The Grand Haven news., 1864-10-26
Another Letter from ThurlOw Weed

letter on the Presidential question, he has
given them one which, we suspect, they
would rather have been excused from re-
ceiving. II is blast, administered
against Lincoln and the party Of "de-
slructiyes +" 1--WE use Mr. Weeds own
word) he controls. But let us see what
Mr.. Weed has to say of Mr.. Lincoln and
the precious political organization he
heads. Here are the veterans reasons
for change of administration:
"My reasons for wishing change of
administration are known TO those who
have read what / have been constrained
TO say since December, 1860, first as cd
ilor of the Journal and subsequently in
occasional letters. protested, early and
earnestly, against the abolition procieW-
ties of Tie republican party, ot Con-
greSS and the administration. | foresaw,
more clearly than others, the certainty OF
a formidable rebeilion-a rebellion that
would try the strength of our govern
ment and tax the energies Of our whole
people. In view of such an emergency,
/ felt that no mere party, and least of all,
an abolition party, could preserve the gov
erument and Union that the policy Of the
administration should tend TO unite the
Nroth and to divide the South. And what
l have complained of was, that just so far
as abolition counsels prevailed, they re-
versed this proposition, by diUiding the
North and uniting the South. | kuOw
now, what believed in 1860, that Mr..
Lincoln ought TO have made Union cab
met. Such policy and cabinet t0Ould
have carried US through the rebellion with
infinitely less expense of blood and treas
ure. 1t is, in my Judgment, a mistake
to have supposed that he could not sus-
tain himself without support Of ultra abb
oition. In boldly prosecuting the war
for tho government and the Union he
would have been triumphantly sus-
tanned by the really and nationally patti
otic masses. The influences which he
sought to propiliate have been drag
both upon his administration and the
war
We give the following further extracts,
illustrative of Mr.. Weeds way Of "back-
ing his friends
HOW LNcoLN's CABINET HAS WORKED.
"His (Lincoln's) party was made up
Of wings, radical democrats and aboli.
tionists. The influence Of the latter ele-
ments predominating, his Cabinet took
the complexion. Hence under the auspi-
ces of strong will in the Treasury De-
partment, backed by corresponding inau-
ences in Congress, the government has
been crippled and the war intnesified and
prolonged by avowiDg the destruction Of
slavery rather than the preservation OF
the government aud Union, as its object.
THE DESTRUCTIVE ELEMENT.
Our country is in an anomalous con-
dition. The two great political parties
are embarrassed with antagonisns. The
republican party is associated with an alb
clifton element which first invited rebel
lion, and then demanded a war issue
which divides the people and weakeus the
government.
THE BEST FRIENDS OF REBELLION NOW.
That class Of abolitionsts throw
themselves across the track Of all health
ful political organizations. They were
the worst enemies Of the whig party then
they are the best friends Of the re-
bellion now, They were peslilent before
and have been destructive during the war.
But my adherence Of abolition fanaticism
does not IN the least weaken my detesta-
ton of a slave rebellion. The devilish
ambition fostered by that accursed insti-
tuition may cost US our government and
Uuion-will, indeed, if slavery aud aboli-
lion eau work out that great natioualcrime.
Our danger has been, and is, that aboli-
ton, in doing precisely what | foretold-
dividing the North and uniting the South
may enable slavery and rebellion to
avert the penalty both SO richly merit
a common grave, aua5 .asf
MR.. WEEDS HOPE FOR A CHANGE OF AD-
MIEIsTRATIoN.
d 1T was this dread Of ultra abolition,
embarrassing Mr. Lincoln in tho past,
and threatening embarrassment in the
future, that iuduced me TO hope for q
change Of administration. believed that
q democratic President as earnest as Mr..
Lincoln against the rebellion, aud exempt
ed from the Influences which have beseI
aud badgered him from The beginning,
} could prosecute the war more successful
ly; an'l the fighting over, would find
himself less encountered, perplexed and