, 1863-03-14
The Man Against the PARTY.

The refusal of Abraham Lincoln to accept the
resignation of Secretary Seward and Chase, is
the strongest proof yet given that he is not the
President of any party. The resignation of those
gentlemen resulted from the action of the caucus
of republican Senators, whose sentiments Seward
and Chase were not radical enough to suit and
the course pursued by the President is a defiance
to that party and an implied declaration that by
whomever he was elected he will allow no one to
dictate to him what measures he shall pursue
This is in keeping with his action in resoutey ad
herring to his emancipation policy; and if he will
ever oppose as firmly the pressure of parties and
cliques, it will be better for his own fame and
better for the nation. We have always accredit-
ed to Lincons good sense, but have distrusted
his frmness; and if he shall vndcate himself in
this lafts~ respect and convince MS that he is
turned from his purpose by every varying iniu-
ence, we shall have unbounded confidence in his
ability to direct the affairs of the nation.
The question at issue was not whether more ca
pable men than Seward and Chase could be
found to fill the position they now occupy, but
whether at the present moment, radical change
in the Cabinet would not be more disastrous than
any evils that might result from the inefficiency
of the present incumbents-whetheri it is not bet
ter to "bear those ills we have, than fly to others
that we know not of?' We have ever been
cursed with changes since the rebellion broke
out, and they none the less to be deplored in
that they were necessary. Every change has
been serious setback to our cause, whether it
resulted in the selection of better commander
or not. 1t is an old proyerb that three removals
are worse than fire, ard by its side should be
placed new proverb, that two changes of com
manders are more disastrous than a defeat. And
this will apply to statesmen as well as generals.
People always cry out for changes when defeat
and disaster beset them; that is the time of all
others when no change should be made. We are
only too ready to ascribe the blame of reverses
to official ncompetency when in fact all the skill
and forecast with which mankind was ever gifted
may have been exercised. Human power can
not compass and control every circumstance
But suppose evil to cause resulted from the er-
ror of some high official Should wisdom teach
us to endeavor to retrieve our fortunes by mspla-
cling him in the hour of greatest peril and stalk
ing the chances of our success on an untried and
inexperienced successor, who has to learn even
the formula of business before he can proceed to
action-and after all may prove himself less ca
pable than the man he has succeeded? Men
learn by experience; and the man who has made
one blunder is less liable to commit another than
he who, perhaps only through want of oppoTtu-
nifty, has not erred at all.
But It is questionable if many men can be
found in the nation more capable of filling their
relative Secretaryships than Seward and Chase.
A more consummate diplomat or an abler fnan-
cer, we do not think can be found, and until they
are shown to be wanting in the respects that
jeopardize our cause, we shall be satisfied with
them. What is it to the nation that these gen
temen have advocated or opposed measures in
non-conformity to republican principlesP Our
million of men are not fighting to uphold party
doctrines, but to save the nation. And when
President Lincoln answered Secretaries Seward
and Chase that he thought their designations
would be incompatible with the public welfare,
he told the nation that his love for it was greater
than his regard for the Republican party.
THE British statesman Fox was one day told
by lady, whom he visited that she did not care
'three skps of a louise for him." He Immediately
took out his pencil and wrote the following
lines
A lady has told me, and in her own house,
That she cares not for me three skips of louise.
forgive the dear creature for what she has said
Since women will talk of what runs in their head
THE following is from a religious South Caro-
lima newspaper :-"In New Orleans, on Saturday
Miss Rosa Mckinney, aged seven years, severely
stabbed Willie Scully, aged five years, with pen
knife. No cause assigned, but probably jealousy
was a. the bottom of the affair"