
done what he was expected to do as soon as
ne should assume the reins Of power-sum.
mon beck, by word and act, the Loyalty oil
the American people to the flag and the
Government Of their common country. The
Union Is weaker now thsn 1t was month
ago. It's foes have gained courage, and its
, friends have lost heart. Step by step the
new Confederacy marches forward toward.
solid and secure foundations,- end dsv bv
, day the bright hopes of the lovers of the
, Union fade and die away,
I The Administrations must havs a policv q,
ction,-clear and definite in the end it aim;
0 at, wise and resolute 10 the means emplov
ed, and proclaimed to the people as the
standard around which they can rallv.-
J, What it should be, it is not for US to say.-
d That is matter requiring wise and careful
Q deliberation on the pnrt of those who ore
responsible but it should. be decided upon
e promptly, and then carried into effect with
o steady and dauntless resolution.
!. The President has to decide whether h,
}, will enforce tbs laD at the hazard of civi
war,-or whether he will waive the execu
ton of the law, and appeal to the people of th,
i. seeded States on behalf OF the Union.-
It One or the other Of these courses he shoul
Q lose no time in adopting,-simply becsus
J, every day lost renders less possible the sue
" cess OF either. II he decides to enforce tb
IT laws, let him call Congress together an
VI demand the means Of doing il. II he de
:. cides upon peOce. let him proclaim his pur
= pose,-und seek at once the confidence an
Q favor Of the people whom he desires 10 win
!. Let him first dsarm the fears of war whcl
g now unite, by outward pressure, the yuth
d ern people, and then let him proceed Il
!. organize q Union party in every Sou herr
d State, and to strengthen and encourage i
d by all the legitimate means at his disposal
y Why has Sam Houaton, of Texas, been LEI
}. to !ht the battle OF the Union ne,-with
= out q word of encoursg ement, or promise O
IT man or dollar from the Government 3
n Washington Why have the Union m
r in L9uisiOnu been abandoned without an Ell
b fort, 10 the despotsm of the minority whicI
i has usurped control OF their affairs VIII,
S have the noble hearted champions of th
0 Union and the Constitution in Virginia au
s Tennessee and Kentucky, been ignored ut
n tcrly in the use Of Executive patronage an,
e in all the public action of the Federal Gov
y ernment Simply, in our judgment, be
!. cause the Administration hOs decided upol
II no means Of meeting the secession move
I! ment,-because it has no Policy. 1t is go
q ing on blindly,-living from hand TO mouth
}. trusting in the chances of the future fo
If deliveronce from present and impendin:
r perils.
We t:ust this period OF ind cision, OF in
action, of fatal Indifference, will have
speedy end. Unless it does, we may BIZ
g, farewell to oil hope of saving the Unior
n rom destruction Ond the country from en-
I archy. A mariner might as well fece tht
y tempest without compass or helm, as al
e Administration put 10 sea amid such stormt
as now darken our skies, without a cea
and definite plan OF public conduct. The
q country looks eagerly to President Lincoln
Tor the dispersion of the dark mystery thu
hangs over our public affairs. The people
want something to be decided on some
standard ruiset-some policy put forward
which shall eerve as o rallyirg point for thu
abundant but discouraged loyalty of The
/, American heart. In a great crisis like this
there is no policy SO fatal as that OF hayins
, ! no poliey al all .