New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-23
OPENING TlaE PREssDshE'AH
CANVASS EOB 1861.

| CANIASS HOn
It has been our earnest desire that all public
discussion of Presidential preferences should Do
forborne to the latest possible perioi-at least
10 as TO await the result Of the Spring campaign
against the Rebellion. We may be deceived, as
we often have been; but We cherish sanSune
homes that the Just authority Of the Union Will
he practically reeStablshed by the 9Th OF July
next We heartily wish that the impending
Presidential contest could he bamshet from
every loval mind until that period, while every
energy. every effort, should be devoted to the
one paramount object of suppres ''ng the he-
Ibelion and restoring Peace TO our distract
ed country. if our hopes should be realized
we should all be better prepared TO judge, hour OK
five months hence, who had deserved best OF
our country, and who had proved himself most
competent and best calculated 10 graphic with
the Great and difficult problems which must be
developed by the progress Of Reconstruction.
Hut others have cherished and acted on views
radically diverse from ours so We tnG the
country plunged into o Presidential cam
lraign. simultaneously with that which,
We trust, is to seal the fate OF The Re
lbelon. The Democratic National Committee
some time since called National Convention
of their party, 10 assemble OF Chicago on the
ith of July, TO nominate candidates for Prc'l-
den. and President. Gen. Mcclellan has
been sedulously commended as Democratic
candidate for President Tor some two years past,
and the pertinacity ana zeal of his personal
hackers seem likely to be rewarded with
formal nomination. in fact, the sad remains OF
the late Bell-Evcrett party gave him sort OF
one some weeks ago. Yesterday, the Republican
National Committee met in Washington and
agreed to hold kindred Convention OF the sup
porters of the Union War at Baltimore on tho
9th dav of June. The canvass is therefore fairly
opened, ii defiance of our wishes. And The re-
Nomination Of President LINCOLN has already
been urged by the Legislatures andConyen'ons
Of several States; while some movements in
f.yor of Gen. FREMONT and Gov. CHASE re-
spectively have more recently solicited pubAc
attention. We give a synopsis OF all these
in another part of thspaper, and shall here give
as n commentary thereon, synopsis oi The
rea ons which seem TO us TO dictate the NOM
nation Of another than Mr.. Lincoln on the part
OF those who have sustained his Administration
andithe War for the Union.
/ Let Us premise that, while each has perfect
and mdoubled right TO his preference ard its
Tree and iull expression, great care must be used
that our discussions do not become heated and
disappearing, and so divide H. into factions so
alenated and embitiered as to prevent our cor
dial, efficient cooperation in the great struggle
before us. We propose in due time to set forth
our own preference, freely and decisiyely, and
seek q nomination in accordance herewith;
, but, whether our choice or another be ratified
we propose TO do our utmost for the candidates
who shall be agreed by those with whom
we have battled for the preservation of the
Union, the vindicatiOn of The rightul authority,
and the enforcement of It's laws. We Iuay and
should confer, and discuss: We must not be
divided and arrayed against each other Let
each be careful to say or do nothing TIN. viii
render cooperation impracticable, or oven diff
cult, in the support Of the good and true men
who win be nominated, be their names wha;
they may.
We propose here 70 consider briefly the mar
reasons urged in the State resolves and letter.
herewith given for renominotmg Mr.. LINCOLN.
They will be found substantially as follows
]. NJ. Lincoln hrs ,rH discaqrecd The respoHsi-
( Jiiities Of his e6aitrd sutton.
This is true. We are among those who
worked hard To elect Mr.. Lincoln, and We are
atisfed with the manner in which his public
duties have been discharged. lie has beer
patriotic, honest, and faithful. lIe has done
| his utmost to serve and cave the country.
[ True, le has sometimes erred in judgment, and
made mistakes: who has not He j. not inial-
/ lible-nOt gcniUs--not one Of those rare great
men who mold their age into the similitUde Of
! their own high character, massive abilities aud
( lofty aims But, considering his antecedent.
and bis experience OF public atars-considerius
that few or none of rs anticipated the terrible
War which he has been compelled 20 wage and
lthe reasonable factiousncss which has con-
lfrorted and resisted him even in The loyal States,
we are sure tle verdict OF History in his case vii
he. We'll done. good and faithful servant
THE mstor Of his many good deeds VIII far ont
live the memory OF his mistakes and fault,
To this extent, then, we agree with the Legs
llatures and Conventions that have presented
him Is their iayortc for reelection.
II. He is ME first choice, FIR he nert Presiden