Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-17
The President and the Border stute

Prom the New York Commercial Advertiser.
1t is within our Knowledge that Presi-
dent Lincoln is undismayed by the hercu-
lean task before him; that his confidence
iu the army of the Potomac and its young
commander. and in his ability TO achieve
the work he has undertaken, is undated;
and that he is more than ever assured OF
the ultimate restoration of the Union.
But there is something beyond this which
the country will be grnttied 10 knuw, and
which it is perhaps proper that it should
know at this crisis. We believe that the
President has admitted into his mind the
full conviction that the time has come for
the adoption of any and every measure
which promises the speediest suppression
OF this foul revolt, and that not without
grave regrets on his LHrt, bu! because it
seems 10 have become an imperative duty.
the promptings of his Kindly nature will
be held in allegiance and the sword of JUS
ties will he welded with vigor and ear
nestness that will convince the rebels, and
the world, that he is terribly in enrnest in
the work of the suppression of the rebel
lion, and that if he has to them ever seem
ed otherwise, it is because they have mis-
interpreted the general patriotism that has
made him reluctant to treat his cOuutrymeu
with severity SO long as there was posi-.
biIity that milder measures firmly enforced
might bring them to submit to the an
thority of the constitution.
The signs are unmistukeable that the
President has reached the conviction TO
which we have alluded, aud that he is pre-
pairing to act upon it. II is not difficult 10
understand, though it may be impossible
fully to appreciate, the emba crnS smeuts
the President has felt with respect to thu,
1, 81 H.
the root of this wicked rebellion. He has
doubtless shared the general belief that the
revolt would sooner or laIer neCessitate the
dissolution of the boud between the slaves
and their rebel masters, and there is evil
dence that while willing TO defer that meas
ure rs long as was consistent with tue
safety of the Union, he has also been med
tiating how, when the necessity for it
comes, it could be put in force with least
injury to the loyal citizens of the border
States. That this phase of the difficulty
has long occupied his thoughts is plain
from the intimntions given in'his prociama-
tions and messages, in his anxiety to have
the border States save themselves by iuitin-
ting policy of emancipation, and securing
themselves from being involved in the loss
to be inflicted upon the rebels. Although
no official publication has been made of
what took place ut the recent interview of
the President with the border States re-
representatives.. it is not difficult to divine
its substance and meaning.
The President doubtless intimated 10
them his conviction that harsher measures
would have to be employed against the
rebels, and that it was his wish and their
interest that the loyal slayeholding States
should hide themselves behind compeu-
stated emancipation from the possible i'm
pending overthrow of slavery. He said TO
them probably in effect, 1.-The military
necessity for dealing summarily with
slavery may occur at any moment, and
when such necessity arises my oath of
fidelity to the Union will compel me to
act without giving the loyal slave-h hold
ing States any further warning. I urge
you, therefore, for your own sakes to
stand from under before the fabric falls"
And the inference from this is that
what at one time appeared but as a remote
possibility, now, because of the persistence
aud magnitude of the rebellion, assumes
the form of by no means remote proba-
blllty. The care, the almost pnternaI ten
derness, which the President shows towards
the loyal slaye-holding states in this mat
ter must commend him more than ever to
the confidence of the whole people, soli-
citude carried even to the extent of hiuself
framing bill of n most liberal character
on their behalf aud urging its adoption by
Congress. We have no present purpose of |
discussing that measure, but we may say |
that it certainly is as favorable to the |
of the border states MS any
man could desire.
In this evident preparation for severer |
measures towards the rebels should their
persistent Wickedness and folly make than