Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-04-06
THE DUTY OF THE ADpIIYIsTRA 4
TIOE.

|
THE DUTY OF THE ADnIINIsTRA-
from the n. Y. Worid.l
| ~ lsIust month tO-dny since President
Lincoln was sworn in and delivered his
inaugural address. Within this month all
I tue annual elections of the free States
which take place in the spring months
have been held, having been completed
Yesterday by the election in Rhode Island
The President is now in possession of nil
the means which he will have before
autumn of forming nn opinion from cleo
tion returns, as to whether the events
which havo transpired since November
have changed the public sentiment ofstbe
country. If the State elections i'm New
4iumpshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island
and the various municipal elections in the
other Northern States, had shown large
Republican losses, such result would be
Interpreted, and justly interpreted, ns n
! proof that the startling occurrences of the
last five months had produced reaction in
| the public sentiment of the North, and that
the free States had become convinced tint
their vote inthe Presidential election was
unwtse. Heavy Republican losses wonId
have been pointed to as proving that the
| public sentiment demanded that this dan
| gerous CONTROVERSY should be accommodn-
ted by concessions to the slave States. It
/ has been constantly claimed by the advo-
Gates of CONCESSION that powerfuI reac-
tion has been silently going on during the
winter, which only waited an occasion to
express itself ia some authentic form. Oc-
caslons have been afforded in tue Stttes
which have held their elections, and it
turns out that the Republican party (com-
| prtsing majority of the northern peoplel
stand by the same principles they held in
November, and that tile formidable head
way made by rebellion since has hardly
moved tlem II hairs breadth.
| Snch, according to the only authentic
| way of ascertaining 1t, Leing the sentiment
of the county, PresfdenE Lincoln a nov.
in favorable condition for marking out;
that distinct and decisive line of action,
the want OF which, thus far, has disau-
pointed public expectation. The'notthein
elections since the Inauguration prove that
the free States will support the President
IN carrying ont the policy on Which heFYas
elevated to power in November. Thelarge
offers of money just made to the govern.
ment, by Northern capitalists, shows that
pecuniary means Will not be lacking for
any course of action which the govern
ment may think it wise to adopt II Is
now for Mr.. Lincoln and his constitutional
/ advisers TO determine, in view of these
materials for forming a correct Judgment,
what system of measures they think best
suited to this great and perilous emergency
They cannot, without demoralizing the
public sentiment OEthe loyal States, allow
the government much longer to drift on at
I the mercy of events, while the confederaey
in rebellion against it is steudily pursuing
a well defined, determined and energetic
! policy. The great business interests of
=. the country, now in a state of stagnntion.
cannot afford to be kept in harrassinc and
rninous suspense. business men cannot
decide how to, conduct their affairs so long
as the policy Is not announced to which
Itbe government intends to adhere. Let
the administration, then, now that it has
had time to explore the ground it stands
on, and finds that it is solid and secure,
make its policy known. Business men will
then shape their plans in conformity with
sh, and the loyal States will,Rlly vigorous
ly to support.
= 1t IS nottour purpose to inculpatc the
President for tue delay of the month that
has passed. On the contrary, wc believe
itlIas boen wise and prudent. No good
ever comes of going of at hnlE-cock. We
lbaye never sympathizfd with the pneru-
lous spirit which eonpIatnR that The Pres
ident has during the first month, given so
much Of his time to the business of ma
king appointments. All tile great Offices
ANAN1sl VI SHAASGg
nobody could be SO unrensOnableas to ex-
pect Alr. Lincoln to retain Mr.. Buchnnan,s
ofiters2 20 positions Of great responsibility.
The Senate, In nctotdance with the usual
custom, remained in session after theiuauG
nrAtiou TO act on snch appointments as t6e
President might send them, aud decent
regard TO the eeouyepisnces of, tIIis spart OF
the appointing power required lfm to ex-
reGtte The business as much as possible,
and enable the Senate to Rdjonra. But
now the most pressing appointments have
been mnde and confirmed; the senators
have gone, ihdmei tEsf president has had
time to survey his positions and become
acquainted with his cabinet; elections in
the free states show him that Northern
sentiments has undergone 40 change since
his election; the bids on the eight million
loan prove that the government can com.
unaud all The money It may. need; and the
time has come for the Preside TO indicate
a more pronounced policy thathe has yet
disclosed.
FTha v,ot;.,, % ~