Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-27
Lnrr.sn snoa NlL..A.I rnNN.
NUMBER six.
WAsnIvoroN. pecember 26. lsGl.

WASHINGTON, December &c, 1861.
If there is one quality Of the President
which commends itself over any other, it is
he persistent reticence he displays in the
Of the government He is
not leaky vessel, nor does he in
tend that those about him, who are leaky,
shall have much opportunity to indulge in
that propensity on his account. lie keeps
his own counsel, and is known by acts rather
than by declarations.
The wisdom of this course is evident, and
proves itself abnndantly in the Trent affair.
The newsmongers and penny-a-liners are
terribly nOnplussed because of it, and even
grave editors are troubled lest their reputa-
ton as prophets and heralds should suffer by
the Presidential silence Oil public affairs.
It will be remembered that last April
when Mr. LINCOLN FIRST began to exercise the
functions of his Office all sorts of rumors
end reports were sent out from Washington,
concerning his determination to eyaeuate
Fort Sumpter. Every wiseacre who wrote
from the Capitol gave interesting particu-
lars and unalterable "Cacts,' and all agreed
that Sumpter was to be abandoned. So
closely allied TO truth was this information,
that even the day and hour of its consumma
tion had been published, and the National
breath made pause, as it seemed, until the
great FIRST act had been fully accomplished.
And yet the whole country knows that MIR.
LINCOLN not only did not order the evacua-
tion of the Fort, but never intended to do
so +; and on the contrary sent supplies to the
starving garrison. So much for the reliabil
iiy of the news dispatches of that time.
And so it is now, with the Mason and Sl
dell difficulty All manner of reports ant
fancies are flying as TO the final disposition
of the matter, and all,-if we may believ,
them-are based upon fact or giyei
er catlsdra' whereas the truth is nobody ex
cept the President and perhaps the Secrc
, tary of State knows anything at all about il
and will not be permitted to know until tn
President shall have come to a decision i
the premises. Then his act will announC
y his intention All speculation, therefore,
idle and conjectural. That the matter wi
be settled to the best advantage, and for III
general interests of the whole country, "
= have no right to doubt. We, who do II,
realize the fearful weight of accumulati
:, responsibility which presses upon the go
ernment, can easily and pleasantly enoug
sit by our comfortable fires and figure out
programme of action; but if the scene cou
, shift for the nonce, and we were compellt
to assume, even a portion of the consequence
of our advice if followed, we would shrn
from the duty, and resign our opinions
those whose minds and eyes can compass I
whole field, and Judge from surrounding c
~ cumstances what is best to he done.
is In our anxiety for " forward moyemeI
IN we are apt to indulge the idea that war is
to pleasant thing to those in power, and tn
ed therefore it is so much delay is exercised
ny pushing it to a speedy conclusion. But
en- should recolect that, haste is not alwi
an Speed" as Bull.Run can testify; nor is t
.u- disturbing element of war luxury to tn,
rs, who conduct it. Time is necessary to II
5ht ture plans which are TO lead to success &
tle when so matnred aud perfected there is
OF certain feeling that grows out of the resi-
he which, while it may not be typical of pl
sure to those who scan the field, is neyer
leu less an inspirer Of joy in the hearts of
lns who love their country and desire its I
'~ ',a petuity WILLIAM Penn