Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-03-12
The Lincoln Administration.

clpherlng their lgnoble names.
The Lincoln Administration.
The wholesale denunciations of the
President, which we hear in the vaious
quarters, deserve the Reproduction of
all candid and just citizens. Let it be
conceded, for argument sake, if for
nothing more, that he has not exhibited
all the qualities needed in such cri-
sis as the present that he has been
too lenient in temper, yielded, amidst
the multitude of diverse counsels, in
some instances, to pressure" that it
would now seem, retrospcctiveiy, he
ought to have resisted that, in
kindly endeavors, to reconcile rival
ries and jealousies among military
men and politicians, he has, in the ex-
ercise of his best judgement, ordered
or assumed responsibility for acts
subsequently proved to be mistakes
of more or less gravity. Let tbs
much be conceded-remembering the
while that hereafter it may possibly
appear that the sagacity and honesty
of Abraham Lincoln proved on the
whole to be the safety of the nation !;
what follows from the concession I?
Not that Abraham Lincoln is to be
exempted from fair and fearless criti-
cism or even from sincere censure on
the part of those who may conscien-
tiously differ from him. His most de.
voted supporters cannot ask this /; he
himself cannot ask it. His course
may in a greater or less degree be
dissented from. This, however, is
not making him, as his unscrupnlous
opponents do, the object of unqualified
elimination and abuse -misrcpresent-
ing not only his doings. but reckless
ly questioning his motives.
His record is without a blot as to
intentions. All not ruthlessly parti-
ian will admit this. Whatever else
may be said of his official acts and
documents, it cannot be denied that
they exhibit an unwavering desire to
keep his oath, do his whole duty and
save the republic. Every word, every
letter, every order emanating from
him attests this and most of his real
and apparent failures have evident
ly originated in an excess of caution
in the use ofpower and desire to he
rigidly fair and impartial towards all
parties.
And yet he is accused of wilfully vi
olating the Constitution, setting al
nought the laws, interfering with mill
tary plans with the vile purpose Of
serving distinct political clique.
These allegations are no doubt in
some cases made in the heat ofpassion,
or the bitterness of disappointment,
when fair-minded reason fails to make
itself heard. But they are also urged
in other cases with malignity of
purpose sufficiently apparent.
/, The explicit declarations of the Pres
ident as to the object of the war, and
the care with which he has sought to
bring all his measures, including the
Proclamation, within the clearly de-
fined limits of those declarations the
generous and patriotic tone of all his
messages, letters and orders that have
been published the sworn testimony
that exonerates him from attempts to
interfere improperly with matters be-
yond his understanding, all this is
maliciously and pcrsistently disre-
garded, aud he is written as feeble
aud false Executive, who mnst either
be overthrown or put under guardian
ship of his detractors, in order that
they may restore the Union and pre-
serve the Constitution.
The Administration has not been
entirely satisfactory--as, under the
circumstances, probably no Admins
tration would have been. To point
out and try to have its deficiencies,
remedied is consistent with the truest
patriotism. But this is not the honor
able work the opposition have under.
taken. The last thing they dream Of
is the increasing of the vigor of the
Government in prosecuting the war
for the destruction of the rebellion
They have no sympathy with the no.
bic Governor of Maryland, the out
spoken Senator of Indiana, the uncon-
ditional Unionists of Tennessee, who,
differing politically from the Admins
tration, give it hearty support for the
sake of, the country.
And this is the fact for the people
to notice. Wholesale assaults upon
those who have the conduct of public
affairs, unaccompanied by any hearty
condemnation of unmitigated treason,
reveal the determination to endeavor
to fulfill the tratorons prediction (the
prophets and the agents at work to